MAIL NEWS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 3329, 11 January 1898, Page 3

MAIL NEWS

TJIR DREYFUS SCANDAL. It will be a wonder if the DreyfusEsterhazy affair is not productive of a crop of duels. Personalities are .flying around broadcast. Emil Zola has been dragged into the quarrels. He contributed an article to Figaro asking that if Dreyfus* relations had formed a syndicate to secure newspaper support, were they not doing only what they had a perfect right to do ? The journal asks how much Zola received for the article. Figaro makes out a strong case, for Esterhazy’s writing has been compared by experts with that on the memorandum, said to bo the writing of Dreyfus, it having been stated that General Pellieux had no intention of making this comparison. Figaro says that this is a capital point in the enquiry and cites the opinions of jurists, consuls and journalists. HOW THE CUBAN EXILES AKE TREATED. Letters from West Africa bring terrible news concerning the Cuban exiles of Per-nando-Po, the Spanish penal colony. It is said that 150 out of 170 of the exiles sent there are already dead, and the survivors complain ■ bitterly of the treatment they have received. Some of the exiles were transported from Cuba without a trial and landed 'at Fernando-Po to live as best they could. The dead were buried without coffins. TWO FOOLHARDY MEN. Captain Andrews, of Beverley, Mass., who has crossed the ocean several times in small boats, and Professor C. W. Oldrieve, the water walker, have made a compact to cross the ocean. Captain Andrews will go in a small canvas boat, and Professor Oldrieve will wear the shoes in which he has strolled over New England waters and along the shores of Cuba. By the terms of the compact Andrews must keep Oldrieve in sight and provide him with food and rest. When in need of rest Oldrieve will get into the boat, which must be sailed in a circle while he sleeps, so that it cannot be said he did not walk all the distance. They expect to' land at Havre, and will then proceed up the Seine to Paris, and also to other places in Europe. They expect to be recompensed by exhibiting, themselves and their boat at one cent a head. The two adventurers expect to attain a world-wide reputation by their feat. The start will be made from Boston harbour. MARBIAQB OF DIVORCEES. An extraordinary agitation (says a despatch from London to the Victoria, 8.C., Colonist, dated December 11th) has been evoked by the marriage on November 24th of Miss Leila Bayard, a niece cf Mr Thomas F. Bayard, the former United States Ambassador in London, to Mr Lyon, who had been divorced, which caused the clerical party to interfere and made them get married in a church other than the one first selected. It has brought out a pronouncement from the Primate to the effect chat he disapproves such marriages and that his Vicar-General hereafter will not license them. The Bishop of Bristol and others have also forbidden their chancellors to license marriage of divorced people, whether innocent or guilty. IMPORTANT CABINET CHANGES HINTED AT. Humours are current (states a London correspondent) to the effect that the Earl of Elgin early in the year will retire from the Vice-royalty of India and be succeeded by Lord George Hamilton, whose Indian Secretaryship will be filled by Lord Lands.downe, the present Secretary of State for ffc is intimated that Mr Chamberlain, Secretary of Stfito fop tbe Colonies, may be transferred to the War Office, his place being given to tbq Marquis of Londonderry. THE OLYMPIA, NEW YORK. . Mr Andrew Freedman, ft baseball magnate, was appointed receiver of the Olympia Music Hall, New York, on December 11th. His appointment is the result of a suit brought against Oscar Hammerstein, the owner, by a New York insurance company to foreclose a mortgage of £250,000. ... i . ... ( LADY ABERDEEN AS A PUBLIC SPEAKER. Lady Aberdeen will deliver the annual address at the next St. Patrick’s Day concert in Ottawa. * FRENCH DESIGNS IN AFRICA. The announcement which the Sf. James’ Qazette made, “authoritatively”'(says' a Lofidbn despatch dated December llfh) that the British Government does not espeot any further trouble with France regarding the Upper Nile regions. Prance agreeing to accept the situation, is unconfirmed and probably qnfoqudqd.'ag there is hp laplc of evidence tfiat France is deliberately pursuing the task of seizing the upper Waters of the Nile, above Khartoum, thus cutting the British lipe of oommtmiQfttioo between Capetown and Sueg j and ft powerful colonial party in France threatens to upset the Meline Cabinet, should it recede from this enterprise. THE STATE OF THINGS IN MAINE. Principal Grant, of Toronto, says:—The sobriety of the people of Canada is admitted. The reason is the healthy religious sentiment of the people, which responds to every sane appeal with regard to admitted evidence of drunkenness, tippling, treating, and the use, Socially, of wine or* Spirits, better food and lodging for the mftssps, and more refined amusements fop fill! Who would nfi't |iaye Oyeh’ the customs as they were 50 years ago in Ontario than such a horrible state of things, corrupting society at its fountain heads, as in Maine. Fortunately we are pot called upon ta> choose between two efUs,'. We paij doptjm|e tq improve with* out attempting dangerous experiments on so delicate and accomplished an organism as modern society. AN ABSCONDING SECRETARY. Jose de Salerio, the absconding secretary of fbe National Safe Deposit and Trust Company.'cf Buenos Ay peg, who left Sopth America in possession of £kjo,ooo thaf belonged to hia‘employers, is said to have visiteS yiotbria recently, going, there from Seattle, to which city he was traced by pursuing detectives. The latter went to Viotqrifi afsp, but could no information there." , AN EMPEROR’S PRESENT. Sir William Van Horne, President of the Canadian Pacific Railroad, has received a gift of magnificent china vases and plaques from' the Emperor of Japan p ft fetch qf appreciation of tbe courtesies extended by him to Marquis Ito during his progress through Canada’ lasf summer. MISS SYBIL SANDERSON MARRIED. Ifiss Sybil Sanderson, the opera singer, was quietly married in Baris on December Ist tq Antonio Teyry. Immediately after the ceremony they left for Italy. Mr Terry is a Cuban by birth. His father, Thomas Terry, the Cuban “ sugar king,” is said to bo worth from £6,000,000 to A 10,000,000. •Miss Sanderson is an American. ' - ■■ ■ . THE ONCE-FAMOUS COBDEN CLUB. ’ There were exactly 12. mpn and one woman present at the annual meeting of the ohoe famous Cobden Club in London fast month. L°rd Farrar presided. The apnual report' expressed regret at the death of a member, the late Henry George, of New York, and announced that the income qf the year 1§97 was After rqpqrding the decease of the Imperial zoll vereip goheme, a death blow to which was given by Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Premier of Canada, and the declaration of the Premier of New South Wales, the report continues: — efu view of adverse comments made in Canada and-elsewhere at the fiscal policy of the Dominion Government, the committee think that they ought- to state that they have reason to be satisfied that the present Administration at Ottawa is inspired by a genuine desire to advance on lines .of free exchange, so far and as rapidly as possible, consistently with a prudent regard for the difficulties created py a long rule of a high and comprehensive protective system.’! The chairman in addressing the meeting announced that the gold'medal of the olub wpuld be given to the Premier of New South Wales, the Hon Geq, H. Reid. A SUBSTITUTE FOR RUBBER. Dean Hart, of St. John’s Cathedral, Denver, is credited with having perfected an invention whioh is calculated to revolutionise the rubber trade. Napier Ford discovered a method of oxidising oil, and when he died in London two years ago he left his invention to Mr Griest, who made some improvements in it and then turned it over to Dean Hart. The Dean is an expert chemist and he says he has now made it of great value commercially, and will proceed at once to Washington to secure-patents. The new substance is called perchoid and will Cost only five or e'X eenr-; » pound. It is expected to bo a 1 substitute tor rubber. ,