'FRISCO MAIL NEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXIV, Issue 95, 30 April 1888, Page 2

'FRISCO MAIL NEWS.

. -*■ (UNITED I'RBSS ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, April 27. Arrived B-.M.S. Mariposa from San Francisco. The New Zealand passengers arc B. E. McDonald, J. Brewer, Mrs F. B. Webb, and daughter, G. Greener, G. GRichards, Mrs Tucker and child, W. H. Tucker. GLADSTONE AND THE DISSOLUTION OF THE ENGLISH TAELIAMENT, MATTHEW ARNOLD AND AMERICAN CIVILISATION. INSANITY OF JOHN BUSKIN. FEAEFUL EARTHQUAKE IN CHINA. 15,000 PERSONS KILLED. LOSS OF A STEAMER WITH 120 PASSENGERS.

News from Europe is to April Bth. The training ship Harden went ashore at Blackhouse Point, Portsmouth, on April sth. At a meeting of th'e Welsh and British tinplate manufacturers ield at Swansea, on April 7th the proposed comer m tin was abandoned. Mr Gladstone is reported as saying " One can do nothing m this Parliament ; our duty is to force a. dissolution as soon as we can." One of the results of Matthew Arnold's late visit to America is a severe criticism from his pen, m the Nineteenth Century, on the institution and people of' the country, which will delight everyone "who dislikes the United States. He makes the broad assertion that " civilisation m America is a failure." The exhibition of relics of the House of Stuart, sanctioned by the Queen, is about to be opened m London. The American novelist Julian Hawthorn has been appointed to an important United States Consulship m England. The result of the sham fight on April 2nd, on' the southern coast of England, showed the;weakness of the defences. The invaders were technically successful at every point, notably at Portsmouth and Eastbourne. They brought against the guns at Portsmouth, which have a range of 2500 yards, guns of 7000 yards range. Sir Charles Dilke's recent strictures are now receiving more attention. Heavy snowstorms were reported m the north of England on March 38th, also storms of violence with much damage at Brest, France, and m Spain. ."-.-, It is reported (March 27J that if. has been found necessary to put Mr Buskin m a private asylum for insanity. Becently while he was at Sandgate he -had a freak of ringing bells throughout the day, having purchased them for that purpose. He then became violent. There is . no doubt that his -mind is failing., : ;: ; .- . The Theatre at Oporto was destroyed by fire on March 20. The galleries were crowded, and many of those inside the house perished m the flames. The play had progressed to the last act, and the fire broke out during the banquet scene, caused, it is said, by an accident to a gaspipo by which the scenery was ignited. There was a terrible panic. Hundreds escaped with their lives, but were burned and bruised, and many with their clothing torn to pieces. Most of those burned were m the third row of boxes and galleries where whole families were suffocated. Nearly all the victims were spectators. The actors escaped m their stage costumes. Many were exhumed from the smoking ruins, and several were found m the stage*boxes. The bodies of sixty-six victims were exposed for identification on March 22. Besides these there were heaps of unrecognisable remains. It is reported that several" Englishmen and Americans were among those burned to death. In the cheaper parts of the house the attendance was principally of the rougher class, including many sailors and dock porters, who crushed down the weaker people m their rush for doors using their fists, shots, and knives, and mercilessly slashing their way to the front. Girls, women and children were literally butchered. Several projects were organised for the relief of the poorer victims. By the will of the late Emperor, Dr Mackenzie will receive the Grand Cross and also the Star and Order of the House of Hohenzollern. The Empercr's savings don't exceed £2 500.000. Prince William has the same malady as that which rendered King William IV. iDsane. Tbe Court physician says it isnot dangerous, bat he advises the Prince to travel. Tbe Empress has issued an order omitting the annual spring review of , the Guards, and has also signed an aot prolonging the Socialist Law. The Emperor's physicians have ordered a coarse o! massage of the legs, as a substitute for making a trip .to . Wiesbaden, which the weather forbade. He is oonsideiing the de'aila of a new Constitution for Prussia,, hi 3 collaborates being Dr Friedberg, Minister of Justice. Dr MoKeDzie will soon return to Eng« land. Nothing, since the accession of the Emperor Frederick, has oocarred that has so strongly animated Prussian Conservatives against the Empress as tbe Battenburg marriage question. AH the Radical newspapers treat tbe Baitenbnrg creation with disdain, and of no consequence to German politics. A despatch from London (April 7) says that tha Government is eoncer: cd m regard to the Barlin crisis, fearing the destruction of tbe cordial. relations now existing between the two nations. It stated that Lord Salisbury has begged the Queen to deaist from interfering m the controversy ovar the marriage of Prince Alexander and Princess Victoria. The Oriental mail at London (April 1) brought news of a terrible earthquake m Ohinß, by wbich 15,000 persons perished. Huge chasms opened, wi'h shocks, and engulfed masses of the unfortunate people. Water of a blood colour issued! from the fissures, A special despatch (April 7) from Monta Video reports the loss of the steamer Bio Janiero, with 120 passengers on board. Samuel Brooks, father of H. M. Brooks, alias Maxwell, under sentenoo of death for the murder of Preller, has written a long and touching appeal to the American people to help him save bis eoa from the gallows. _______