THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL AT AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 994, 20 March 1891, Page 32

THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL AT AUCKLAND.

ARRIVAL OF THE R.M.S. MONOWAI. GREAT BRITAIN AND THE COLONIES. THE NEW MAGAZINE RIFLE. SYSTEMATIC SWINDLING AT . CHICAGO. (per press association.) . Auckland, March 13. Arrived, 11.30 p.m.—R.M.S. Monowai, from San Francisco and Honolulu. Passengers for New Zealand—Hon George McLean, Messrs T. Tunnel], G. W. Binney, H. M. Heath, P. Wallace, J. B. Fowler; 5 steerage and 60 en route for Sydney. The vessel left San Francisco on 7th February. On Monday the 9th, when 662 miles out discovered that the thrust of the shaft was fractured, and returned under easy steam to San Francisco, where the broken shaft was replaced with a new one, and the Monowai left San Francisco again on the 20th February. Head winds and head sea were met with for the first part of the voyage, but the trip from Honolulu was very fine.

GENERAL SUMMARY. London, February 3. In tha House of Commons to-day Mr Lowther gave notice of a motion requesting the Government to take immediate measures to promote the formation of perpetual fiscal relations between Great Britain and her colonies. Mr Majoribanks moved the appointment of a commission to examine the new magazine rifle, and the reasons for its adoption. Mr Hanbury condemned the system by which the new rifle was introduced. He said that out of fifteen patents connected with the rifle one official held ten in his own name. Ho therefore moved an amendment that a commission, to enquire into the mere details of military administration, was undesirable, as weakening the full responsibility of the officials who recommended the rifle. After a sharp debate,

in which the War Office was severely criticised. The amendment was carried, 108_to 74. A motion by Sir Michael Hicks Beach to appoint a select committee to inquire into the question of legislative restriction of the working hours of railway servants was agreed to. San Francisco, February 19. The United Labour Alliance at Boston, composed of leading members of the Trades Union 3, Knights of Labour, Nationalists, and Socialists last night, adopted resolutions setting forth that “ The sentiment of the people of Boston, on the Free Silver Coinage Bill, was misrepresented by the bankers and money lenders at the meeting recently held in Faneml Hall.” The meeting voted to call a public meeting at Fanenil Hall, next week, to voice,the true opinion of jthe citizens as to the free coinage of silver.

Agent Platte, of Alton, 111., has filed in the Land Office at Washington a remarkable claim. It is in favour ol Edward Hugo, Mrs W. P. Paul, and Mrs Price, of this city, and O. S. Hugo, of Peoria, who are heirs of Dr Samuel S. Hugo, and in it they claim the ownership to a part of the capital square at Washington. The document is In the shape of a land warrant from the General Assembly of Maryland, dated Aoril 15,1788, for Lots 2098, 2091, 2703, and 2504. This includes about five acres, and is described as lying to the West of Fort Cumberland, Alleghany Cc» ity, Md. _ 'The claim was filed and recorded at Washington, and will, if it hold, involve the ownership of the ground on which the National Capitol stands. The property-owners on Michigan Avenue, Chicago, filed another bill in the Circuit Court o-day (February 3) to restrain the _ World’s Columbia Exposition from erecting building on the lake front until a decree is entered providing for the removal of the structures after the close of the Fair. The Exposition Company answered immediately that they had no objecttion to such a provision, and Judge Tuley entered the desired decree providing for the removal after the Fair of all buildings except the art building, which is designed to be permanent. . " . , „ Three brothers, E. J., E. C., and George Engman, have beep arrested in Chicago for

■ystematically robbing two wholesale jewellery houses in that city. The young men are respectably connected, and the arrest caused somewhat of a sensation among their friends. The two younger brothers were employed in different jewellery houses, and stole goods which were disposed of by their other brother. By this system thousands of dollars worth of diamonds, watches, &c., was secured before the thieves were arrested. The aggregate of their stealings is said to be at least LIO.COO. _ , _ . During a meeting at Palestime, Lexas, last fall the evangelist, Sam. Jones, took occasion to severely score the official and private character of Mayor Ward. The Mayor was absent from town at the time. Jones lectured here again last night, and this morning as he waa taking the train at the Depot Mr Ward attacked him vigorously with a cane. In the struggle the cane changed hands and the Mayor received several heavy.blows. Both bled profusely. The evangelist got on the train and went away, and the Mayor was placed under arrest for an aggrated assault and carrying a pistol. CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES. The Empire, the chief organ of the Dominion Government, announces this morning that the Governor-General has dissolved the House of Commons and issued writs for a new Parliament. The Empire says :—“ It is understood that the Dominion Government has through Her Majesty’s Government made certain proposals to the United States Government looking to an extension of our commerce with that country. These proposals have been submitted to the President for his consideration, and the Canadian Government is of the opinion that if these negotiations are to result in a treaty which must be ratified by Parliament, it is evident the Government should be able to deal with a Parliament fresh from the people, rather than with a moribund House.” It is understood that Canada will send a delegation to Washingotn after March 4. The date on which the life of the present Congress expires, for the purpose of discussing informally the questions of the extension and the developement of trade between the United States and Canada, and the settlement of all difference between the

two countries. This delegation will visit the United States as a result of the friednly suggestions from Washington. . r i he World, a Ministerial organ, gives this version of the reasons for appealing to the people at this time. Sir John Macdonald’s Government not long ago made a. definite proposal to the Washington authorities for a settlement of all differences between the two countries on the basis of the extension of trade between the countries. It involves partial reciprocity, the enumerated articles to include qu’te a number of natural, products, but the proposition discards any idea of commercial union and unrestricted reciprocity. Moreover, these propositions were invited and suggested by the ’Washington authorities. The Commissioners from Canada and Great Britain will start for Washington on March 4th, the date of the opening of the new Congress. The result of the Canadian elections will be known on March 9, the day the Commissioners reach Washington. In order that the Commissioners may have no uncertain sound, Sir John Macdonald has decided to appeal to the country,- and ask for judgment on these proposals of his to the Washington authorities.