The Mail News.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 152, 30 May 1874, Page 15

The Mail News.

ENGLISH.

As illustrative of the prosperity of the mining districts, a Staffordshire paper relates the following anecdote : A professional mun entered a provision dealer’s shop in one of the mining districts, and, pointing to some sealed tins, inquired wlnit they contained. “Grouse and partridges, sir,” replied tho dealer. “ How many birds are there in each tin, and what do you charge ?” “There’s one bird in each tin, and they are half a crown each.” “ Thank you, that’s more than I can afford.” “No offence, sir ; but we did not lay them in for gentlemen like you —we got them for tho miners. A miner called with his wife half an hour ago, and asked tho same question as you have. When I had answered them, lie said, ‘ Missis, we’ll ha’ two of them for tea.’ ” It is stated that tho Prince Imperial, having distanced all his competitors at the Woolwich Academy examinations, for which he has been studying lor some time past, has been awarded the fust place on the list. Sir Wm. Muir, honorary physician to the Queen, succeeds to the Medical Directorship of the Army on the retirement of Sir Thos. Galbraith Logan.

Mr Cardwell has been raised to the peerage as Viscount Cardwell of Ellerberck. Lord Enfield has been called to the House of Peers by bis father’s barony of Strafford. Sir Thos. Freemautle has been created Baron Chiltern. A baronetcy has been conferred on Sir Charles Trevelyan. Viscount Sydney has been created an earl. At the Queen’s special desire, the Marquis of Westminster has been created a duke. A ruarquisate Las been offered to Earl Spencer, ex Viceroy of Ireland, and declined. Colonel Wilson Patten has been ruised to the peerage as Baron Wyresdale. The Bale of Baron Rothschild’s racing stud realised 14,305 guineas. Messrs Quinn, the Belfast shipowners, have been fined and imprisoned for sending unseaworthy ships to sea.

The International Football Match between England and Scotland, at Kennington Oval, was won by the English. Lady Barker has been appointed Lady Superintendent of the National Training School for Cookery.

Mr W. H. Smith succeeds Mr Dodson as financial secretory of the Treasury. Viscount Sandon takes Mr Forster’s place as vicepresident of the Council. Mr Hart Dyke has received a new office as secretary of the Treasury. At a Home Rule Conference of Irish members, resolutions were passed pledging the Home Rulers to act independently of party combinations.

Professor Huxley has been installed lord rector of the University of Aberdeen, and delivered an address on higher educ ition, and the need of science in university culture. Mr John Harris, who for many years was lessee of the Theatre Royal, Dublin, has been found drowned at Killiney. He had recently been in a depressed state of mind, and it is supposed Ye committed suicide. Although in affluent circumstances, Mr Harris had recently parted with his interest in the Theatre Royal.

The verdict in the case of the Tichborne claimant has been almost universally endorsed by the nation. The claimant’s attorney, Mr Charles Harcourt, with a view of setting aside the judgment, applied to the visiting justices for permission to visit the convict in Newgate. Meanwhile, Charles Orton has dictated to a writer in the “ Daily Telegraph ” a long confession, occupying three columns in that paper. The “ Globe ” also has published a short letter from the claimant’s brother. The authenticity of his statement is challenged by Orton’s sisters, Mrs Jury and Mrs Tredgett, who aver that the claimant is not their brother. Mr Pittendreigh has published startling disclosures respecting the imposture. Orton has been removed from Newgate to Millbank Prison, where he will be detained nine months. His weight is 3821 b. With regard to “ the confession ” of Charles Orton, the following statement by Mrs Jury has been published by the “ Daily Telegraph”:—“l observe that Charles sayß he is not on good terms with his sister ; and I can assure you, sir, his sister could give good reason for this feeling—not the least of which is his conduct in having lent himself to be the agent and associate of detectives and others, in sending into penal servitude for fourteen

years a gentleman whom he knows to bo no more his brother Arthur than he is himself, and which he lias done simply for money, beins too lazy to work for his bread. I see also with indignation that he talcea every pains throughout his letter to drag me and my sisters into this shameful fraud, and to make it appear wo had been accomplices in it. But my sisters and I never held any other opinion than that, this gentleman —the Claimant —was not our brother; and in receiving any assistance from him, they did so merely as from a friend of Arthur, who had become, or was about to become, very rich. My sister Mar garot died in the full belief that the Claimant was not Arthur, and I repeat that both my sister Mary Ann (Mrs Tredgott) and myself, shall ever livo in that belief and conviction. I well remember that Arthur was tattooed in two places on the arm, and I believe that the letters ‘A.O.’ were each at least an inch long. As to the birth-mark, I know that Arthur had none, but Robert had one —a very small one—on his right side. X also know that Mrs Cockling, who swore to the mark as on Arthur, was not Arthur’s nurse. It was another person who nursed him. I repeat that neither my sisters nor I ever had such a thought as that the Claimant, in giving help to members of our family, did it as a bribe ;or in any way to influence us. We felt it was nothing but a kindness to the sisters and brother of his former companion in Australia. Charles knew this very well ; and X, in common with the rest, oi the family, am ashamed of his ingratitude and basenes-s in first assisting in prosecuting, and now persecuting as being his brother, a gentleman who had been so kind to him, and who he well knows is not. his brother ” The'other s ; ster of Arthur Orton (Mrs Tredgelt) has made a similar statement, and Charles Orton has retorted upon thorn that all his statements are true.

'lho following are the terms of the treaty with the King of Ashantee, viz : 1. 1 he King pays an indemnity of 50,0000zs gold ; 2. Renounces his claim on Adansi, Assin, Antim, Denkera, and Wassan ; 3. Withdraws his forces from Appoloniu, Dixcove, and other parts of the coast belonging to Ore at. Britain ; 4. Undertakes to keep a road clear, fifteen feet wide, from Coomussie to the X’rah ; 5 Undertakes to protoct merchandise in transit. ; G. Prohibits human sacrifices; 7. Promises perpetual peace witli England. r lhe Queen has sent a congratulatory letter to Colonel Wolseley. ICing Koffce’s umbrella has arrived as a war trophy at Windsor Castle. The Coomassie booty"is valued at about £6OOO. Obituary.—Major Charles Adams, General Sir Sydney Cotton, Vice-Admiral Harnond Glass.*, Lord Murray, the Dowager Duchoss of Argyle, the Duchess of Buckingham, Lady Houghton, fiord Massey, Countess Danner, the widow of the late King of Sweden, Cardinal Barnabo, Count Retiard (a German sportsman), ex-Preeident Fillimore, Dr Forces Winslow, Dr Neill Arnott, Countess Northesk, Baroness Langford, Lieut.-Genernl Garstin, Mdllo Aimee Desclee (actress). Countess Bronnow, the Dowager-Duchess of Richmond, the Bishop of Gibraltar, Mr John Candlish (ex-member for Sunderland,) Admiral Woodhouso (Lord Kimberley’s uncle). FOREIGN. Rumors are current in Lisbon that some of the inhabitants of the 1-land of Eayal, ih the Azores, have written to President Grant requesting a United States protectorate. Prc3ident Grant replied that the era of conquest was past, and had been superseded by the law of the popular will. The Dutch Parliament has authorized an cxclenpiture of 30 millions on fortifications. Great distress in Constantinople has been occasioned by a heavy snowstorm. Serious riots have occurred in Pesth, from the popular idea that the suicide of a butcher in prison had been occasioned by the harsh treatment of the prison officials. The townhall was fired by the mob, and the riot was only quelled by the troops after bloodshed. A Carlist leader (Sabals) has, by a sudden surprise, captured General Nouvalis and his column when marchng to the relief of Olot. Sabals entered Olot without further fighting. Serious dissensions have taken place among the deputies of Alsaco-Lorrnino in the German Reichstadt. Bishop Raess, of Strasburg, failing to protest, against annexation, has been requested to resign. Count Arnim has been transferred from Paris to Constantinople, a change regarded as having reference to eventualities. Prince Rismarck, previous to. his illness, was interviewed by Jokai, the eminent Hungarian, to whom he spoke with characteristic frankness on European politics and the Eastern question. Ho spoke contemptuously cn the French as varnished barbarians, stigma* tised the Pope in violent terms, and ridiculed the idea of Russia annexing Constantinople, or Germany incorporating the Catholic province of Austria. The publication of the details of the interview produced a great sensation on the Continent. Bismarck is apparently striving to drive F.iance and the Papacy into common, submission or combined resistance. A bill has been laid before the French Assembly to authorise a new scheme of fortification, which will include both Paiis and Versailles. A vote of seven million francs is demanded for the immediate commencement of operations. AMERICA. There has been an a.fctempt to get up a communist demonstration on a small scale in the city of New York. A public meeting was held in Tompkins square on the 13th of January, with the avowed object of ex. iting a ii>t, and the floating scum of the city mostly foreign refugees and adventurers of the worst type —assembled for the purpose of spouting seditious balderdash, which was

strangely out of place in a country where the people, and not unfrequentlv the mob, is king. The police seem to have behaved with considerable forbearance, until one of their number was knocked on the head and mortally wounded with a claw hammer, when the signal was given to attack the rioters, who were speedily dispersed, their ringleaders being taken into custody. Such an incident naturally excited considerable comment in the public press, and the conduct of the communists met with general condemnation. It was denounced n 3 the attempt of a few persons to overawe the people and to encroach upon its rights; and one journal animadverted upon the anomalous character of the whole proceeding, observing that in Europo it may be the Government of the country which shows itself hostile to the people ; whereas, in the United States it is a lawless and turbulent section of society which endeavors to derange and injuro tho whole fabric. VICTORIA. An application has been made to Mr Juslice Barry for a commission to examine witnesses in New Zealand in the case of “ Treen v. Cameron.” The action was brought for a libel published in the “ Town and Country” journal on Mr W. H. Treen. The case was tried at the last sittings, and a verdict given for plaintiff, but a new trial was ordered, which would, in the ordinary course have come off on the 20th May. The attorney for the defendant swore that it was desirable *o procure tho evidence of Mr Daniel Abraham Hughes, who is now in New Zealand, and who was at one time connected with tho “ Town and Country.” In n telegram lately received from Mr Hughes was tlie following : —“ Why go to trial without my evidence, and I most anxious to give it. Treen’s testimony as to accounts and my condoning the plagiarism is utterly false As to plagiarism, I proposed Treen’s dismissal for it, and a public apology to the ‘Times’” His Honor granted tho application for a commission, so that the case will now not be. tried till August.

THE CUNARD FLEET—THE BOTHNIA. (From the Glasgow Herald, March 7.) The Bothnia, which is the largest steamship that has yet been constructed for the Canard Line, wa3 launched on Wed esdav afternoon, from the shipbuilding yard of Messrs J. and G. Thomson at Daimuir. The Bothnia is upwards of 4-500 tons burthen, and of the following dimensions : Length overall, 455 feet; breadth of beam, 42 feet. 6 inches ; depth, 36 feet. Accommodation is provided for 300 first-class and 800 third-class passengers. She is barque-rigged, and has four decks, namely, the upper or promenade deck, the spar deck, the main deck, and the lower or orlop deck. The Bothnia is fitted with compound engines of 600 horse-power, of the massive description common to Cunard liners, and so essential for safely ploughing the Atlantic. There are two jacketed cylinder engines,the small cylinder being 62 inches and the large one 106 inches, and eight boilers, with twenty-four furnaces in nil. That abundance of fuel will be provided for the ship may be inferred from the fact that the coal bunkers are capable of holding 1200 tons —a quantity more than sufficient to carry her across to America and back again. Steam winches of extra size are attached to all the hatches, and the weighing of the anchor is secured by the use of Har-field-’s steam windlass. Tho steam steering gear is amidships, besides which sho has powerful screw gearing ; and in further supplement of the guiding resources of the vessel, it may bo directed from a wheel-house aft, in the event of the steam gearing getting out of order while at sea. Tho Bothnia, it is hardly necessary to say, is huiit in the most substantial manner, and is indeed in all respects one of the finest of the thirty-four steamships which have been constructed by the Messrs Thomson for t.he Cunard Company. The iron scantlings are exceedingly strong, the ship beiim double-plated for a considerable distance s round the bilge, and having nine intercostal keelsons, while the spar deck, which is all of teak, is plated with iron. She is also strengthened fore and aft, by way of resisting the action of tho sea. There are twelve smallboats on board, all fitted as life-boats, which is an unusual number for such a vessel. The saloon for first-class passengers, situated nearly amidships, is about 41 feet square, and will dine upwards of 300 persons at one time. The furnishings and decorations nre of the most superb description. First-class passengers are accommodated for the most part on the spar deck, and hero also are the confectioners’ shops, &e, while the third-class passengers are below in the lower deck. On the promenade deck is a large smoking room for gentlemen, and a handsomely filted-up cabin for ladies, the lower decks being reached by companions. The state-rooms are exceptionally large and well lighted, and the ventilation all through the sh : D has received great attention. The Scythia, sister ship to the Bothnia, and tpe Saragossa and Cherbourg are being built in the same yard, and will shortly form an important, addition to the already colossal squadron of steamers belonging to t.he Cunard Company. The establishment of a mail steam service between G-eat Britain and North America was proje. :< fin 1839 by this company, who entered into a contract with the Admiralty for flic conveyance of the mails, and the Britannia, the (i-st steamer of the line, sailed on July 4, 181.0, from Liverpool for Halifax and Bofion. But the Messrs Burns, of Glasgow, and Messrs Mclver, of Liverpool, had long prior to that date been engaged in steam navigation, as will be seen from the records of tho Custom House, from nhieh it appears that, after abandoning sailing vessels, they commenced to employ steamships in 1524, since which time they have had under their flag 164 steamers, the present fleet of the company consisting, as will be seen from the following table, of 49 steamships,

comprising a tonnage of upwards of 90,000 tons, and "nearly 15,000 horse-power—far exceeding the entire fleet of the Imperial German Empire. Tho whole property of the company is now owned by three families ‘the Messrs Burns, of Glasgow ; Messrs Mclver, of Liverpool ; and Mr William Cunard, who resides in London. His father, the late Sit Samuel Cunard, Bart., originally came from Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and formed a connection with Messrs Burns and Mclver, who by their united efforts have constructed a navy greater than that of most of tho mai itime Bowers of the world, and are now employing a larger number of sailors than any of them, if we except the first States of Europe and America. the cunard fleet.

Steamer's Name.

V

Scotia - - _ 3S71 1000 Itussia - - _ 2000 600 J ava - - - 2000 GOO C uba _ 200S 500 China - - - 2033 420 Samaria - - 2005 300 Siberia- - - 24 OS 300 JVfalta - - - 2132 2S0 Palmyra - 2014 200 Tarifa - - - 205S 280 Aleppo- - - 2057 280 Kedar - - - 1S75 212 Atlas - - - 2303 300 Morocco - - 17S3 250 Si don - - - 1853 212 Marathon - - 2403 300 Olympus - - 2415 270 Ilecla - - - 2421 270 Balbec - - - 774 130 British Queen 703 150 Stromboli- - 734 100 Jackal - - - ISO 100 Satellite - - 157 80 Penguin - - 030 ISO Bull'alo 080 250

Steamer’s Name.

Total gross tonnage - - 90,700 Total horse power - - - 14,525

ta 0 O fl Og EH

Llama - - EH CSC 2S0 Camel - - - GDI 250 Racoon - SSI 300 Raven - - - 778 150 Calabria - - 2901 400 Batavia - - 2553 450 Abyssinia - - 3253 500 Algeria - 3297 500 Bear - - - 691 150 Parthia - 3430 450 Trinidad - - 1S99 300 Demerara- . 1904 300 Owl - - - - 914 230 Nantes - - - 1472 100 Brest - - - 1472 100 Cherbourg - 1000 100 Bothnia - - 4500 000 Scythia - 4500 GOO Saragossa - - 2500 300 Hornet- - - 500 100 Wasp - - - 550 100 Alpha - - - C53 112 Beta - - - 1037 1G0 Delta - - 044 120