HOME AND FOREIGN.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 4978, 30 May 1903, Page 5 (Supplement)

HOME AND FOREIGN.

MEN FIGHT IN SHOWERS OF BULLETS.

The labour troubles which had been browing at Oxnard culminated on March 23 (says a telegram in the San I rancisco "Call”). As a result five men lie wounded, two of them fatally, irom bullets received during a fusiiado in* which some 200 shots were fired. Three Mexicans and two Japijneso aro the victims. During the past six weeks Oxnard has been thronged with Mexican and Japanese labourers, moist ot whom were imported by the >v ostern Contracting; Company to work in Urn beet Helds. There has been great dissatisfaction among the labourers in regard to their relations with the company. They claim they have been poorly paid and forced to accept orders on certain stores for goods in payment for work; that the company received a percentage from the stores on all their trade and that goods were marked up in price to cover this percentage. The company does not deny the truth of these statements, but claims that all dealings were open and legitimate. To meet these conditions a labour union was formed by the Japanese and Mexicans. It has about 1500 members. The contracting company, unable to secure labourers, found some leaders who were dissatisfied with the present labour union, and with tho aid of these a new union was formed. Tho new union attempted to set men to work at thinning out beets for a rancher near town. A waggon was loaded with men and their baggage in Chinatown. When about ready to start members of the old labour union appeared and demanded that their label bo placed on the waggon beforo it should move. At this critical moment a Japanese appeared with a shotgun and'attempted to climb on tho waggon. Dopnty-coinstable Charles Arnold grasped tho gun and tried, to take it. The Japanese resisted and Deputy Hankins came to his fel- » low' officer’s assistance. At this moment a fusiiado of shots were fired from all directions. They seemed to conic from every window' and door in Chinatown. Tho street was filled with people, many engaged in a general fight, and tho wonder is that only five persons were wounded. ART SCANDAL IN PARIS. A’ sensational scandal in tho art world of Paris is threatened. The “Prcsse” reports that the police recently raided tho showrooms ot a leading dealer in works of art and antiquities and confiscated a number of articles of doubtful authenticity. The dealer suspected that tho authorities had boon put on the scent by certain of his rivals in business, and made inquiries which confirmed him in this belief. In his turn, now, he has decided to expose to the authorities certain art frauds which he alleges to have been committed, with impunity in .Paris for years past, of which many amateur collectors, both in Europe and America, have been victims. Even tho State itself, ho asserts, has not escaped, but it has purchased more than one “fake” for the Louvre and other museums. In one instance, involving a purchase of 400,000 francs in value, the indignant dealer claims to be able to give irrefutable proofs of manipulation. DEATH OF “JINGO.” Telegrams from New York announce that the elephant Jingo, purchased recently by Mr Bostook from tho Zoological Society, died on board tho Georgio on March 12th. Jingo seemed to fret, and he pined away from the time the Georgio left Liverpool. He trumpeted for sixty hours unceasingly before death ensued. He twice knocked down his keeper with his trunlj, which' he thrust through the bars of has cage. His trumpeting aroused the leopards and a tiger which were on board, and they joined in tho cry. Tho crew was on guard for three days. The elephant’s body was slung overboard at sea by means of a derrick.. Jingo’s keeper said that his charge ate a budketful of biscuits on the first day out, but refused to take them afterwards. He was then given a gallon of whisky a day and some soaked broad, but became gradually weaker. The keeper was of opinion that the elephant died of a broken heart. He believed that the separation from his mate was the primary cause of his death. OUR SOCIAL DIFFICULTIES. . Mr H. H. Asquith, M.P., speaking at tho annual meeting of the Land Law Reform Association at the Westminster Palace Hotel, said Englamd was importing from abroad vast quantities of food, a considerable portion of which, it'was tip exaggeration to say, could, under happier conditions bo produced at home. In both urban and rural districts there was overcrowding and huddling together of human beings, and a lack of those decent facilities of accommodation for purposes of social and domestic life Without which it was impossible for individuals or communities to lead a rad tional, humane or civilised existence. It was at fact, and ho would say. a most scandalous fact, that tho condition of things over a largo part of the country had not improved since the days of the Labour Commission some twelve or fourteen years ago. Legislation had been woefully ineffective, and largely so because the action of the representatives of the community was too much fettered. Proceeding, Mr Asquith said that private and voluntary effort was totally inadequate to deal with the question, and in any legislation he advised a simplification of authorities and concentration of responsibilities, an extension of tho compulsory powers of the local authorities,' greater elasticity in the terms of repayment of loans, and the raising of the land limit to one acre. Unless wo could secure for cur population, both in the country and in the towns the possibilities of a decent home, wem ight educate ouy children as much as wo liked, and still leave unsolved one ot the greatest social difficulties that ever faced this country. (Loud applause.) » AN AMAZING HEART. At Davenham (Northwich), England, recently, Coroner Yates held an inquest on tho body of Henry Eaton, 35, chemical labourer, who was found dead in bed. Dr Haward, who made a post mortem, ■ said the deceased's heart was the most extraordinary organ of the kind ho had ever seen. It weighed 35Joz, instead of 10oz; its walls were two inches thick, and the valves were astoundingly bony. The liver measured 14in. A verdict of “Death from syncope” was returned. THE RICHEST CATHEDRAL IN’. THE WORLD. Tho Cathedra] of St. Isaac, in St/ Petersburg, which was recently robbed of about £SOOO worth of diamonds, is considered to bo the richest cathedral in the world. It cost more than

£2,500,000 to build. Tho gold alone used for gilding and ornain.3nting tho interior amounted to about 3Jcwt. All tho vessels of the sacred edifice are composed entirely of gold and silver and weigh about four tons. The interior of the building is most gorgeous, and contains a great number of statues, mosaics, bas-reliefs and precious “ikons” by first-cla«s artists. Some of the “ikons,” or hojy pictures, are of great age, and are supposed to possess miraculous powers. The central cupola, which is covered with pure gold laid on copper is about fortv feet higher than St. Paul’s. The edifice is constructed of granite and marble. The most interesting attraction of St. Isaac’s is its singing and chanting, which is worth going a long way to hear. Tho robber of tho diamonds has been discovered by the St- Petersburg secret police, and hats admitted bis crime. Tho culprit was arrested in Novgorod, whither he had fled from justice. He is tho son of a priest. VALUE OF SUBMARINES. A practical illustration of the possibilities of tho next naval war was given to tho passengers on’ the French liner Champagne recently. While the submarine Espadon, of the French Coast Defence Fleet, was cruising off Barfleur. tho look-out sighted tho Transatlantic linear making for Havre. The commander of the Espadon decided to wait for her, and the submarine disappeared beneath the waves. In about an hour's time tlm Champagne 'was. within striking distance, and a dummy torpedo was launched in her direction. Those on tho line!' felt a slight shock, and at the same instant tho Espadon rose in view. Great excitement followed cm tho Champagne, * the passengers crowding on deck to got a glimpse of tho submarine. Hats and handkerchiefs were waved and cries of “Vive la Franco!” greeted tho crow of tho small vessel. Tho Champagne was brought to, a standstill, and when tho Espadon was within liailing distance a voice sang out, “If wo had been at war, you would bo at tho bottom. • for wo have just torpedoed you.” . A volley of enthusiastic “hurrahs” greeted these words, and! with mutual salutations tho vessels parted. A “THIRTEEN” DINNER. A curious dinner was given at Baltimore says a cablegram to the “New York - Herald,” Paris edition, by Mr Clinton Peters, the portrait painter. It was tho thirteenth anniversary of Mr Peters’s marriage, and fate decreed that it should fall on Friday, March 13, 1903. Added together, the numbers in the year produce thirteen, and -the first and last figures of the year also indicate the unlucky number. The home of the artist is No 1 . 813, North Calvert street. The hour of dining was 7.15. Add it up, and there is tho number again. The letters in the name of Clinton Peters add up to thirteen. Mr Peters has three children, Ruth, Betty and Jack, and tho number of letters of the three names is thirteen. Mr Peters invited eleven guests to dine with himself and wife, so there were thirteen at table. The dinner was in thirteen courses, and tho menu cards, designed by Mr Peters, were in the shape of tombstones. During tho dinner a funeral march was played. IN SEARCH OF A WIFE. A charge of theft preferred some weeks ago against Harry Claydon, late of the King's own Scottish Borderers, by a woman named Catherine Rich, whom he accompanied homo to England from South Africa, where he did service during the war, has had its sequel. He ■was accused of robbing her of her money, failing to fulfil a promise to make her his wife, apd then deserting her. Mr M’Gowan, tho'missionary attached to tho London South-Western Police Court, has been made the medium’ for bringing-about probable matrimonial relations. A private of the Scottish Rifles stationed in the Orange River Colony is anxious for a wife, and has written to Mr M'Gowan asking his assistance for placing him" in cation with Catherine Rich with a view to matrimony, and expressing his disgust at the conduct meted out to her by his comrade in arms. Mr M'Gowan is unaware at present of the woman’s whereabouts, but is in hopes of obtaining the necessary information by which the two could he brought to■gether. A RUSSIAN GRAND DUKE’S TRAGEDY. The Grand Duke Nicholas Constaritinovioh, who has for many years been in exile in Central Asia, has a-t last been permitted by the Czar to return to the Crimea, where he is being taken care of by his family. The Grand; Duke, when a young man, was the hero of a scandal with a French singer, in consequence of which ho was banished, by the Czar Alexander 11., bis uncle, to Orenburg. There he married the daughter -of a police official, , and the Czar at once issued two decrees, one banishing him to Tashkend, and the other forbidding tho papers ever to print his name. One day the Grand Dube escaped from his guards, who were nominally his escort, and,* disguising himself as a Cossack, rode across Russia to his home at Pavlovsk, close to St. Peterburg. His family, feating the Czar’s anger, refused to see him, and tho unhappy man had to go back to Tashkend,' where solitude and despair finally drove him out of his mind. His sister, the Queen of Greece, has at last obtained his pardon from the Czar Nicholas 11., and the unfortunate Grand Duke has now been permitted to end his days in the Crimea.

RIOTING IN TRINIDAD. Serious rioting is reported from Port of Spain, Trinidad, owing to the tefusal of the Government to admit the people into the Council Chamber to protest against the increased cost of water due to the construction of new water-works. The Government buildings were set on firo, and gutted, tho Court and other priceless records being destroyed, and damage done amounting to £50,000. The Governor and members of Council were escorted through the mob from the burning building after the police had fixed on the crowd to clear a way for them, and there were several persons killed and wounded. Bluejackets were landed from H.M.S. Pallas and quelled the ’disturbance, while the Governor and directors of the water-works took refuge ou the warship. Six of the mob were killed during the riot.

A message has been sent to Mr Chamberlain, urging the “immediate removal of the Governor and principal officials, in whom public confidence is entirely lost, so as restore order and prevent further noting and bloodshed, pending tho appointment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry which is urgently heeded.”