HOME AND WAR NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 482, 14 November 1877, Page 2

HOME AND WAR NEWS.

[PER CUZOO, VIA MELBOURNE.] M. Leverrier, astronomer of the National Observatory, Paris, is dead. Four large London linns have been invited to tender for the supply of corrugated iron for huts to contain 100,000 Russian soldiers. The huts are to be of four sizes—for 25, 50, 100, and 500 men. They are to be delivered at Antwerp, and sent direct to Bucharest across the continent by rail, and are for erection in the neighborhood of Bucharest. Orders have also been issued for eight railway stations for a strategetical railway. These are to be complete in every way, and provided with heating apparatus —delivery of the iron at Antwerp to commence in ten days, and the whole to be completed within a fortnight afterwards. The interest excited in the Staunton and Alice Rhodes trial for the Penge murder was intense. The approaches to to the Old Bailey, besides the Court itself, were so closely packed as to render the atmosphere absolutely po'sonous. The Bench itself was packed with gorgeously dressed ladies. A railway bridge, spanning the estuary of the Tay. two miles wide, the longest railway bridge in the world, was opened on September 25.

In reference to the loss of the Avalanche the Coroner said the duty of the jury in giving their verdict would be extremely simple. It was clear the twovessels were brought into collision by the way they were steered. The jury might form their opinion as to who committed the error in judgment, but they could not make it a criminal case. Also there was no liability attaching to the coastguards, but whether the explanation which the chief officer had given was satisfactory or not must be matter for consideration. Anyone would have thought they would have ava Ld themselves of the opportunity afforded them to give some reason why they were absent for more than an hour on the morning in question ; and did not see the boats, which were discovered by private individuals. Captain Lockhart had been put to the closest ordeal as to whether he was rght, or the Captain of the Avalanche wrong, and he was glad to say there was nothing in the evidence to show that there had been personal misconduct or negligence. The jiuy, after finding that deceased were found drowned on Chiso Beach, &c. , added a rider stating that they were much pained to see the way in which the deceased had been interred, and added that, had the least intimation been given, they would themselves have followed the remains to the grave. A letter in the Political Correspondence (Constantinople) states that there aud at Adrianople every day, except on Fridays and Saturdays, Bulgarians are hanged by the dozen, even in the public streets, on the very shop doors. In the neighbouring villages the same thing takes place. The people thus executed are mostly peasants, with some priests and schoolmasters. The Correspondence vouches for the fact. The torture is frequently applied to procure confession. A meeting of the clergy and laity of Bristol and Clifton has been h n ld, Bishop Anderson presiding, in opposition to the practice of auricular confession. A memorial to the Queen was adopted, and is to be circulated for signature throughout the city. The memorial prays her Majesty to be graciously pleased to take such means as may be effectual to put down the practice of auricular confession within the sphere of the Church of England. The Rev. Frederick Willett, Vicar of All Saints, West Bromwich, appeared at Birmingham Police Court, to answer to an affiliation summons taken out against him by a girl named Maria White, 18 years old. The defendant was said to be a member of the Society of the idoly Cross, and it was alleged he had corrupted and seduced complainant through the confessional. A Commission of luquirj', presided over by the Bishop of Lichfield, has been held, and has declared the allegations of the complainant to be unfounded. The present proceedings are understood to be to some extent prompted by the parishioners of the defendant. The case was partly heard at the Police Court, and adjourned. A telegram from Constantinople, dated September 21, says there has been much

talk for Bome daya of tho probability of mediation between Russia and Turkey. Although the rumour was without foundation, the Porte has been disturbed by it, became it dreads a demand being made for an armistice, which it firmly resolved to reject, but which might cause diplomatic difficulties. It is for this reason that tho Ottoman Ministers tako every opportunity ( ,f indirectly giving tho Ambassadors to understand how little chance of success a demand of this sort would have.