THE Otago Daily Times FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1872.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3183, 19 April 1872, Page 2

THE Otago Daily Times FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1872.

Having given a brief sketch yesterday of the facts out of which the great Alabama Question has arisen, with the view of making the references to its recent aspect more intelligible to our readers, we proceed to notice the misunderstanding between the United States and Great Britain, which has taken place at a time when the people of both countries had reason to hope that the American claims would be finally decided by an impartial tribunal, tjp to the beginning of last year all attempts on the part of the representatives of Great Britain and America to negotiate a basis for the settlement of those claims having failed, Mr Gladstone's Government despatched Commissioners to Washington, in the hope that they would conclude an arrangement by which the claims of America would be referred to arbitration. The deliberations of the Joint High Commission culminated in the Treaty of Washington, which was afterwai'ds ratified by the.Legislatures of the respective countries. By that Treaty, it was provided that the TJnited States claims should be referred to a tribunal, composed of arbitrators to be named, one each by the President of the TJnited States, Queen of England, King of Italy, President of the Swiss Confederation, and the Emperor of Brazil. The arbitrators were appointed, and they met for the first time at Geneva, in December last. In the American Case, which was submitted to the Convention, specific claims were preferred for losses caused by the depredations of the Alabama, the Shenandoah, and other vessels alleged »to have been fitted out and equipped in British ports. These claims, together with accumulated interest, amount to nearly four millions sterling; and had the. American case been confined to these, the Geneva Convention might by this time have given in their award, and the Alabama question would consequently have been a thing of the past. But to the surprise of the British Government, when that Case came to be examined, it was found that it was the intention of the United States to lay before the Convention claims for compensation on account of loss caused by the transfer of the commercial marine from the American to the British flag, increased rates of insurance, and prolongation of the war. The amount claimed on account of those indirect losses is not stated in the American Case, but it has been estimated at' £200,000,000 sterling. We may quote the opinions of two eminent statesmen upon this point to show the enormous sunis which they anticipate will be involved in these claims. In speaking to the Address in Reply to the Queen's Speech iri the House of ( Commons, on the 6th February, Mr Disraeli is reported to have said:—' The American Case demands from this country a tribute greater than could be exacted by conquest, which would be .perilous to our fortunes and fatal to bur fame.' Referring to this part of Mr Disraeli's speech, Mr Gladstone, in the course of. the samedebate, said:—'Now, it is perfectly true that the American Case does' not state a figure for the indirect loss, but it supplies data from which figures may be. computed by no very elaborate process. I will not now enter upon those data, but, so far as a judgment can be formed upon them, and comparing them with the official estimates madebythehighestAmericanauthorities of the cost of the secession war, the statement of the right honourable gentleman (Mr Disraeli), bold as it was, was, in my opinion, not only within, but very considerably within their extreme limits. I only say this to show that, in my opinion, nothing that has been said as to the amount of these claims has in any way partaken of exaggeration.'

On referring to the terms of the Treaty itself, a large section of the English press, including the Times, admits that on account of the ambiguity of the language employed, the indirect claims are not excluded. On the other hand, it is allowed by the American press, for the same reason, that it may have been intended to shut out those claims from arbitration. Mr Gladstone, however, denies that two constructions can; be. placed on the language of the Treaty. Speaking on behalf of the Cabinet, he says, 'We have advised the Queen to put in her speech what we believe we can show to be the meaning, and the only meaning—that is, the only rational meaning, the direct grammatical meaning, whether tested by sense, by policy, or any other standard; and not one of several conflicting and competing meanings which can attach to the Treaty,! i but the just meaning which it unequivocally bears.' Although it appears to be recognised by many that the language of the Treaty itself is ambiguous, it is universally contended by those who uphold the British view of the question, that it was clearly the intention of the Commissioners to exclude the indirect

claims from the consideration of the Convention, and Mr Gladstone referred to statements publicly made by members of the British Government last year, as showing their belief that the Treaty had been arranged on that basis. In June last Sir Staffoud Northoote, one of the High Commissioners, in his place in the House of Commons, congratulated the country upon the fact that terms had been agreed to by the United States which would prevent any other than the direct claims being raised before the arbitrators;, and about the same time Earl Granville expressed himself to a similar effect in the House of Lords. There being no doubt whatever as to the intention of the representatives of Great Britain in framing the Treaty, the Government of that country very properly decline to allow the indirect claims to go before the Geneva Convention, and we are told that this stand which the Cabinet has taken has met with the unanimous approval of the people of Great Britain. ' For the first time for this century,' says the Times, ' there is complete unanimity among all divisions of political opinion.' To all this America simply replies, ' We are not precluded by the terms of the Treaty of Washington from preferring claims for losses indirectly caused by the acts of vessels fitted out and equipped in British ports during the civil war, and it was our tmderstanding that that Treaty was framed with the view of enabling claims of that kind to be submitted to the Convention. Such being our view of the case, we cannot consent to withdraw the indirect claims.' Such is the position of the Alabama question at the present time, and it would seem as if the diplomatic skill of statesmen on both sides of the Atlantic will have to be severely tested before the difficulty is solved. It is thought by no means improbable that the TJnited States will ultimately give way, but it is certain that Great Britain will not consent to the indirect claims being submitted to arbitration.

A meeting was held at Wain's Hotel last night to consider a proposal for giving a ball to the Volunteer Representatives. Major Bathgate was called to the chair. Captain Stavely moved the following resolution:— " That a complimentary ball be given to the Volunteer Representatives, under the management of a joint committee of the Volunteers and citizens." The motion was seconded by Mr Reeves, and unanimously agreed to. It was also resolved " That the gentlemen present be appointed as a committee to organise the ball, arrange a list of stewards issue invitations, and generally carry the matter through." ! The Mayor, Lieutenant Somerville, and Messrs Reynolds, Thoneman, James, and Marshall, "were added to the Committee, of which Lieutenant-Colonel Cargill was appointed Convener. Captain Jamieson was appointed Treasurer, and Ensign Henderson, Secretary. The date of the ball was fixed for Friday the 26th inst. —this day week.

Only 110 persons applied this-year to have their names placed on the electoral roll for the City. ,

An inquest was held at the Lunatic Asylum, on Tuesday, by Dr Hocken, coroner, on the body of one Thomas Mulrooney, an inmate of the institution in question. It appeared from the evidence that death had been caused by diarrhoea, from which the deceased had been gradually sinking for some time past. The jury returned a verdict to that effect. The deceased, who was formerly a miner in the Tuapeka district, was admitted into the Asylum on the 21st September, 1869. He was 54 years of age, and a nativo of County Clare, Ireland. He has no relations here.

Throughout the past week H.M.S. Rosario, now lying at Port Chalmers, has attracted a good number of visitors. Although a small vessel compared with the ironclad leviathans at home, she nevertheless appears to be regarded with much interest by her visitors. Her armament, and especially the large guns she carries, which are curiously inspected, and her cleanliness, are frequently noticed. Yesterday a number of ladies went on board, and the ship's band, composed of two concertinas, a violin, cornet, .flute, banjo, and triangle, rendered sufficiently good music for dancing. As the Rosmo will remain in harbour only a few days longer, those who wish to visit her should avail themselves of the opportunity now afforded them of doing so.

We have received from Mr R. J. Priest, Walker street, a copy of a bird's eye view of Melbourne lately printed by Messrs E. and D. Syme, at the Illustrated Australian News office in that city. The view is an excellent one, the river, streets, public buildings, &c> being clearly and accurately depicted. The picture is mounted on rollers and varnished, and forms a capital ornament for the walls of counting-rooms and other places of business.

A lecture on ■ " Spectrum-Analysis " will be delivered by Professor Shand this evening in the North Dunedin Presbyterian Church, at eight o'clock. The subject will be illustrated by the aid of the Electric Light, and will no doubt receive ample justice at the hands of the lecturer. As this most interesting branch of physical science has never been publicly demonstrated in Dunedin before, there will, we, expect, be a large gathering to witness it. The collection at the door is in aid of the Building Fund of the Church.

The wooden buildings on the lower side of the Shamrock Hotel, fronting Eattray street, which have been lately demolished, together with a small shop yet left standing, are about to be replaced by more substantial erections. Business premises are to be built on the site hitherto occupied by them for Messrs P. Hayman and Co. and Mr David Anderson. Of the buildings intended for Messrs P. Hayman and Co., the front warehouse will have a frontage of 42 feet, with a depth of 100 feet. It will be built of brick, on stone foundations, and is to be two storeys in height. The height of the lower floor is to be 12 feet, and of the upper 12 feet at the. sides and 24 feet in the centre. The walls are to be carried up all round with a view to preventing the spread of fire from the adjoining buildings. The roof is to be slated, and under the slate will be laid roofing felt for the purpose of catching damp and arresting the passage of those floating particles known as " blacks," which give much trouble in. some warehouses. The interior of the warehouse will not be plastered, but will be lined and ceiled throughout •with dressed boarding, so as to prevent damp affecting the goods.

At the back of this building will be another warehouse, 66ft by 40ft, and which will be similar to it in material and finish. Between the. two there will be a covered way, and in it a tramway on which goods will be conveyed in trucks from one warehouse to the other. The remainder of the frontage will be taken up by a right-of-way 10ft Gin wide, and by smaller premises for Mr Henderson. The architect is Mr David Ross.

We would remind our readers that the match arranged for last Saturday between fifteen of the Dunedin Football Club and twenty High School boys, and which was postponed on account of the bad weather, will be played to-morrow on the South Dunedin Recreation Ground. We are requested by the Secretary of the Dunedin Football Association, to inform the members that the game will commence punctually at -2 p.xi., and that the names of the players are those already published.

With reference to school matters, it may be mentioned that Mr Hislop, the Inspector of Schools, left for Southland yesterday, and will be absent for about a month. Mrs Wallace, assistant-teacher in the Port Chalmers Grammar School, has been appointed to the position of head mistress of that school in the place of Miss M'Callum, resigned. Mr William Johnston, formerly of Switzers, has been appointed to the side school at Merton, left vacant by the resignation of Mr George Wilson. Mr J. B. Chisholm, late of Waiwera side school, has been appointed to the newly established side school at Taieri Ferry; and Mr William Wright, late of Mr Gardner's school, Dunedin, takes the situation vacated by Mr Chisholm.

A quantity of additional machinery for the Mosgiel Woollen Factory is now on the way out. It includes two tweed looms for manufacturing the best tweed cloth, and four for manufacturing blankets and plaiding. The tweed looms are similar to the two now in the factory. There are also coming, one plain and one ribbed stocking machine, which are capable of being made to weave drawers, under-flannels, guernseys, and various other articles ; a cropping machine, commonly called the "Yankee," for dressing cloth, and which is a revolving knife, that cuts the nap to an even length; a brasher, which is a machine for brushing the I cloth after it has passed through the " Yankee •" a screw press specially made for passing cloth, and in which the cloth receives a beautiful gloss on the surface by means of hot iron plates, from which it is separated by an intervening material ; and a folding and measuring machine, which, while measuring off the cloth correctly, enables it to be sent into the shop with, a presentable appearance. Mr Remvick, a stocking weaver, and his family, two of whom are to work in the factory, are now on their way out. Previous to their departure, about 80 of Mr Ren wick's shopmates met to bid him farewell, and a watch was presented to him, and a watch and a writing-desk to one of his sons. A man. in the employ of the Hon. Mathew Holmes, as cookonhisstationnearOamaru, and whose name we have not learned, made an attempt to commit suicide on the night of the 15th hist., by cutting his throat with a razor. He, however, did not succeed in taking his life, and when, it was discovered on the following morning that he had attempted to do so, a doctor was sent for, who dressed his wounds, and gives hopes of. his rocovery. As he was too weak to be removed to the hos-' pital, Sergeant Bullen employed a man to wait upon him, and prevent him from removing the dressings, should he be still inclined to destroy himself. Despondency of mind, arising from domestic troubles, is the cause assigned for his .attempt at self-destruc-tion.

The potato crop is reported to be a total failure in the Wahganui district this year.

Another candidate for the representation of the Waikouaiti district has come forward in the person of Mr Robert Donaldson, Macraes, who has consented to stand in compliance with the request of a number of the electors of that township.

The Queenstown Town Hall is approaching completion. . ■-■

Some of the Chinamen at work on the banks of the Manuherikia are reported to be making £12 per man per week.

The Tuapeka Times complains bitterly of the gum on the postage stamps, the quality of which, it says, is getting worse instead of better. Our contemporary adds:—"The gum on the penny stamps supplied at present is the meanest we ever came across, and its taste is villainous. We think a portion of the loan could be profitably spent in procuring a supply of serviceable gum for postage stamps."

With respect to the treatment received by the Volunteer Representatives at the Colonial Prize Firing, the Press says:—" There is a slight feeling of dissatisfaction amongst the Representatives, we believe, at their treatment whilst in Canterbury ; but it has been more the fault of those immediately concerned with them than the general body of the people, who were, we feel certain, only too ready and willing to uphold that character for hospitality which Canterbury has so deservedly gained in other respects. But the truth must be told, and the fact is that one or two of our Canterbury Volunteer officers have made themselves exceedingly obnoxious during the stay of the Representatives—a fact which is the more to be regretted, as it not only reflects upon them individually, but also upon us as a whole—a position we must decidedly repudiate, so far as the great bulk of the residents of the Province is concerned. We hope that should another occasion' of a similar kind take place, there will be a littl emore hospitality shown to our visitors."

The following pugnacious advertisement appears in a late issue of the Inangahua Herald:—"lf the individual who 'took' from the Star Hotel, a new frying-pan, will be kind enough to call again, he will receive a beefsteak—for his eye."

Bishop Pompallier, who for some years was the Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, died at Brest on the 29fch December last.

The Greymouth Star, of a recent date, has the following :—" An uninvited assistant in the service appeared last evening at the Wesleyan ChapeL The Rev. W. Taylor was giving out a hymn, when a light grey kitten, that had by some means or other found its way to church, suddenly jumped on the book, to his extreme discomposure, and the scarcely suppressed titterings of the congre-

gation."

The usual quarterly entertainment in connection with the South Dunedin School was held at that school last evening. Mr Howorth occupied the chair, and the room was crowded to excess. Several songs and readings by amateurs passed off well, as also did the

" Trial Scene," from Pickwick, by eight pupils. The chief feature of the evening was a debate on the half-holiday movement, in which 21 boys took part. Several of them spoke remarkably well. Miss Bell presided at the piano, and enlivened the evening with some excellent music.

A complimentary benefit to La Petite Amy was given at the Masonic Hall last evening. The back seats were full, and there was a moderate number in the front part of the house. The little lady's performances were warmly applauded, and she was repeatedly recalled.

The attention of Volunteers is directed to a General Order, which appears in our advertising columns to-day.