AMERICAN NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9089, 25 June 1888, Page 6

AMERICAN NOTES.

[from our own correspondent.]

San Francisco, June 3. The R.M. s.s. Alameda has been detained for two days, because of a long passage made by the Cunard s.s. Aurania in crossing the Atlantic—the latter steamer nob arriving at New York till Monday, May 28, two days late. Now that the change to the Cunard line has been effected, it seems so stupid that the mails should not be forwarded by the quickest boats. This could vary easily be done, and if there were one week s detention of the mails in leaving England, then they would always be carried by the Umbria and Etruria—the two fastest boats of the fleet. The Aurania and Servia, which now carry your mails, are the two slowest boats of the line, and it would be well worth putting up with a woek's delay for one month, rather than have a permanent slow service by slow steamers. Sir William Poarce now announces that the new twin screw steamer, to be built for the Guion line, will make the trip from Queenstown to New York in five days. The Canadian Pacific Company is entering heartily into the contest for the San Francisco, China, and Japan trade. Besides their three original boats — the Abyssinia, Batavia, and Parthia—they now have the Zambosi and Port Adelaide both on the way to San Francisco. They have made a big cut in both freight and passenger rates, their last outward steamer taking more Chinese than have been carried by any other boat of the other lines for some time past. Captain Webber is no longer the company's superintendent at Victoria, the Messrs. Spreckles being notified that his services had been dispensed with almost immediately after his departure from San Francisco a month ago. The White Star's s.s. Arabic has left Liverpool for San Francisco, via Suez and Hongkong, being chartered by tho Occidental and Oriental Steamship Company for tho China and Japan trade, to hike the place of the wrecked San Pablo. Sho is expected hero on August 3. The annual meeting of tho Pacific Mail Steamship Company shows anct profit for the past year business of 440,428.45d015. The report refers to the necessity of purchasing now steamers, and the Board is considering means for raising money necessary for such a purpose. The report also deprecates the apathy of the Government in relation to steamship companies, and urges a subsidy for carrying tho mails. It is announced that the Samoan post office at Apia is now subordinate to that of Germany, and all mail matter can henceforth be forwarded th ere at postal union rates. This is an open admission of Germany's jurisdiction in the Samoan Islands. Statistics of immigration show that 9,000,000 aliens have landed at New York since 1847, and 3,000,000 of them since 18S0. This year the number landed has been 179.000, over 135,000 having come into the country, at New York alone, during tho months of April and May. A fortnight ago thirty ships arrived with 22,669 steerage immigrants in one week. The number landed at New York in May was as largo as the total immigration for the year 1878, and much larger than for cither of the years 1866 or 1867.

Three months ago the British barque Brussels was found on fire in the harbour at midnight, after she had taken in a valuable cargo for Havre. Sho needed considerable repairs, and her captain was transferred to another vessel belonging to tho same owners, and went to Newcastle. After Captain Crosby's departure the chief officer and steward of the barque accused him of setting fire to her. The polico had, however, been quietly working up a case against these two worthies, and they were arrested, tried, and found guilty, both finally acknowledging their guilt. The steward, Charles R. Backman, who was the instigator of tho crime, received a sentence of thirty-five years' imprisonment at hard labour, while the chief officer, Clarence L. Caskey, was sentenced to fifteen years' imprisonment. Justice can be meted out occasionally in San Francisco.

Toemer, the oarsman, intends to leave San Francisco at the end of July for Australia if Kemp decides to accept his challenge. He feels confident of success, for he has beaten Hanlan's record of 19 minutes '23 seconds when rowfng with Hamm at Boston, over a three-mile course with a turn. He dashed off at lightning speed, turned the stake in 9 minutes 30 seconds, and finished in 19 minutes 4 seconds, beating Hanlan's record by 19 seconds. Hosmer and Ross rowed a single scull race on the Merrimac river, two and a-half miles, with two turns. It was a close race, but Hosmer won by half-a-length in 16 minutes. The demand for lumber not being so active as it was a few months ago, there has been a decline in prices except for the foreign trade. In order to prevent any further decline, the lumber mills have agreed to limit the output, and some of the mills are shutting down. The Alameda takes down Secretary Merry, of the United States Commission, to the Melbourne Exhibition ; also Mr. Melton Prior, special artist to the Illustrated London News. The exhibit from California will be but a small one, as it is too early for this year's fruit pack, and machinery and manufactures are sent direct from the East, and not through the Californian agencies. The Oceanic Company is carrying all exhibits at 50 per cent, off regular freight rates, and yet she takes from far from a full cargo. The whole of her passenger accommodation has, howevor, been engaged, and the Mariposa will follow with a still larger complement of passengers, a special return rate being made to and from the Exhibit ion. No doubt all these strangers will circulate a little money when passing through Auckland, and your people might perhaps bo able to induce some of them to remain, over in New Zealand for a month.

A young Englishman, who arrived from Sydney nearly a year ago, has had an unpleasant experience. He was travelling with a friend, and left him one evening here, after making an appointment for tho following day. Nothing more was ever heard of him till the friend, a few days ago, received a letter written in England, stating that lie had gone into a saloon for a drink, and there met a couple of men, with whom he had a second. Ho remembered nothing more until he woke up and found himself at sea. He had been drugged and shanghaed, somebody signing for him on the ship's articles as John Brown. All his money and clothes were gene, and he had to work his way to England. The young fellow is of good family, and he is fearful lest his friends should learn his fate and chaff him most unmercifully.

Claus Spreckels left for his new home in Philadelphia on May 10th. He has already completed boring on his property, and is now working on the plans for the refinery machinery. Pile-driving is in operation, and by June 11th all the buildings will be assuming shape under the hands of a vast army of workmen. The factory buildings will all be from six to thirteen stories in height, and the whole is expected to bo completed within a year. Before Mr. Spreckels left San Francisco, his employees gave him a surprise party, and presented nim with a set of resolutions engraved on a silver plate. Over 800 men were present, as many more being away on the steamers and sailing vessels of the fleet, and at work on the night watch of tho California Refinery. This is the first instance in tho United States where an employer has been so recognised by his employees, the tendency generally being in this country for tho employer to be abused and growled at. The Harbour Commissioners have for years past been endeavouring to find a preventative to the destructive work of tho teredo. It has been necessary heretofore to renew piles on the wharves every three years, the insect proving impervious to any tried remedy, how it has been, decided to charge the piles with creosote, and works will be erected in the city for that purpose. Tho success of creosote has been 'demonstrated elsewhere, the only objection to it hero being the great cost; but even this, it is thought, will be cheaper than renewing the piles every three years. The modus operandi of charging the piles is to place them in lonp air-tight cylinders. Heat is then applied until the sap exudes and evaporates. By moans of pumps the air is then withdrawn, and when the necessary vacuum is created the creosote solution is forced into the cylinders, and it thoroughly impregnates the piles. The principal pugilistic event of the month was & small glove contest between Frank Glover, of Chicago, and Joe McAuliffe, the heavy weight champion of the, Pacific Coast. It took place under the auspices of the California Athletic Club, which offered - a 1750 dollar trophy to the.

winner. Only members of the Club were present, and the fight took place in a 24foot ring. There was a large amount of betting- on the event, but the two men started , even. The fight lasted through forty-nine rounds, when Glover fell like a log, and was unable to rise. MoAuliffe was severely punished also, and, notwithstand- , ing the fact that his right hand was broken ' in the seventeenth round, he bore the pain, and subsequently inflicted such severe punishment as to come off victorious.

It is now a certainty that Blaine will nob be the Republican candidate for President, and nobody has any idea who will represent the party. The Democratic presidential ticket will be Cleveland for president, and probably Thurman of Ohio for vice-presi-dent, [A cable despatch has informed us of the nomination of Blaine]. A Democratic caucus has been held and a large number of amendments wore accepted to the proposed Tariff Reform Bill. Mills, framer of the Bill, was obliged to accept these in order to retain the support of his party. Not one of the amendments, however, referred to free wool. The duty on lead ore was changed at the caucus to 60 por cent., Mills' Bill having reduced it from 65 to 40 per cent. The reduction on rice flour and rice meal from 20 to 15 per cent, ad valorem was passed. Should the free wool paragraph be stricken out of the Mills Bill in the House, then an alternate proposition will be ottered to nyike the duty on raw wool one half of the present rate, and to make corresponding charges in the proposed rates on manufactures of wool.

In commercial circles the principal event has been the failure of William T. Coleman and Co., a house that did a largo business with the colonies in canned goods, salmon, dried fruits, etc. and was always regarded as firm as a rock. Tho total liabilities amouted to 2,919,993 dollars 17 cents, and the estimated assets to 3,595,069 dollars 27 cents. These figures include the private financial affairs of Mr. William T. Coleman. In the business affairs of the firm the liabilities amounted to 2,660,983 dollars 35 cents, with estimated assets of 1,707,138 dollars 27 cents, or a shortage of more than 950,000 dollars. Among the assets are certain borax lands valued at 2,000,000 dollars, but which Mr. Coleman acknowledges cannot bo sold owing to the proposed reduction in tariff on borax. They may possibly realise 500,000 dollars. Several borax companies connected with the Coleman firm have since failed, ,as has also the J. Lusk Fruit Canning Co. Almost all the creditors are in the Eastern States or abroad, only four banks and two individuals having been "hit" in California. Though Mr. Coleman says he will pay dollar for dollar, it is hardly expected in business circles that the assets will realise more than half of the indebtedness. Tho suffering banks are :— Bank of California, 273,000 dollars ; Nevada Bank, 225,000 dollars; Bank of British North America, 200,000 dollars; Bank of British Columbia, 105,000 dollars. Owing to this failure, colonial buyers will have to seek some other sourco from which to obtain their canned salmon and fruits. Salmon is higher, owing to heavy sales on English account, and the small pack to date caused by the light run of fish on the Columbia. Large sales of Alaska salmon have been made at 1 dollar 37A cents, to 1 dollar 45 cents, f.o.b. for export. As nothing has been definitely settled yet about the extension of the San Francisco mail service, it is believed that Mr. Spreckels is making arrangements to employ his steamers in some other line. New Zealand promised a year's extension some time ago, but New South Wales lingers on in a condition of uncertainty, which is, at least, very discourteous to your colony. It can hardly bo expected that Mr. Spreckels will wait until October or November for the decision of New South Wales, and then, perhaps, find himself with four idle steamers on his hand. Considering the prompt manner in which he came to the relief of the colonies when Mr. Pearce behaved so badly, it is a matter for regret that New South Wales cannot be, at least, courteous and polite. If a definite answer be not received by Mr. Spreckles very shortly, ho will, no doubt, close negotiations that it is generally believed are now pending for employing his steamers.