ARRIVAL OF THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL AT AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 896, 3 May 1889, Page 29

ARRIVAL OF THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL AT AUCKLAND.

(Per R.M.S. Zealandia.) (i’ER Tress association.) GENERAL SUMMARY (European dates to April 6.)’ A public debate has been arranged fo’r. May between Henry George and Samuel Smith, the Gladstoniau member-of Parliament for Flintshire. The Baltic Timber Yard, near Buckingham Palace, London, was burned down on March 28th } loss, £60,000. An express train from Southport to London on March 30fch, loaded With persons on their way to witness the Oxford and Cambridge boatrace, was derailed at Penistou and wrecked. One person was killed and four seriously injured. According to the Standard, Herbert Bismarck’s interviews with the Marquis of Salisbury have resulted iu a complete understanding between Germany and England. There was a heated debate in the House of Commons on March 21st on the motion to reduce Mr Balfour’s salary by £SOO. It was lost by 127 majority. Mr Morley produced a mass of details to prove that the Government assisted The ‘Times’ case through Housten and Pigott. Mr Balfour said it waß an Unfounded libel, and asked how the witnesses had been intimidated. He was called to order by the Chair. The intention of giving a Liberal banquet to Mr Parnell; with Mr Gladstone in the chair, was abandoned owing to inability to obtain a building in London spacious enough to hold the expected assemblage. The great Eiffel tower was opened in Paris on March 31. Mr Stead, of the Pall Mall Gazette, had a narrow escape from death. He was inspecting the tower in company with M. Clemenocau, when a sudden storm of wind and hail came up. Mr Stead was only 30 yards from the top of the tower when he fell over some loose planks and lurched forward, narrowly escaping a fall of 800 feet to the ground by clinging desperately to some projecting ironwork till M. Clemenceau and some workmen came to his assistance. . , All reputable paper firms in London deny the report that a syndicate of the paper manufacturers in England representing £2,000,000 has been formed to raise the price of paper. The Postmaster-General, Mr Raikes, announced in the House of Commons on Maroh 21 that the Government intended to lay a submarine cable between Bermuda and England has demanded of Morocco £50,000 indemnity for the massacre and pillage of the McKenzie factory in July. In a speech at Paris on March 25, Boulanger utterly repudiated the idea of dictatorship. He had no idea to pose as a monarch. In an interview with the Due d’Aumale the same day, ho said he did not aspire to the Crown of France, but intended to live as an honorable citizen. Ho freely confessed at the same time that he thought a monarchy the best for France. Lord Beamont has applied to the House of Lords, of which he is a member, to have his marriage with Viola, the daughter of Madame Elise, formerly milliner to the Queen, annulled. Miss Helen Butterick, an American girl, residing in Berlin, drowned herself in the River Spree reoently, on account of a disappointment in love. She had received letters from New Hampshire stating that her sweetheart had married another girl. China and Corea have arrived at an amicable undei'standing. The number of deaths from famine at Shantung up to March 22nd was appalling. Many had co unfitted suicide through despondency, as the harvest, could not be gathered for three months. The Pope’s income for 18SS amounted to £504,000, of which £373,100 came from Peter’s pence, and 133,000 from interest on money invested out of Italy. The outlay of the Vatican amounted to only £340,000. This is a highly satisfactory balance-sheet, but does not take into account £480,000 which his Holiness received in money presents during the Jubilee. Williamson, the short stop of the Chicago baseball players, who visited Australia recently, did not return from London to the United States with his party, as the injury to his kneecap has assumed the form of paralysis of the lower extremities. The doctor says, however, there was no danger of permanent injury. The verdict against Labouchere, given on March 25, in the Mercier libel suit, was 40s. The Rev Charles Sumner Hurd, of the Parimenter Street Unitarian Cbapel, Boston, Massaohnsets, committed suicide in a London hotel on the 4th of April. He had been employed by the Northern Pacific Railway Company to write a book describing Washington Territory, and had visited London to obtain some needed data. A special London cable message to the Montreal Gazette of April 2 says Lord Salisbury intends to again direct the attention of the House of Lords to the projected fortifications of Esquimalt, British Columbia, and point out the necessity for their immediate completion, in view of the Russian fortifications and naval movements at Vladivostock. The action will be taken on the report of Sir George Baden Powell, who had just returned from a visit to British Columbia. Cambridge won the University boatrace on March 30 by two lengths. The course was from Putney to Mortlake, four miles and two furlongs. Large crowds witnessed the race. There was light breeze, but the water was smooth, with a tendency to fog. On an excellent start made Cambridge at once took the lead, and at Hammersmith Bridge, one mile and three-quarters from the starting point, was still ahead, both crews rowing well. At that time a heavy rain was falling, and the Oxford crew shortly after became confused and steered badly, splashing a good deal and almost collapsing. Near 1

Barnes’ Bridge, five furlongs front the flush, Oxford made a final spurt, but failed to reach the Cambridge boat. THE LATE JOHN BRIGHT. .Mr John Bright died at 5.30 a.m. on March 27: Mis end was peaceful, the physicians say paiMcs'fib He had been in a comatose condition since tie’ day preceding, and died without gaining consciousness/ All the family were present at the bedside/ ah the House of Commons, Mr W, H. Smith, the Government leader, referred, with much amotion to the event, and said he would postpone further mention till Mr Gladstone, who had been called to Scotland by the death of his brothef, wtis present. Mr John Morley thanked Mr Smith for his consideration. ivlr Bright's death was preceded by such a complete ohange ifl his appearance, consequent Upon his long wearing illness, that he was scarcely recognisable by anyone who bad not seen him The funeral took place at Rochdale on Maroh 30th, in the Quaker Cemetery. From a letter written to the papers by the Dean of Westiniflstef; it was learned that his body cou’d not bo bdried in Westminster Abbey, because an Act of Parliament forbids such honour to any person Who has not received the rite of baptism of th’6' Established Church. While communicating the fact he deplored it. Funeral services were simultaneously held in the Abbey, however, and attended by many members of Parliament. Various deputations headed the funeral precession. At Rochdale eight of Mr Bright's workmen carried the coffin to the grave. The mourners there, in accordance with the Quaker custom, gathered in silent meditation around the grave. The Dean of the Founders of the college afterward delivered an address. The wreaths on the coffin were sent by Queen Victoria, the Prince and Princess of Wales, Mr Bright’s workmen, and Miss Cobden. The wreaths sent by the last-named bore the inscription. “ In loving memory of my father’s best friend.” An equerry aIBO represented the Queen. In the House of Commons all the members were dressed in black. At the conclusion of the debate on the Irish question, when Mr W. H. Smith arose and began to speak of Mr Bright, all the members uncovered. He made a ten minutes’ address, then Mr Gladstone delivered a eulogy. Among ’ other things, he said : —“ But few are aware of the efforts required to induce Mr Bright to become a servant of the Crown. , In the crisis of IS6B, when the fate of the Irish Church hung in the balance, it was my duty to propose to Mr Bright that he become a Minister. I never undertook so difficult a task. From 11 o’clock at night until 1 o’clock in the morning we steadily debated the subject. It was only at the last moment that he found it possible to set aside the repugnance he felt at doing anything that might detract from his independence of character to accept. I do not know of any stateman in my time who had the happiness of receiving on his removal from the world the honour of an approval so enthusiastic, so universal and so nnbrokeD. Yet none could better dispense with . the tributes, because the triumphs of his life were triumphs recorded in advance of his country and his people. His name is indelibly written in the annals of time and on the hearts of the great and overspreading race to which he belonged, whose wide extension he rejoioed to see, and whose power and prominence he believed to be full of promise and glory for the best interests of mankind.” The Marquis <f Hartington, Mr Justin McCarthy, and Mr J. Chamberlain also spoke. In the House of Lords, on the afternoon of the 28th March, Lord Salisbury, speaking of Mr Bright, said : —“He was the greatest master of English oratory-in the present generation. Me was inspired by pure patriotism from the beginning of his career to its close.” THE TIMES-PARNELL CASE. In his opening “address for the defence, before the Parnell-Commission, Sir Charles Russell said the Court was asked by the Attorney-General to indict the whole nation, but the act was not feasible. He also asserted that thoughtful minds were convinced the time had come to try the experiment of Home Rule in Ireland. He contended that the objects of the Irish National League were justifiable. The issue before the‘Commission depended upon the proof that Mr Parnell and his colleagues, under the cloak of the land movement, planned murders and outrages. If no such evidence was produced the Commission must declare the accused to be men earnestly endeavouring to lift an intolerable burden from the shoulders of their countrymen. Sir Charles explained the constitution and the objects of the League formed by Mr Davitt, of which Mr Parnell was president. They were intended to guide the farmers in distress. He said that the prominent members of the League were in favour of boycotting, which up to a certain point they considered justifiable. Sir C. Russell held that Mr Parnell was not liable criminally or otherwise unless he was a party to murder and outrage, as part of the agreed objeots of the League. Mr Parnell and his followers had been vilified and misrepresented, as Bright and Cobden were in the early days of the reform movement. THE PANAMA CANAL. In an editorial on March 25th, the. New York Times says : —“The captain of the British steamer who recently inspected the lin6 of the unfinished Canal reports.: * The bsnks are littered with many pieces of valuable machinery that have never been used, and over which the grass is growing. This shows that the administrators who control the affairs of the bankrupt company are as careless and negligent as the officers of the company were. Throughout the years when the canal diggers were at work, large quantities of very costly machinery were brought to the Isthmus every year only to be left to rot and rust in the mud. If the inside history of the Company could be laid bare, almost unequalled extravagance, carelessness, and even corruption would undoubtedly ba

revealed. The money paid for supplies and machinery that were thrown away sr neverused would yield now a dividend small bub still acceptable to the holders of the Canal obligations. Advices to the 16th say the Canal collapse has seriously affected the Trans-Isthmian Railway. Only two freight and two passenger trains now run each way daily. 1200 labourers had gone to work on the Costra-Costa Railway, and 5000 persons left Panama during the month. Commercial matters all. over the Isthmus are in a bad condition, and there is little business transacted. The Colon (Aspinwall) storekeepers and dealers had united in a petition to reduce all kinds of taxes, owing to the complete stoppage or trade. The city of Panama had followed suit. Governor Aycardi had issued a decree suspending the payment of the debt of the former State of Pauama, and effecting other economies rendered necessary by the revenues of the Government falling off. SAMOA. The Cologne Gazette, of March 20, in an article on Samoa, says Germany in 1887, in deference to American opposition, abandoned the idea of the control of Samoan affairs being invested in a single power. . The same paper, on March 23r<5, says it may be assumed that when Steubel, the newlyappointod German Consul, arrives at Apia, satisfaction will be demanded from Mataafa. Owing to the attitude of America it is natural that Germany should seek a full agreement with England before the Samoan Conference meets early in May. A Washington correspondent vouches for the absolute accuracy of the following.: “ The German Minister received on April 2 a telegram in cypher from Prince Bismarck, instructing him to cable afc the earliest moment the names or the vessels ordered by the Secretary of the Navy to proceed to Samoa and take the place of those wrecked, also the number of men and officers carried by each ship, its tonnage and horse-power, number, size and kind of guns, whether the vessels are equipped with torpedoes, and whether the sending of reinforcements to Samoa will weaken the American navy in any other part of the world to'any considerable extent. The Minister was also instructed to find out and report to the German Foreign Office without loss of time the condition of new vessels in process of construction.” AMERIOAN NEWS. San Francisco, April 7. The American baseball team arrived at New York at 7-30 a.m. on April 6. Spalding said he had a most enjoyable time during his absence among the Australians. Th© expenses of the tour are about 50,000 dols. All the business portions of the city of Savannah (Georgia) were destroyed by fire on April 6. , A natural gas well of terrific volume ana pressure was struck near Palestine (Ohio) on April 4 at a depth of 700 ft. The drilling tools were blown high into the air. Several buildings were destroyed, and four men were fatally burned. The flame ofblazing gas was over 50ft high. Asa W. Kellogg, a prominent railroad man, committed suicide in the Southern Hotel at St Louis on March 31, leaving the following curious note : —“ I have fought the battle and lost. Bury me, and say aa little about me as possible. A fool is better soon forgotten. ” At the Coloured Methodist Conference of Lexington (Kentucky) district held in Paris (Kentucky), the first day’s session was marked by murder on account of a negro named Page occupying a pew rented by another named Kellis. The latter ordered Page out, and he, not being in a hurry to go, was seized by the pew lessee and thrown out. Then Page drew a revolver and shot Kellis, narrowly miseing the bishop at the same time. A Dakoto hunter, whose brother has been murdered by Indians, killed eleven of the same party, who attacked him in h’S cabin on March 30. He recovered his brother’s body, and took it to the white settlement for burial. Harriet Beecher Stowe, authoress of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” has lost her mind, and become an imbecile. Nine electric light companies are about to consolidate for the reason that no money is being made by any standing apait as they do at present. The amount involved is 200,000,000 dollars. Considerable disappointment prevails among the Republican Negroes in the Southern States in regard to the apportion, rnent of offices by President Harrison. They want s federal position, and the appointing power is fighting shy of them. The Re-

publican party dislikes the Negro aa much as the Democrats do. The Pennsylvania coal trade is so much "depressed that companies are entering into compacts not to mine coal for a certain period of time. Many merchants in the mining districts have closed their stores until the situation improves. In the heavy gale that prevailed on the Southern Atlantic coast of the United States on the 24th March, the warship Conserva (fitted out in New York for Hayti) and the British steamer Yeomandell ibound from New Orleans to Rouen, in France) were both lost. The Freemans Journal says Egan’s appointment a 3 American Minister to Chili will keenly delight Irishmen, and comments on the policy toward Ireland pursued by England 'where Egan is a hunted outlaw. A remarkable literary find was made in the city of Mexico on March 21 by a Californian tourist named Sutro. It is the first folio of Shakspeare’s plays, dated 1623, found at a bookstall, and bought for a few dollars. Copies such as this are said to command 6000dol in London. A movement has been made in influential quarters in the United States to abolish the electorate college, and to elect a president by the direct popular vote. Edwin Booth, the tragedian, was stricken with parlysis on the stage of the Lyceum Theatre, at Rochester, New York, on the might of April 3, while playing Othello in the second scene of the second act. In the opinion of his physicians he will never play again. Twenty thousand persons paraded in precession on St. Patrick’s day in New York. The privilege of hoisting the Irish flag over the Municipal Hall—denied last year by Mayor lie wit was conceded on this occasion, and the Green Harp banner floated from the tall staff, much to the disgust of native Americans. A Santiago de Chile correspondent of the Valparaiso Mercurio writes, under date February 20th :—“ In leas than a webk the bodies of seven murdered people have been found in different parts of this city. Of this number, five at least bear marks proving murder.” The Paris Figaro says that the marriage of Prince Alexander of Battenburg to Mdle. Loisinger was a fraudulent proceeding, and that the Prince was aware of the illegality, but deliberately connived at it. The Saturday half-holiday law in New York has been repealed by the Legislature. Chas. Spreckles, who owns the controlling interests in the sugar plantations in the Sandwich Islands, denies that he has sold out to an English syndicate as reported. He retains his property in the islands, having gone there originally for the benefit of his health. CANADIAN NEWS. The details of the new Canadian steamship service just planned are :—The Imperial Government joins Canada in subsidising a fortnightly steamer service from Victoria to HoDg Kong and Yokohama. The Governments of Australia and New Zealand will also assist the subsidised service, with the hope of securing an extension to ports in those colonies. The total subsidy for the Atlantic and Pacific is 1,250,000 dollars per annum. It is proposed to form a new Company to carry on both lines. The Canadian-Pacific road will have no share of responsibility in maintaining the service. The above is the substance of a despatch from London, Marsh 14. At an entertainment in Kingston, Ontario, on March 18, a young lady stood on the United States national flag spread on the stage, and the Chairman said the action showed the relation of the countries. Some Americans present took the matter up, and paper bullets are flying freely. The Jesuit question is creating a sensation in Canada. Sir John Macdonald threatens to reaign and go to the country ou the proposition if the O’Brien Jesuit resolution promoted by the Orangemen is persevered in. A Protestant party will, it is said, grow out of the two existing political divisions. Fears are expressed by the leading Canadians that a filibustering expedition from the United Ssates may seize the undeveloped territory in the Great Mackenzie river region, and on March 23rd Mr Grard, in the Canadian Parliament, called the attention of the Government to the defenceless condition of that vast and enormously valuable region. He said that fifty armed and resoluie men, with supplies and ammunition, would be nuffieient to hold the country against any force that could be sent against them under the existing conditions, owing to the difficulty of moving troop 3 and provisions into that region. The Government promised to give the matter their immediate attention.