THE ENGLISH MAIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6838, 17 October 1883, Page 5

THE ENGLISH MAIL.

OUR LONDON LETTER. [PBOM OUR OWN OOBBJ2SPONDEXT.] London, September 6. THE PACIFIC ANNEXATION QUESi ' TION. The situation ha 3 not materially altered since I last wrote, but the intelligence received from Australia by the last mail has nnmistakeably helped to create an impression that the colonists are not only in earnest, but that they hare decidedly good grounds for the policy they are advocating. The propoeal to hold a conference on tbe annexation question fo commended, as It is felt that united pressure on the part of the colonies can scarcely be resisted, partiiplarly when the British taxpayer will be ~ guaranteed against any heavy expenditure. Several of the newspapers have warmly advspated the policy of the colonies. The St. James's Gazette strongly condemns the imputation that the colonists must be influenced by some mean and sordid, if not inhuman, purposein desiring fresh annexations in the Pacific. It examines the reasons which have been advanced in support of a forward policy, and insists that tho colonial demands are both W u Se l° d loyal and ahould n °t be resisted.. The Statist, another staunch friend to the colonies, accuses the Imperial Government, in its childish fear of offending France, of conniving at a repetition of the' abominable injustice which it permitted to be inflicted' directly upon Australia, when it allowed the Jtfrench to establish a penal settlement at New Caledonia. It expresses the opinion that the Australians will not stand the . annexation of the New Hebrides and New. Guinea by the French, who, it assertß, are more thoroughly unfit to build up distant : colonies than any other living race. In a/ second article tho St. James's Gazette notices the Bill introduced by Sir Georco Grey, but simply to contend that hewUl only complicate the situation if he persuades ' New Zealand to imitate the example ef Queensland, and attempt to play "alono ; s?t. nd '■!>'£ i!j o „g ame °f Pacißc annexation. Iho Pall Mall Gazatte, which is seldom' caught "napping" in regard to foreign information, seems to be unaware that the Recidivist Bill ha ß passed the Frenoh Chambers, and urges its rejection. " Other- ' wise," it proceeds, "all the troubles that have as yet arisen between England and France will be as nothing to that which will arise between the rulers responsible for the government of Australia, and the Government which turns tho refuse of itß gaols loose upon the antipodes." The Morning Po3t strongly urges the Imperial Government to do. for Australia what she would be forced to commend the colonies ? for doing for themselves, if only they were ; independent. Mr. Laehlan Mackinnon,-'

one of the proprietors of the Melbourne • Argus, m a letter to the Standard, nn-• hesitatingly expresses the opinion that, if Lord Derby adheres to his recent deoisiote in respect to the annexation of New Guinea, he will lay the foundation of a discontent and a distrust in the minds of all the Australasian colonies, that will result in their separation •' at no distant date from the parent State. He • urges Lord Derby to avert the melancholy ■ spectacle of a .great Empire being divided against itself, leading to results whioh no loyal subject can contemplate, without hu- : initiation and despair. He asserts that Australians know better than any English statesman »vhat are the interests of their own" country, and that they will do, and durel anything to protect those interests from thel injury that must result from the occupation' by a foreign power of New Guinea, and the', islands - lying between it and Fiji. He therefore, implores Lord Derby to grant the : prayers of the colonists, and not to dtivie' them into the distressing position of being' compelled to separate to protect themselves. ■ The Standard, commenting upon thist letter, remarks that it is impossible thread the colonial journals or the speeoh.es made at the meetings hold in Australia,' without being convinced that Mr. Mackinnon has not indulged in any idle 'threats. All this discussion about the coloaies'.is : helping to educate not only the public' l&t : leading public men in regard to the value ot these outlying dependencies of the Empire.! Sir Bartle Frere, in the last number of the? National Review, has an able article; entitled* "Have we a colonial policy?" in which he' lucidentallyrefers to the annexation question.' Alluding to Sir Francis Bell's despatoh ho' remarks: "It was a paper remarkable for' the novelty to the generality of the English' public, of the information it gave and' the views it represented, and yet more for; the spirit of earnest humanity, patriotism, ■ and loyalty to which it gave expression. - It strongly impressed on those who read it' the conviction that there was far more to be' said for the colonial view than had at first appeared, and that the action taken was ; as least as much in the interests of the Papuans, as it had at first appeared to be directed to their injury." Sir Bartle Frere considers that there ought to be means of anticipating such questions—of taking counsel on them—when they arise, and of arrivingat some sort of decision regarding them, without leaving the solution to chancelConfederation may bo effectual, but it is : somewhat remote and tardy; and, though it would be advantageous to have colonial' representatives in the Imperial Parliament, that constitutional change cannot be made ' at once.. Sir Bartle Frere, however, thinks' that if the Secretary of State for the Colonies' were to constitute the Agcnts-Genoral into' a colonial council of information and advice, —if he abstained from acting on information which they deemed of doubtful authority,' and from deciding any question of general l , interest until he had heard their views, he would take a wise and politic stop. : Mr. Arnold Forster in the Nineteenth Century has an excellent paper on the relations: of England and her colonies. Ho contends ' that the present attitude of the Liberals towards the colonies will, if persisted in, produce the absolute and certain dissolution' of the Empire. He does not, however, 1 I charge the great bulk of his party with' active hostility to the colonies, though he i admits their indifference. The colonies, he considers, are in a position which presents | every possible inducement to permanent separation as soon as the slightest divergence arises between them and the Imperial Government. They find neither sympathy nor knowledge in quarters Where they have a right to expect both. Nevertheless, Mr. ■ Forster insists that Liberals should take the lead in any scheme which may bo adopted with the purpose of uniting the mother country more closely to the colonies. He hints at various practical steps which he, thinks would sure to cement ths bonds whish bind the two. He would extend the penny, postage to the colonies; he would afford colonists every facility and encouragement to enter and attain distinction in the different j branches of the Imperial, military, and civil ' service. Ho would grant colonists a share,, not only in name, but in reality, in the a6V' : ministration of the Indian Empire. It mayj be questioned if any of these suggestions really pertinent to the question, but the aim'' of the writer is a good one, and he writes ( witli a degree of sympathy towards 'the colonies which few Liberals have evinced of late years.

COLONISATION OF NEW GUINEA.. A company to be terni3d the " New Guinea Colonisation and Trading Company", has been projected in London, for the purpose of estab- '. lishing trading settlements in New Guinea " and the adjacent islands. The scheme is at present in embryo, but I have • learnt some particulars in regard to it, which will enable colonists to form some opinion as to its pro-i spects of success. It is being organtsodby a gentleman named H. M. Maclver, who, I* understand, served as.■ lieutenant-general of' a brigade in the late Servian war, and held a command in the Greek army recently, .when hostilities with Turkey seemed to be.-immi-nent. He is a tall, athletic, energetic man, of good military bearing, about 40 yearsof age. His idea is to take out, under his.personal command, a pioneer expedition."to-.Now" Guinea, to explore the isl»ud and establish a settlement, which will form a nucleus for the further development of the company. : The expedition would be composed;of gentle-, men who would bo required to provide their--own equipment. They must 'he•pf-.good; physique, and willing tosubmifc»tomilitary' discipline," as it is considered "absolutely' imperative that full power must be oxerbised* by the commanders." General- Mn9lvor.' has already .received numerous applications' from adventurous young men ■ who ■■:■■■■ ara anxious to join. the expedition. Somci who" had intended to settle in the north-weßterpY States of America have preferred te inake:o/i

trial of tropical New Guinea instead. "Th project," it is said, "will be carried onto the basis of fair and friendly dealing wit the natives, and the only strong measure which will be taken will be such (i self-defence) as may " be' necessary t protect the lives of the expedition. General Maclver, who evidently ha great faith in the discretion of the "ex perienced commanders" of the expedition ventures to believe that such a contingent as a hostile collision with the natives ma; be obviated by judicious action on the par of the leadors. Toe headquarters of th company will be in London, and the suprem control will be vested in a Board of Direc tors. Skilled mechanics, agriculturists, am miners will be selected to accompany thi expedition, and an experienced medical staf also. The company will be willing to worl in full harmony with, and if desirable nadei the control of the Colonial Governments, anc the promoters hope to secure the unoflicia acquiescence of the Imperial Government ii their scheme. It is, howerer, as well to re member that Lieutenant Armit, a brother oi the officer who commands the Argus New Guinea exploring expedition some years ago, projectedasomewhatsimilarcolonisation company, thongh on a rather more ambitiousscale, but he entirely failed to secure the sanction or approbation, official or unofficial, of the Imperial authorities, and the enterprise fell through. A paragraph in the Echo elicited from General Maclver an explanation that he had no intention of emulating the practices of "Captain Kidd,"and indeed, "so purely harmless and commercial" was his scheme, that he believed he could obtain for it the approval, and even the patronage, of the most fervent of tho peace-at-any-price party in the United Kingdom.

The Rev. W. G. Lawes, a New Guinea missionary, has written a letter to the Times, which is certainly not favourable to Australasian annexation schemes. He points significantly to the nlmo3t entire absence in the colonial Press "of any reference to the owner! of the soil," and hints that if the ! million and a quarter of Papuans were under Australian Government that this characteristic would be expressed in the dealings with the natives. LAUNCH OF THE TONGARIRO. The first of the three splendid steal screw : steamer* building on the Clyde for the New I Zealand Shipping Company was successfully | launched from the yard of Messrs. John Eider and Co., at Fairfield, on the 23rd ult. 1 At the request of Mr. Coster, Mrs. Pearce, the wife of one of the partners in the firm of ; John Elder and Co., named the vessel thej Tongariro. Subsequently several toasts were j drank. In responding to the toast of " Our j Colonists," Mr. Tcschmaeker, of Canterbury, ; referred to the great servicps which had been j rendered by the New Zealand Shipping Company, particularly in opening up a. direct steam service to the colony, and eulogised the energy, courage, and rjerseverance display ed by its Chairman, Mr. Coater. The chiof features of j the Tongariro have been more than once de- ' scribed in these letters, but I may repeat i that when fitted up, the vessel will compare in regard to general completeness aud luxury of accommodation) with any ocean steamor afloat. It, as well as the two sister ships now building, will be lighted throughout with the incandescent light, and fitted with a duplicate set of Edison's marine dynamos and engines. When finished they will be the finest electrically equipped vessels afloat. The Tongariro will sail for New Zealand on October 23, and the second of the new steamers will it is hoped be despatched at the end of November. Captain Hallett, E.N., who now commands the lonic, will be appointed to the Tongariro, and Mr. Bone will be his chief officer. In connection with tho enterprise exhibited by the New Zealand Shipping Company, I may mention that ■? they have secured new offices in Rochester Buildings, Leadenhall - street, in close proximity to the P. and 0. Company's i offices, and the other chief shipping establishments. For nearly two years they have been awaiting a favourable opportunity for removingfromßishopsgate-street Within, but their patience has at last been rewarded, for they have secured spacious and excellent, accommodation on the ground floor and basement of a handsome structure erected in the very heart of the city.

A COLONIAL MUSEUM AT KENSING.

TON. Thpngh the Fisheries Exhibition will remain open for some time longer, its projectors are' considericg how they can moat remuneratively utilise the Urge permanent buildings -when the exhibition is closed. Although the attendance has been enormous the actual receipts have not been proportion, ately large. The free admissions have been so lavishly granted that the profits have been seriously affected. The promoters of the enterprise incurred a heavy financial respontj sibility in erecting the permanent buildings, 1 which cost something like £50,000, and, as it is not considered fair to come down upon, the guarantors if it can be avoided, a scheme has been suggested by which it is hoped the I debt on the buildings can be not only liqui- '. dated, but a handsome profit realised. It is proposed to hold an exhibition every i year for some years. I believe next year / will be devoted to horticulture, floriculture, i and forestry; 18S5, to silk in all its forms; , and 18S6, to a great Colonial and Indian Exhibition. Communications hive been opened i ■with the India Office, but the officials have 1 penetrated the financial reasons which have ( prompted the suggestion, and do not care to ibe associated with the enterprise. Still, it - is thought there is ample scope for an exhibition of colonial industries, and if the Prince of Wales could be persuaded to take up the idea it could be made a great success. If, instead of being simply confined to British colonies, all nations possessing colonies wero invited to participate, a moat interesting exhibition could undoubtedly bo held and the unequalled capabilities which the English-speaking race display as colonisers could be conclusively demonstrated. This idea will certainly clash with Mr. Twopeny's project of an Australian Exhibition. Perhaps the Australian colonists might be inclined to support the Kensington scheme. If they did, and made an effort, they might be pretty certain to carry off the honours against the world. It is proposed to hold an International Maritime, Colonial, and Indus- ! trial Exhibition at Antwerp in ISSS under private enterprise. Possibly the enterprising promoter of the Amsterdam Exhibition has remembered that his huge building will be . disengaged before that time. f THE REDMOND MISSION. At the first meeting of the Irish National League, held in Dublin since the prorogation of Parliament, Mr. Paruell was almost gushing in his acknowledgments of the moral and material support accorded to the > League by the generous Irishmen of Aus- | tralia. Prom that source £SOOO had already " been received, and £2009 more was on its

way. Mr. Redmond had written to say ho . expected to leave for Ireland in the middle i of November, after attending a convention to be held in Australia for the purpose of . definitely organising the League movement t there. Subsequently, on the motion of Mr. Sexton, seconded by Mr. Parnell, the following resolution was unanimously adopted, and directed to be cabled to Mr. Redmond :— *' That the National League, on behalf of the Irish people, returns its deepest gratitude to thelrishmen of Auitralia for their magnificont * generosity to the Irish cause, and congratua lates Mr. J. E. Redmond on the elormencc, g courage, and conspicuous good sense with J which he has fulfilled his mission as repre- *| sentative of the Irish people." The gratitude of the League might not have been quite so effusively expressed if they had calculated that the contributions received scarcely averaged 3d apice from the Irish of Australia. In reviewing the results of the past session, Mr._ Parnell spoke in a fairly moderate spirit. It is significant that he should have felt able to congratulate his Irish followers on tho measures of success Irish demands had obtained from what it is customary to regard as an "alien Legislature." The Fisheries Act, the Labourers Act, 3nd the Tramways Act were all mentioned as

matters for congratulation, and Mr. Parnell 4- predicted that before long a measure of local f self-government for Ireland would also be ' accepted by the Imperial Parliament, by which the Irish would be conceded a very great instalment of what they required to , t rain them in the formation of national habits of thought and will. This observation j 3 interpreted by some to mean that a fresh co nvention has been • agreed upon between t a e Government and the Irish leaders. THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE. '. The market is again well supplied with frozen meat from the antipodes. The Chim-. borazo, with 5100 sheep, arrived on the 20fch ult., and the meat, which is ia excellent condition and of good quality, has been selling at from 5d to 51d. Owiug to tha , 'warm weather which has prevailed; and the : absence from town of many consumers, the V demand has been somewhat less brisk than. k usuai, The lodic, with an immeuso cargo of

e New Zealand meat, arrived on the 25th nit. n Hor cargo hsis been placed on the market, h and excites universal commendation. There 8 is no question now about the superiority of ii the New Zealand shipments. This is con--0 clusively demonstrated by the excellent " prices realised for the lonic meat, which s opened at 7:f<l to Sd or Sid per lb, and is - still realising 7d to 7Jd per lb. The , larnbs averaged nearly Sd per lb. About f 4500 carcases of mutton remain unsold, / but present prices are likely to be maint tained. Other competitors are coming into b the market. A large consignment of liivcr s Plate sheep recently arrived from Saint - Nicolas. The carcases are, however, much 1 too small for the trade, averaging between : 301bs. and 401hs. each, and though in good f condition, few of thorn sold at more than 4d : per lb., and many realised only 2Jd per lb. • Cargoes by the Matanra from Auckland, the 1 Opawa from the Bluff, and tho Cuzso from I Sydney are due early this month. The l Russians are inakiug a bold effort to participate in tho metropolitan meat trade. During the last few months many thousands of pounds wort'li of fresh beef have reached London from the Baltic port of Liban. It is freshly killed beef, kept in good condition during the voyage by being chilled to a point ranging from. 3Sueg. to 42deg. Fahrenheit. When the veUel reaches th( Katharine Docks the meat is transferred to Holdsworth's patent cold siir chambers, where it is kept lor issue to the market. Tho cold air chamber (or refrigerator) measures 40 feet by 34 feet by 10 feet high, and is divided into three chambers, each capable of holding from 230 to 300 carcases. The ice chamber i 3 above these rooms, and extends tho whole length of the structure. It '.till contain SO tons of ice. Tho supply from Liban can be maintained all the year round, as the port is always opon. The cattle are all slaughtered at Liban, the carcases bei'Dg allowed to cool slowly before being placcd_ in the cold chamber on board the vessel. "The company exporting are content if the? receive 5Jd per lb. in the wholesale market? The committee of the City of London Union, after a good deal of opposition on the part of some of its members, have resolved that, in future contracts for tho supply of the workhouse, Australian mutton and American killed beef will be included. Great difference of opinion exists as to the merits of the frozen meat. One member pronounced it unfit for paupors, while another asserted that it was sold by almost every butcher in London, and was taken by thousands of aristocra'ic families. TAURANGA AND ROTORUA RAlL-

WAY. I mentioned, last month, that a company had been formed to construct a line of rail-

[ way from Tauranga to the Hot Likes of Rotorua. Tho capital, I bc!ie»e, is £500,000, but it is not thought it will be necessary to call up more than half. It is reported that the same promoters are anxious to construct au extension of the line from some point at the Hot Lakes to Opotik'", ic the Bay of Plenty, sad tbat it i» to increase the capital to £1,000,000, in order to carry out thiis scheme. M--. G. Vesey Stewart, I am told, is sanguine that such an undertaking would be a commercial success, and would open up for sottlcment some of the richest tracts of agricultural land in the North Island. Mr. Stewart is likely to return to New Zealand shortly, probably in the Northumberland, which will sail on November 23, to carry settlers to No. 4 Stewart Special Settlement. THE ORIENT MAIL SERVICE.

The new Australian mail service, arranged by the Government of .New South Wales with the Orient Company, will commence in about two months time. The despatches will ho fortnightly, both outward and homeward, alternating with those of the P. and O. Company, the two services supplying jointly regular weekly mail communication, via Suez, between Enqland and Australia. The Postmaster-General is again being urged to turn his attention to the question of a parcel post to and from the colonies. It is thought that a, charge of 6d for each lib. in weight would amply remune.-ato both England and the colonies.

MISCELLANEOUS. Sir Arthur Gordon has received a "rap" from the St. James's Gazette, on account of his parting qtiarrel with his Js'cw Zealand Ministry. The tjrare acsjpati.ins which he made against them in a dopatcb. to the Secretary of State, are pro/ionnced to have been completely demoli.-'uel by the statement of the Cabinet, which, it is added, convicts Sir Arthur "of what ia any other than so devout a disciple of Mr. Gladstone, would be opsin to the imputation of gross dismgenuousnews." I understand that the report of the Western Pacini Committee is nearly ready. - Professor Aldlis will sail for Auckland iu the steamer lonic on September 20. He was Professor of Mathematics at the Durham College of Science, >» T ewcaßtle-on-Tync. Ho is considered a first-class scholar. The remains of the late Judge Maning have been shipped to Auckland in the Antares. Sir John Hall is now in Dresden. His health has somewhat improved, bat he will require a protracted rest to eunuro its complote restoration. He contemplates a somewhat long residence in Germany. Emigration matters are not particularly brisk. It is intended to send out between 500 ami 600 by steamer in October, to be distributed in the customary proportion at I the different ports. The exact dates of dol parture have not yet been fixed. I The art critics are enthusiastic in their admiration of the three marble statues of heroic size which have just been completed by Signor Font;i.na, for the new Government offices at Sydney. The subjects of these works are Her Majesty Queen Victoria, gorgeously arrayed in velvet, ermine, and silk ; the Prince of Wales, who is represented in a field marshal's uniform, his right hand grasping the baton, and his left resting on his sword hilt; aod thirdly, an allegorical figure representing the colony of New South Wales, in the form of a, woman of beautiful figure, clad as a nyrapb, with her brow encircled by a floral diadem of the waratsb, a magentacoloured flower 'peculiar to the colony, aud at her feet a merino ram and a nugget, emblematic of' the> pastoral aud auriferous resources of Australia, On her gracefully flowing drapery is depicted an embroidered design o£ the Southern Cross.

Lord Harris hits contributed to the National Review an essay on "tho development of cricket." It is a very mediocre performance. He advises Australian cricketers to discourage any too anxious inclination among amatonrs, to convert cricket into a lucrative profession. Professional crinketer's he considers a use ful class of men, but "semi-professionals" should be discouraged. Ho would not object to young men. who, for love of the game, leave their professions for a time, in order to make a cricketing tour round the world, being adequately remunerated; but, ho re-marks,-with a good deal of triithi'" there is a happy. Omean capable of attainment, and a too larger stipulation for favourable tsrms, both at home and abroad, may lead to these visits being received with indifference rather than welcome." It may interest colonial cricketers to learn attention of the committee of tho Marylebone Club has been directed to the habit of certain bowlers, after delivering the ball from behind the bowling crease, in running on to the turf in front of tho wicket at their end,- thereby injuring and sometimes ruining the jjitch. Spoflbrth and Barlow are mentioned as habitual offenders,in this re-

spect. It is suggested that umpires should "no ball" bowlers who run on to the pitch, and that the penalty should be enforced without reference to their damaging the turf. It is scarcely likely that the committee will accept the suggestion.

A screw steamer named the Micindcsry, built for Mr. John Hay, Auckland, and iutended for the New Zealand coasting trade, [ was launched on the Clyde on the 22nd ult. I Her dimensions are 120 feet by 20 feet, and the engines are of 50 horse-power nominal. The Earl and Countess of Roacbcry started for America en route to_ Australia on the 31st ult. by thoCunard steamer Pavonia. They will arrive in New Zealand early ia November. Mr. R. T. Booth, the leader, of the Blue Ribbon movement, has decided to visit Now Zealand and Australia. He will be accompanied by Mr. T. W. Glover, the Southampton agent of the United Kingdom Alliance. A statement appeared iu most of tiie colonial papers to the effect that the London Geographical Society intended to despatch an exploring expedition to New Guinea under the command of Mr. Warden Hodgkinson, of Queensland. If the London Geographical Society was intended to mean the Royal Geographical Society, I can state on authority that that society has no intention

at present of sending an expedition to New Guinea, and that the leader suggested is not known to thoiu.

The Guardian, the organ of the Church of England, is considerably exercised in regard to the attitude of the colonial churches and

the marriage law. It desires to offer sympathy and advice to the colonial churches in respect to the difficult questions arising from the legalised relaxation of the prohibited degrees, but evidently scarcely knows what exact steps to suggest. It urges the duty of* employing all possible influence of teaching and authority to prevent infractions of the great principles underlying the idea of Christian marriage by churchmen, la it as to the ecclssiastical treatment of thos« who contract prohibited marriages with the sanction of the civil law, it does not venture an opinion.

Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Ugbtrcd Sbuttleworth, who may be remembered as having served in the New Zealand war of 1864-66, including the attack on Gate Pa and in the engagement at Te Ranga, died suddenly of heart disease a few days since, at Petersfield. He also served through the Crimean war. The " Claimant" expects to be liberated on ticket of leave next Christmas twelvemonths. Ho is now employ»d in the carpenters'shops at Portsea. Hp professes to believe that the Government arr determined to keep Cresswell, the lunatic, in confinement in New South Wales, as his appearance in England would exposp the conspiracy against him. Por his own.part, he asserts he would rather rot in prison than be liberated as Orton.

The French Press have been singularly reticent in regard to the Pacific, bat a telegram has just appeared, to t'ae effect that the war vessels D'Estrees and Bruet have been ordered from.Noumea to the New Hebrides, to protect the interests of a New Caledonian Trading Company, which has recently established itself on the islands. It is easy to see what this foreshadows. Of course, even from a pecuniary point of view, the Protestant .missionaries who have Christianised the natives have infinitely more at stake than this trading company, tvhich was probably started with a view to political eventualities ; but then the missionaries have no energetic aggressive government to support their pretensions, and will therefore probably come off the losers.

The Pall Mall Gazette ridicules the excuses assigned for tho presence of warships at the Now Hebrides, and warns the English Government that if they permit the Republic to take possession of the islands, they will find it difficult to resist the pressure that would be brought to bear by the Australians in favour of much wider annexation in the Pacific than any as yet contemplated as possible by English statesmen.

r TERRIBLE COLLISION AT SEA. On Sunday afternoon, August 26, a steamer f appeared at the western end of the breakwater at Piymouth, and at the first glance at \ her bows it was seen that she was in a . serious, if not a sinking condition. An . immense sail was over the stem, and the . draught of water forward clearly indicated ! that the foro compattmont was full. But . the sight of tho first ship was altogether for- , gotten when, a few minutes later, sho was . followed by a smaller craft literally crammed with human beings, who thronged the bulwarks, the bridge, and the lower rigging, ■ It seems that the St. Germain left Havre on , August '25 for New York, having on boart' about 600 passengers of all chsses, mosth steerage, and a crew of 130 officers aud men, The ship, which is over 40Q feet long, ant over 4000 tons burden, was under the com mand of Captain Bonne. Next morning, i ship named the Recovery wa« sighted, ant on board the St. Germain, it was thought shi was the only ship which had to be passed Hence the helm was ported to go under he; stern, but it had not been seon that then was. a ship astern—the Woodburn—in tow The watch declare that no warning shoii from tbe Recovery was heard. On board th< St. Germain, whan the »hip struck the Wood burn, a scene of the most indescribable con fusion ensued. The passengers came oi deck in their night-clothes, shrieking ant shoutin? in a manner which at first defeatet all the efforts of the captain and officers t< ascertain the extent of the damage which th< St. Germain bad suffered, and to see whal stops were necessary to save life. The crj wm to "Go to tho other vessel"—meanini the Recovery—which was lying close bj intact, after saving all who were to be savec from the ill-fated Woodburn. Captait Bon nn arranged with Captain Simpson t< tike »I! hi» passengers on board tho tng boat, and their transference was effectec without much difficulty, and not until al were dressed. As soon as Captain Bonne hat rid himself of his frightened passengers, h< resolved to bear up for Plymouth. Ho oouk get on only at a low rate of speed, as thi ship was down so much forward. So greai is the damage done to tho St. German that it is at present intended simplj to patch her up, and then eeuc her to a French port for final repairs, The steamer Woodburn, which" was on hei way from Madras to London, had becomi disabled, and from Lisbon sho proceeded ii tow of the Rocovery. After sho was struct she-sank in two minutes, and eigteon lives were lost out of thirty-one on board, mostly Norwegians and Swedes. The chief ongineei has made tho following statement :—" Qui steamship, the Woodburn, belonging t< Newcastle, left Lisbon on August IS. Wt had put into that port disabled, one of th( shafts having broken. We were bound from Madras, with a. general cargo, for London, At Lisbon a powerful tugboat, the Recovery, took us in tow. This boat was from Dover, whence it had been despatched. We had a crew of twenty-nine, Captain Hull, and one passenger. Day was jusl breaking at the time of the disaster, Our vessel was some 300 feet distant from the tug ; wo were struck at our starboard quarter. The shock was tromendouß. The stern was nearly taken off. Some of oui crow threw themselves into tho sea dirocHj the two vessels . touched each other; bul the majority of us stayed on board. Imme, diately the collision occurred wo rushed tc tho boats, of which we carried four, all eooi ones—they were two lifeboats, a pinnace, aud a gig; bnt there waß no time to lowei even one of the boats, for the shock hac been so overwhelming that our vessel sanl in thrco minutes; iu fact, I should say ir less timo than that, but three minutes ai the outside. Those who jumped overboarc had the best of it, I think, as a whole Diroctly the collision occurred the captair of the tug lowered a boat. Had it not beet for this promptitude, it is certain that fai more o£ us would have fared like thi eighteen.

PROPOSAL TO OPEN SHAKESPEA MPS TOMB.

The proposal to exhume Shakespeare'* remains are formally before the Stratford-on-Avon Town Council at their meeting on Sep. tember4. The Mayor said he had been inundated with telegrams and letters from all parts of the kingdom protesting against the proposed outrage, and calling upon the Corporation to resist the proposal to the uttermost. The Mayor, continuing, said : " The attention, I may gay, of the whole civilised world is just now being directed towards our town, inconsequence of this proposal to desecrate the tomb of our immortal townsman, William Shakespeare. I feel that I must, from the high position which I occupy, disabuse the public mind that the Corporation would never allow such a proposal to be carriod out. I would have it understood that any such impudent proposal would meet from us a contemptuous refusal. Not only would the Corporation strain every nerve to prevent such an act of desocration, but I feel certain that the townsmen generally wonld band themselves together to guard the sanctity of the poet's tomb. I could not myself think that anyone could be found ! so base and depraved as even to suggest i the violation of the poet's last restingplaoe." Several speakers followed the Mayor m denouncing the project, and the Council then decided unanimously to offer their moat -strenuous opposition to the scheme. As lay rectors of the chancel, they had an important voice in tho matter, and they meant to exercise it.

DISASTERS OtV THE CONTINENT.

Abroad, the neighbourhood of Berlin and Vienna have been the scenes of lamentable accidents. At Steglitz, close to the German capital, on September 2, a railway accident, which reflects the utmost discredit on the Government, resulted in the deaths of 42 people, and serious injury to many more. A large excursionist party were waiting at the railway station when someone raised the barrier and commenced crossing the line to the opposite side, whence the train was to start. Fearing lest they should lose their iieats by the delay, the whole number, despite the cries of the officials, followed. Ere they had got half-way across the lino, the Rhine expreis, which does not stop at Steglitz, shot into the station and ploughed its way ' through the mass of living human beings, cutting off legs, arms, and

heads, severing bodies in two, and crushing all. Soldiers who have walked unmoved on the field of battle stood appalled at the ghastly sight. The Kossau suburb of Vienna, on the same day,' was v : *ited by an alarmingly wide-spreading tire, which originated in a large timber yarl, and damaged property to the extent of 1,000,000 florins. The conflagration broke out at three o'clock in the afternoon, and was not localised until ten at night. The flames were soon, however, fanned by a violent gale which swept over Vienna, and four large timber yards, with the adjoining buildings, were totally destroyed ere it was finally extinguished late the next day. No lives were lost, but many persons were injured.

DESTRUCTIVE STORMS AT HOME.

The past week (says the Home News of September 0) has been prolific of disasters on land and sea, at home and abroad. A fierce storm oi blinding wind and r*.in raged incessantly round the English coast from Friday, August 31, to Tuesday, K-ptembor 4. Many lives were lost, wrecks were frequent, and the destruction to property on land and sea was immense. The crops have sustained serious'damage, and in some placeß near the shore farmers have had their corn, whether stacked or not, carried away over the cliffs and out to sea. In others it is irretrievably beaten and spoilt, whilst hops lie in thick and entangled masses upon the sodden earth. In the South of Ireland the hay and corn crops have been totally destroyed, and the distress is so great that it is f<;ared there may bo an immediate renewal of tho agitation against" payment of rent.

THE DYNAMITE CONSPIRACY.

The ramifications of the dynamite conspiracy were wider than wer« at first imagined. Nine additional arrests have bean made in Glasgow within the past week, all of them Irishmen of the artisan u'ass. These are charged with complicity in the three cowardly outrages perpotratod in Glasgow in January last, by means of whioTi nine persons were injured. The precision with which the police are acting show them to be in possession of direct and. positivn information. A man, named McDonald, now in custody in Liverpool, who seems to have' been one of the most active spirits of tho conspiracy, is suspected by his accomplices of having turned approver. Ireland, itself, is in a condition of marked tranquility, but if Mr. Michael Davitt is Dormitted to go unmolested this will not long be tho case. Speaking at Limerick the other day, he gave a constructive incitement to outrage of tho most palpable kind by declaring tbat crime should necessarily follow the action of tho landlords in evicting their tenants in that part of the country. It would be criminal on the part of the Irish Government to tolerate this kind of language, and unless more moderate methods of proceeding arc adopted, the wholesale suppression of public meetings will bo the necessary result. Mr. Parnell seem* powerless, to compel his followers to irritate the statesmanlike reserve he has of late adopted in his own utterances.

TEE LAST HOURS OF THE ' GOMTEDE CHAMBOnn.

Dr. Vulpian, who attended tl<» lata Comte a few weeks ago, was again by telegraph a few hours before his 'Vatli, bat arrived after lie had expired. The Comte de Chambord, who had given nn v.gtm of life for the last twenty-four hours, nmttered a few words ju»t before he expired. Though the catastrophe was long expected, the announcement of his deatli produced the deepost impression on all the inmates of the chateaH, who, at the moment of his death, included Don Carlos and the Duchess of Madrid, Though he appeared preserve his mental faculties, his body was quite paralysed the greater part of the day. The Comtesss de Chambord, who was exhausted through anxiety and fatigue, asked Dr. Mayer whether the new phenomenon was a dangerous symptom. The r'octor stated plainly that the patient could not outlive the night. Death was expected at every moment, and nearly all the relatives passed the night of his death in the apartments close to the Count's room. When d»vlight approached hopes were again entertained, but shortly after seven a.m. he erpired. As he had had several attacks of syncope, the CounteßS still hoped that life was not extinct ; but when cairied into the room where the corpse lay she fell and fainted. The news of the death of the Comte de Chambord was at once telegraphed to Pope Leo XIII., who sent his blessing to the Emperor Francis Joseph and to the Comte do Paris.

ANTLJEWISH RIOTS IN HUN- . GARY.

The anti-Jewish riots in Hungary are rapidly spreading from county to county, and are every d*y assuming an increasing resemblance to the late Russian persecutions in Balta, Kicff, and Odessa. Following the Russian example, the peasants in the Hungarian villages and smaller towne bring with them c»rts to carry the plunder away. The civil authorities and townspeople offer no resistance, and thus they achieve their designs before there is a sufficient time for the military to arrive. Reports have been received of riots from about a dozen differont places, generally at a considerable distance from each other. Besides the plundering or destruction of Jewish, and, occasionally, Christian property, several murders have been ( committcd, the victims being mostly poor pedlars, teachers, and shopkjopers.

RIOT AND PANIC AT CANTON.

The Standard has a lengthy desoatch from Hong Kong, dated September 13, giving further details of the Canton riots. It seems . that a quarrel aroie between a Portuguese half-caste employed as a watchman on tho quay and a Chinaman. A struggle ensued, and the Chinaman was pushed into the river and drownod.. A boat of the British steamer Hankow picked up the body and carried it on board. They also took on board the Portugnese, the latter being taksn out of reach of the excited mob. who set fire to the buildings. _ This took place at eight o'clock in the morning, and thercsidoots were for tho most part taking their bathafter their morning walk or were breakfasting. On a 3udden the alarm was caused by the irruption of the mob. A terrible panic took place. Ladies and children, many only half-dressed, and some in a fainting condition, were hurried on board the ships through a threatening crowd. No attack, however, was made upon them, the mob being more intent upon plunder than upon taking life. Stores were burst open and houses were set on fire. The crowd then began to batter at the gates of the British Consulate. The Consul hauled down his flag, and this action seemed to inspire the mob with some fear of the consequences of the riot, as they left the Consulate and continued their work of plunder elsewhere. The Consul sent word to the Viceroy of what was taking place and telegraphed to Hong Kong for assistance. The telegraph line belongs to the Chinese, and the messonger who took the tolegram returned with the news that the officials refused to send it, saying that thoy had received orders from the Viceroy not to accept any messages. At twelve o'clock, finding that no assistance arrived from the Viceroy, while tho mob continued to burn and plunder, some of the merchants who had hitherto abstained frain defending their property now took to their arms. A party, consisting of nine Germans and three Englishmen, opened fire upon the crowd. Tho latter returned the tire, and four or five Chinese were killed and many wounded. When the fray had lasted half an hour the Chinese troops arrived and dispersed the mob. They encamped in the settlement, where they remained all the afternoon and night. Tuesday was a day of great anxiety. A furious mob surrounded the foreign quarter of the | town; howling and threatening the destruction of all within it. The Chinese troops were by no means to be depended upon, and had the mob attacked the settlement it would probably have been altogether destroyed. A typhoon \vh]ch raged on Tuesday morning hindered the arrival of the gunboats, which did notanohor off the settlement nntil midnight. Thoircoming at once restored conndenee. At prcgont the rosidents have all returned to their houses, and a thousand Chinese troops are encamped in tho foreign quarters. The British gunboats Swift I and Espoir, the French gunboat Lutin, 'and five Chinese gunboats are moored abreast of the settlement. There is still great excitement in Canton. Placards are posted on the walls applauding tho action of the people in attacking the settlement, and calling upon them next time to destroy the European devils as well as their property. Ten English establishments, one American, one - French, and two German were burned to t

the ground, and two English, one German, J and one French house were sacked by the I mob. The Consuls have sent an identical note to the Viceroy holding, him responsible for the destruction.

MRS. LANGTRY IN PAJUS.

Paris in general and the Champs Elytdes in particular are enlivened by the advent of Mrs. Langtry, whom the Figaro has somewhat illogicaUy christened '' The American Sarah Bernhardt." Through the m«dium of Mes'rs. John Arthur and Co., tho house agents, Mrs. Langtry has engaged for a month a charming suite of apartments in the Rue de Bassano. She has brought her horsos and carriages from England with her, and ha 3 come to Pans, for rest and for dresses. She proposes visiting each and every Paris theatre in turn, and is determined not to let the grass grow under her feet. She is here to study and observe, but not to criticise. It is believed she is about to confide her histrionic talents to the tutelage of Got and Coquelin, just a3 she has already entrusted her personal charms to the guidance of Worth.

SOME RULE IN. IRELAND,

A despatch from Dublin, dated September 17, says;— There was a mass-meeting of the Irish National League at Oarrick-on-Shannon on Sunday, at which 60,000 persons were present. Thomas' Power O'Connor, member of Parliament for Galway, delivered a stirring speech in favour of Home Rule for Ireland. The meeting adopted resolutions declaring that the Irish National League will never cease its efforts until a National Irish Parliament is established. A large meeting of the League was also held at Malo, at which Commissioner O'Brien, M.P., and editor of United Ireland, made an address. Be urged his hearers to persevere in their determination to win the independence of Ireland from English domination, by peaceful means if possible, but win at all hazards.

NORDENSKJOLPS EXPLORA ■ 'lIONS.

Advices from Professor Nordenskjold's expedition to Greenland have been received via Thurso, Scotland. They state that the expedition started from Autleikvick on the 4th of September, and reached a distance of 360 kilometers inland, attaining a height of 7000 feet ab&ve the sea. This is the first time; human beings have penetrated so far into Greenland. The whole region is a desert, proving that there is no open water inland. Valuable scientific data was obtained. Alosg the north-western coast a cold stream flows which induces a very low temperature, but on the eastern shore the weather is not so severe, and that coast is accessible to stnamera in autumn. When the party was 140 kilometers east of the glacier border, the soft snow prevented them from proceeding on sledges. The Laplanders were, therefore, sent on with snow-shoes. The rest of the expedition visited the north-west coast, i between W*igat and Cape York. They were informed by the Esquimaux tbat two members of the American Polar Expedition had died, and that the rest returned to Littleton Island. On the 16th of August the expedition sailed south from Egcdssraond, making a short stay at Ivigtut, ]. Julianeshaub, and Fredersdale, and tried to proceed eastward three times through the sound, north of Cape Farewell, and along the coast, but the ice prevented. They went outside the ice field to latitude 66 degs., remaining continually insight of land. The drift ice was forced south of Cape Don, and on September 9 they anchored in a fjord newly visited by Esquimaux, where remains of the Norman .period were fountL This was the first time since the fifteenth century that a vessel has succeeded in anchoring on the east coast of Greenland south of the polar circle. After having tried vainly to anchor in another fjord to the north they returned, and arrived at Reikavik Sept. 19.

MISCELLANEO US.

Mary Anderson, the American actress, and niece to Consnl Griffin, of Auckland, novV in London, recently declined the honour of being presented to the Prince of Wales. She desired, she said, to avoid scandal. The Queen has subscribed £200 for the relief of distress in Egypt, caused by the cholera. Marwood, the Loudon hangman, is dead. An inquest was ordered, as it was said the Invincibles caused his death. H. C. Bromby, ex-Attorney- Gsneral of Tasmania, is now in San Francisco on a leoturing tour. He is cramming the reporters with antipodal political gossip, and criticising the Irish policy of the British Government in the most approved Fenian manner. Mr. Dutton Cook, well known as a literary m»n and dramatic critic, died in London on September 13.

The electric light makes steady progress. The largest shipping contract yet entered into has jost been reported—that of the New Zealand Shipping Company with the Edison Company for the lighting of three magnificent ships, which are about to be launched on the Clyde. Each ship will have a duplicate set of dynamos and engines. Truth says : —"lt may not be generally known that Lord Wolseley has for many years been extensively interested in squatting pursuits in Australia as the partner of his younger brother Fred. Mr. Fred. Wolseloy is a squatter of much energy and skill, of much enterprise, and of some recklessness. The partner brothers have been very wealthy; and again, because of bad seasons and unlucky ventures, ' the bite has been very short,' to use an Australian phrase. It is understood that ' Sir Garnet's' Ashantee batta of £25,000 was snatched at one fell swoop to meet a squatting indebtedness of the copartnery. It was sent out to swell its bank account; but brother Fred, had not been prospering, the balance was heavily the wrong way, and the bank absorbed the batta, and even, like Oliver Twist, asked for more. At present affairs are prospering."