SUEZ MAIL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6832, 10 October 1883, Page 6

SUEZ MAIL NEWS.

THE DISTURBANCE AT CANTON. ''■ TELE«BAPHiNG.on August 23, the Hong Kong correspondent of the Standard says :—Some ten days ago a European Customs tidewaiter at Canton had an altercation with some coolies, and, drawing his revolver, killed a boy and wounded two men. He was at once arrested, and is now awaiting trial. The outrage, however, had an immense effect in ;the oity. The popular mind, already greatly excited by the action of the French in Tonquin, seized eagerly upon this attack upon Chinamen in their own town by a European.' The bazaars have been seething with excitement, and all sorts of exaggerated reports of the affair have been current. Yesterday, proclamationswere found posted on the louses and city walls calling upon the people to rise and slaughter the barbarians. These -notices so added to the flame that the most serious apprehension prevails among the European population. Our consul appealed to the commodore for protection, and the British sloop Swift left here at daybreak this morning for Canton. It is to be feared that when the news of the French reverses in Tonquin become known in Canton, the already dangerous hostility against foreigners Which their proceedings have excited throughout China will become intensified, and that very serious demonstrations against Europeans may be anticipated. -HOW CAPTAIN WEBB WAS BURIED. •- The Buffalo Express says:—" Half-way Tbetween Niagara Palls and Suspension Bridge, well back in the cemetery well named Oakwood, and in a heart-shaped plot of ground known as 'Strangers' Rest,' the remains of the great swimmer repose. No one was present to do his memory honour. There were no . tears shed. by loving friends, no regrets by friendly neighbours, as the remains were lowered into their resting-place. It was a mere performance of duty by the sexton and undertaker, under orders from the Board of Health. It was a sad picture, doubly pathetic when the life and deeds- and daring of this champion are considered —a man for whom half of England and more than that of the United States is mourning. There was no shroud, no cl6thing to hide his bloated form. In the same rough pine box from which the body was shipped irom Lewiston to the Falls it was buried. Imaginative correspondents have written of a •neat suit of black,' of 'clothing appropriate and well-looking,' and of a 'stained coffin.' But the fact is that the body of the greatest swimmer of the world was buried in the same condition as that it was found floating in,the quiet waters of the Niagara below Lewiston, except that the scarlet breechclont with which he entered the treacherous waters had been torn away. -Looked at as the people at the Falls looked at this interment, it was pathetic and pitiful J" ... ' FRANCQ-GERMAN ERUPTIONS. In connection with recent occurrences in "Alsace-Lorraine, which resulted in the prohibition of the journal Metz, projected by M. Antoine. the well-known anti-German mender of the Reichstag, the following articb, which appeared in a prominent position of Prince Bismarck's organ, the Nord-de-atsih Zeitung, has some significance :— " Comparatively rare, and then only passing and superficial, notice is taken in Germany of the in :essant war which the Press in France, of all parties, wages against its German neighbours. Sober ideasand a limited degree ■of sensitivei'.ess have hitherto made_ the German slow t'j understand the passions that find expression in this hurricane of invective. Nsvertheless, from time to time it appears dus to a simple regard for peace to consider the effect which these attacks of erer-increaaing violence, are calculated to h we. In the opinion of all qniet ~ lookers-on, oven in France, there can only be one result, namely, that France, through the violence of the apostles of revenge, and the echo which their doctrine finds among the people, and among certain agitators in Alsace-Lorraine, attaches to herself the responsibility at being the only country whose conlucj perpetually threatens the peace.of Europe. With the recognition of this fact must necessarily follow the conviction that such a position of affairs cannot continue without seriously endangering tranquility, seeing that the higher the flood of passion rises the more difficultit is to foresee whether it trill be possible to restrain it within the bounds of external peace; and, -if so, how long. With full justification, and an enhanced significance, may the proverb be applied, 'The devil, too often painted on the wall, ends by appearing.'" Farther comments are published by the papers on the article which appeared in the North German Gazette. They for the most part repudiate any desire to offer insult or menace to France. The Temps point 3 out the coincidence of the publication with the ' summoning of the German Parliament, and thinks that a demand for freshmilitary credits will be made to that body. A Berlin correspondent states that the announcement that the French Cabinet contemplates mobilizing the Eastern Army Corps, has excited serious attention there, and that if the idea is carried out the German Government will make a counter demonstration. - TERRIBLE MINING ACCIDENT. An accident, terrible in its consequences, occurred on August 15, at Wheal Agar Mine, which is situated in the great mining district between Camborne and Redruth. The fatality took place early in the morning, when the men who had worked overnight ■were beingraised to the surface in a cage. This cage is calculated to carry eight persons, but on this occasion there were more than this number in it. The cage, soon after six o'clock, had brought the first set of men to the .surface from the 195-fathom level, which is not at the bottom of the mine, and a number of men had descended the shaft in order to commence work. The cage, which is in two compartments, anQ open on two of its sides, having a bar in the centre to which the men cling,

had come to the surface, and Was within two and a half I'eet of its ordinary position, when a snapping sound was heard, and immediately the wire rope parted. -One man saved himself by jumping out, but the gig and its living freight were precipitated down the a haft, the men meeting a sudden and an awful death. _ An alarm was at once' raised, anc! an exploring party went ' down and found the bodies at'different parts, greatly mutilated, - and life in eaeh case extinct. . The- cage came to a standstill 130 fathoms from the surface, and in it were two men, their legs broken, and their heads fearfully shattered. The whob way down the shaft there was painful evidence of the mutilation -of the bodies; The cage_ had turned over at the 1:30 fathoms, and it is believed that Bome. ol the miners were then thrown out and sent further down the shaft, four bodies being picked up 325 fathoms from the abifc, or 5145 fathoms or 1570 feet from the surface. Ten bodies have been recovered. Two men who were missing have teen found safe at the mine, not having been underground. Only one man is, therefore, still unaccounted 'for, and it is thooght possible that his body is in the water at the bottom of the shaft. THE SITUATION IN SOUTH AFRICA. It is now, certain that Cetewayo, in a ' -defiant spirit, is gathering round him in the" . Inhanhla bush, eight miles beyond the Middle Drift of the Tugels, a constantly growing force of armed followers. The situation of Natal, should Cetewayo crosß ; the border with his army, as a. refugee or otherwise, is not likely to be a pleasant one. The Natal Kaffirs on this side of the drift are said to Bympathise with Cetewayo. For the protection of the border 500 men of the 41st Regiment have been ordered to the Lower Tugela. Two comprnies, it is thought, may be despatched to Greytown. It is, of course, impossible to foresee what effect any sudden movement of Cetewayo might have. MR GLADSTONE AND THE IRISH MEMBERS. In the House of Commons daring the dis- j cussion on Supply it was evident that some of the Irish members—notably Mr. Healy and Mr. Biggar—had made up their minds to attract attention to themselves. On the vote for the Lord-Lieutenant .these two,members made themselves conspicuous by noisy interxuption. Mr. Healy, in a speech marked by a measure of violence unusual even for him, Bpoke of "Irishmen being murdered and Irißh children spitted on the bayonets of Mr. Trevalyan'a: guardians of. law and order." This brought up Mr,; Gladstone, who had : Tjoen sitting afr the lower end of the bench, evidently without intention of taking part in the proceedings. -Speaking ; with Belfrestraiat,. difficult, to maintain in the face. ■ of continuous,-interruption from the Irish, quarter, tha. Prime-: Minuter "dwelt npon ihe exaggerated tone of Mr. Healy's speech, lamenting it^'-^oi;"-because it wounded

Ministers, but because there was in view fresh work" in the "way "of "establishing peace and,concord between England and Ireland, - and- because such speeches retarded that work, i£ they did-not make it impossible. The: right hon.. gentleman; observing that his personal intereiit in these matters could be only of short.duration, Mr. Biggar broke in with a shrill mocking cry of "Hear, heair!" This outrage upon the decencies of public life was angrily resented by members on both Bides; cries of "Shame!" and "Order !" resounding through the House. The Chairman having twice warned Mr. Biggar, informed him if the interruption were repeated he would, name him, a threat which had for some, time the effect of keeping him quiet. In a parage delivered with evident emotion, Mr. Gladstone addressing himself to Mr. Healy, said, "It will certainly be more in the interests of his country if he will endeavour to introduce into these debates something of that spirit of gentleness and moderation, something of that restraint of language. which is agreeable to the traditions of this House, to the social state in which we live, to the name of civilisation, and even, I will say, to the very religion which we profess." The Premier resumed his seat amid prolonged cheering. After this matters went forward a little more quietly, but not with greater brevity, and it was not till after eight hours' controversy that the Irish votes were agreed to. THE LAND. LEAGUE AT WORK AGAIN. - The lawless spirit which the Land League aroused still lingers about the neighbourhood of Baltinglass, county Wicklow. At an early hour on August 20 the tail was cut off a fine milch cow, the property of a carpenter, named Myles Dowdy, and five other head of cattle had the hair of their tails cut off. Dowdy has lately incurred the hostility of the Leaguers, and threats of a serious nature have: been uttered against him. He has lately taken the grazing of some meadows which had been used as a grazing farm by a shopkeeper named Byrne, whose son has been arrested. ; COLONIAL NOTES. The New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited) notifies the issue of 20,000 shaies of £10 each, upon which £5 will be called up. The money is wanted to assist the company in establishing a steamship monthly service between the colony and this country with veaseJs of their own.

The Rov. C. Worboys, who has so long been the minister of the Methodist Free Church,; Willow-street, London, is about to leave.for New Zealand.

This Mark Lane Express says : —" Someone who does not send his name has sent to this office some very fine ears of Mainstay, a white wheat with, red rongh chaff; also some very good ears of Cone or Rivetts, and some New Zealand wheat called ' Antipodes.' It is dangerous to sow wheat from New Zealand or Australia in this climate. It may do remarkably well in a genial season, but, as a rule, vi'heat from a warm climate does badly in this country." Lord Rosebery is about to sail for Melbourne, Lady Rosebery will accompany him on the journey, which is likely to extend over six months. It is understood that Hio Lordship will proceed via 'Frisco. The' Rev. Canon Barry, who has accepted the appointment of Metropolitan of New South Wales, and Primate of Australia and Tasmania, will retain the office of Principal of King's College until Christmas. By tike will and codicil of Mr. Richard Crawford, after providing for certain legacies, the residue of his property—including land in New Zealand and Australia—goes to his wife.

At the inquest on the - late Archbishop Vaughan evidence was given by Mr. Elundell thai; before deceased retired to rest he complained of a slight pain in his side. He had often . expressed an opinion that he should be found dead in bed some morning, as he suffered aeverely from enlargement of the heart. Next morning the servants went up several times to the Archbishop's room, but as they received no answer and the door had been looked on the inside, witness procured a ladder and broke through the window. He found the deceased lying in bed. He was quite dead, although he appeared to be merely Bleeping. The jury returned a verdict of " Death from natural causes."

At the meeting of the Kapanga Company, according to Money, a good deal of distrust was exhibited with respect to the capability of Captain Thomas's management of the property; in New Zealand. This gentleman has run through three capitals, and the company h» is now managing is the third reconstruction of the originil concern. In these circumstiinces it is felt by the shareholders that it is high time a change was made, but the great; difficulty which beset the directors is the distance at which the property is situated. More money is wanted, but it is obvious that it will not be forthcoming in any large amount unless a little more confidence bis infused into the shareholders with regard to the management of the property on the spot. " Anglo-Australian" writes : —" The question of land nationalisation in New Zealand has cropped up in some of the London papers, consequent on Sir George Grey having written a letter to the Land Nationalisation Society, in which he informs that organisation here that he hopes some advances in that direction may be made in New Zealand. This is all very well and gracious, but the oociety had better- mind its own business than seek to sow dissension in our colonies,"

I am glad to report that the direct steamer movement to New Zealand is now making rapid progress. During September the steamer lonic goes out to Wellington, and the Triumph direct to Auckland. The former is one of the New Zealand Shipping Company's vessels, and the latter belongß to Shaw, Savill, and Co. In October no less than three steamers will go out—the British King, the Catalonia, and ithe Victory. The first steamer, specially built for the service by the New Zealand Shipping Company, will leave some time during December.

The Emigration Department of the New Zealand Agent-General's Office is just now very busy indeed. In the last week of July and the firat week of August, no fewer than 1300 emigrants were donpatcbed in four vessels, and, judging by all appearances, the colony will gain thereby some very desirable accessions to the directly productive sections of the community. Professor W. Steadman Aldis, of New-oastle-on-Tyne, will be the new Principal of the Auckland University College. - He is well known for his eminent mathematical attainment;!, and the colony may be congratulated on the choice now made out of about fifty " strong" competitors. Dean of Guild Maokenzie, Inverness, editor of thei Celtic Magazine, lias just received from Invercargill, New Zealand, a subscription of £85 15s, to be distributed by him " among the distressed families in Skye and adjacent islands."

At a meeting of the Council of the Colonial Institute on August 14, Sir George MacLeay, K.C.M.G., in the chair, the folio wing gentlemen were elected Fellows:—Mr. Herbert Belfield, J.P., New Zealand; Dr. Thomas Fisher, late of New Zealand; the Eight Hon. the Marquis of Lansdowne, Governor-. General of Canada.