NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10036, 24 January 1896, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The death of Mia Right Reverend Bishop Luck will be heard of with deep sorrow, n&i only among the members of his own Church, in which lie held such an eminent position, but among a wide circle of citizens of every denomination, who regarded the deceased prelate with feelings of great respect and esteem. A man of refined and scholarly tastes, ho did not take a prominent part in public lifo, except within the sphere of his own professional and religious life, in Which, while showing himself a sincere and zealous Catholic, he did no. thing to inflame tile feelings of others who may have differed from him in religious faith. Indeed; in e'iich controversies as he felt called by duty to engage in, he exhibited a marked courtesy and consideratenesß that almost disarmed opposition and while an acute reasoner and a keen debater be exhibited a frankness of concession and a generous interpretation of an opponent's arguments not often found in theological or quasi-religious discussion;, Dr. Luck Was Tory charming in private life, and endeared himself to all his sur. roundings while apart from his purely religious services lie has left behind him a record in church and school extension that will have Impressed the memory of Bishop Luck on Roman Catholics in Auckland for many years to come

It will be learned with profound regret that Prince Henry of Battenberg, the husband of Princess Beatrice, the youngest daughter of Queen Victoria, has succumbed to an attack of African fever at the early age of 38. The Prince was eager for service with the British troops dispatched against the King of Aahanti, bub soon after his arrival be was seized with fever. His con dition became so serious that he Was ordered back to the Coast. Our latest ' cable met sages were of a Somewhat reassuring charaoter. Id Was stated that he was better. However, his condition must have been moro serious than those about him supposed. He died on his way home to England. The Borrows of the Royal Family are the sorrows of all the subjects of the Queen, and this terrible blow whict has made a widow of the Princess Beatrin will kindle sympathy throughout the whole Empire. The Prince was born in 1858, and was married in 1885. ; He has left two son: and a daughter. The Princess Beatrice ii the second daughter of the Queen who ha; been made a widow.

It is stated in a Vienna despatch which w( publish to-day that the work of remoring the rocks known as the " Iron Gate" in tb< Danube River below Orsova will be completed by Septembor next. The largest vessels will thus be able to come up the Danube to Vienna. At the point known as the Iron Gate the stream has a width ol only 129 yards, and the piled up waters attain a depth of 28 fathoms, ledge* of rock lift their tooth-like pointi above the surface, and all around i seething stretch of whirlpools, cataracts, eddies, and counter-eddie?, com' bines with the river's rapid fall bo present i serious obstuole to navigation. Many attempts have been made to improve the bed here, whioh, under attic's* 57 of tin Berlin Treaty, Austria bound herself to clear.

When the last British expedition against the ABhantis in 1873-74 arrived at Kumnssi the sights and surroundings of this horrible city, the chief delight of whoso inhabitants appeared to bo the shedding of human blood, were such as to siokon and disgust the strongest or tho most callous natures. Blood and human remains were everywhere, the ghastly memories of the thousands of victims yearly sacrificed ab the instance of a cruel tyrant and his equally bloodthirsty subjects. King Koffoe on thab occasion having beeh defeated in a previous encounter beat a hasty rotreat before the British troops entered his capital, and as he obstinately refused to return or to como to any terms, his palace was destroyed, and the whole city fired anil destroyed. Prior to this, however, the King's palace yielded some treasure and curiosities to the search parties, including tho Royal State Umbrella, which was brought to England and presented to Her Majesty by Sir Garnet Wolselej*. The climate and the approach of the rainy season would not permib of the troops lingering long »' Kumassi, and tho capital having been destroyed, the soldiers turned their backs on the scene of their triumph and cow menced the homeward inarch. But Ion? before this was accomplished King Koffee had asked to arrange terms of peace, which were eventually drawn ut> and signed by that dusky monarch. A feature of interest in connection with the exhibition was the fact that field-telegraphy was usod for the first time by British troops in actual war fare.

The Armenian question does nob appM' to be nearing a satisfactory solution. It » stated that the Sultan is greatly displease'! at the letter addressed to him by Que* 11 Victoria, and that the Russian Embassy i* alarmed at the determined, attitude assume 1 ' by Great Britain, According to a * taW ' meat in a. London journal five thousand British troops are being pot ready f° f foreign service,' Mr. Gladstone has written a letter denouncing Dr. Jameson's action. The latter has, on behalf of his to" 0 "' prisoners, thankad President Krugor W the. lonienojr extended to them. 1 " death of Prince. Henry of Bnttenburtf l'» ! prostrated 'the' Queen, and evoked »" outburst,. of sympathy with Her M»i« ! 'J and her widowed daughter. The American Government are showing a"dispoiit"* to come to an amicable agreement; ottf W* Vcuezttelaii boundary' dispute. v '