LONDON.

Otago Witness, Issue 1160, 21 February 1874, Page 3

LONDON.

(from our own correspondent.) December 24th. CHRISTMASTIDE. The near approach of Christmas manifests itself in many ways. Railways placard their excursion ticket* for the Christmas holidays. Shops are unusually bright, displaying presents adapted to all tastes and ages— toys, games, and books, from the most costly to those which are so cheap that we wonder how they could have been made at their price. Then, too, we have Christmas amusements, notably that of the Crystal Palace. The feasfc for the juveniles commenced there last Saturday in full force, with a fancy fair of toys, trinkets", and trifles ; flags and Chinese lanthorns; transparencies, displaying old Father Christmas and his subjects ; and a Christmas tree with boughs laden with fancy fruit, and such a heavy fall of cotton wool snow as was never before seen. The pantomime for this season is "Puss m Boots." The old tale of the clever cat is merged with that of another feline hero, belonging to one Dame Trot. The transformation scene is supposed to represent a child's dream of fairy land, and has been carried out with wonderful effect. It is all lime-light, coloured fkes, and brilliancy. There were about seven thousand J people to witness this, the best pantomime that the Crystal Palace Company have produced. : Christmas, too, is heralded by various " Appeals " to the Benevolent, and we are specially called upon to remember the destitute by providing dinners and treats, and aid to the aged, the sick, and the neglected. Nor will these appeals be made in vain. FEARFUL COLLISION AT SEA. At the beginning of the month intelligence was received of the loss of the Ville dv Havre, without one mitigating circumstance. She was one uf the largest vessels afloat, with a tonnage of no less than 5100, and was a magnificent seaworthy vessel, with an adequate accommodation for upwards of 1000 passengers. She was well provided with boats, her crew was large, her | captain watchful and experienced. She was not deeply laden, though on board her were many cabiu passengers, she had not her full compl'S ment. All seemed goini; well. The fog which had beset the ship for some days after quitting New York had cleared away, and the night of the fatal occurrence was bright with starlight The passengers were asleep, when a fearful crash told thorn that they had been struck in mid-ocean. The Lochearn, a large vessel belonging to Glasgow, bound from Liverpool to New York, had struck the Ville dv Havre on the starboard side, just about midships, cutting a hole in her deck 12 feet deep, and breaking in the iron plates of the steamer for 25ft. or 30ft, The terror which prevailed among the passengers paralysed their efforts to save themselves, many giving up themselves to despair on hearin? the water rushing into the vessel, and feeling that she was rapidly sinking, never quitted their state-rooms, fathers, mothers, | and children going down together. At this moment there was no outcry, but all seemed to meet calmly the death that was soon to overtake them. From the force of the collision, the main mast and mizenmast fell, smashing in their fall the two large boats of the steamer, and killing numbers of their occupants. In 12 minutes from the time of the collision the Vilie dv Havre bad sunk, and 226 persons were buried beneath the waves. So sudden was the catastrophe that not a, single person was saved from deck. The captain, who had been for three days and nights without sleep, was worn out with fatigue at the time of the collision. He went down with the ship, but wus rescued an hour afterwards. He did everything in his power to assist in launching the boats. The officer who was in charge of the vessel has not been saved. The boats of the Lochearn and those of the Ville dv Havre remained about the scene of the accident until all hope of saving life was abandoned. Many thrilling incidents are related by the survivors. On examining the bows of the Lochearn, it was found that she was much damaged, and about 8 o'clock in the morniug an American ship, which was afterwards discovered to be the Tremountain hove in sight. It was found that she was bound to Bristol, from New York, and after a second survey of the Lochearn, it was deemed advisable to transfer the survivors— B7 in number — to the Tremountain, which vessel came to anchor in Cardiff Roads on the Ist inst. The news of the terrible disaster produced a most_ painful impression in Havre, whither the Ville dv Havre was bound.

The captain and crew of the Lochearn were landed at Plymouth on the 6th. It appears from the statements of the chief officers and entries in the official log-book, that, after the collision, the Lochearn, although taking in little or no water, was uuuble to sail. She remained in mid-ocean for two or three days, when a heavy gale came ou, and the sea smashed in the bulk-heads and the sides of the compartments. The gale did not abate, water flowed in rapidly, and six days after the collision, by which time the ship British Queen had come up, the ship was abandoned. She could not at the best have floated more than a few hours after that. The "British Queen was bound from Philadelphia for Antwerp. The Lochearn appears to have acted on the unquestionable rule at sea— that a steamer is bound to give way to a sailing ship. It appears thus that the blame of the collision lay wholly with the officers of the Ville dv Havre. The Lochearn showed all her side lights, rang her bell, ana ported her helm— having observed that the steamer was approaching too near. When close to the bow, the steamer's helm was starboarded, and she was going across the bow of the Lochearn, when au order was given on the Lochearn to back the after-yards. Before anything could be done, however, the two ships met with a tremendous crash, and the steamer sunk in fifteen minutes. Th» two lifeboats of the Lochearn were at ence lowered to assist the Ville dv Havre, and kept out till daylight, when everyone flouting among the wreck had been picked vp — 87 persons in all— the rest having gone down with the steiimer. THE ASHANTEE WAR. The Ashantees have received a severe defeat. In his despatch to the "War Office, Sir Garnet Wolsoloy says : — " I have the" honour to report, briefly, the result of a series of operations conduoted under my orders, which have erded in the complete rout of the main Ashantee army, and in our capture of most of their stores, including the sacred symbols and personal 'belongsg* ot the General himself." On the 2nd iust,

the Victor Emanuel, which has been converted into a Bhip for hospital Beryice on the Gold Coast, sailed for her destination. The Dromedary has also sailed for the Gold Coast with a great amount of stores and a detachment of the Royal Artillery, and forty-four non-commissioned officers and men. Another large ship— the largest yet chartered for the purpose of carrying troops and stores to the Gold Coast — has arrived at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. She is the screw steamer Thames, the well-known mail and passenger ship running between Liverpool and Montreal. She is intended for a hospital ship. On our side already one officer, Lieutenant Eardley Wilmot, has been killed, and half-a-dozen others more or less seriously wounded.

Sir Garnet "Wolseley has been suffering from the effects of a sunstroke, but a telegram received from Cape Coast Castle states that his health is improved. Accounts from the scene of the overthrow of the Ashantee camp on November 7tb show that a very large number of them were killed in the encounter. There are now no Ashantees within ten miles of Duntjuah, and all is quiet, but it is expected that a stand will be made on the Prah ; and that King Koffee will himself take command. The steamship Sprite is to sail from Woolwich for her destination on Saturday the 20th. The Sprite is to be one of the four swift vessels which are to be employed running between Cape Coast and Cape de Verd Islands with invalids ; the Thames, which sailed lately* being another of these ships.

According to last accounts the war is practically at a standstill. The enemy is slowly re- | treating, making the best of their way back across the Prah, where it is expected they will make a stand. It is reported that the retreat- [ ing Ashantee army are suffering dreadfully, not only from want (their commissariat having I utterly broken down), but also from small-pox, | their line of retreat being marked by multitudes of dead and dying from this disease. No more fighting is expected until the New Year is well advanced. TERRIFIC GALE IN BRITAIN. { A very terrific gale, exceeding in intensity anything known for a quarter of a century, has passed over the north and north-east of England and the south of Scotland. On the Peak of Derbyshire large trees were uprooted, the gale partaking of the nature of an Eastern cyclone. In England, Sheffield appears to have suffered most from the srale, although lives have been lost and much property destroyed in the districts of which Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, lie, were centres. Tall chimneys were knocked over like card houses. One chimney alone killed at Sheffield by ifcs fall six persons and wounded fourteen. Greenhouses were unroofed, sheds blown down, and many trees destroyed at the Botanical Gardens, Reports from all parts are continually pouring in, and the damage caused j by this storm to hie and property has not yet been ascertained. Very little rain accompanied the gale. DENSE FOG IN LONDON. An exceedingly dense fog prevailed in London on the 9th, 10th, and 1 lth inst. Traffic was 1 conducted with the utmost difficulty, and all kinds of labour were more or less affected. Several fatal accidents were recorded, besides minor casualties. The animals exhibited in the Smithfield Club Cattle Show suffered severely from the fog. Ten beasts at least died, or had to be killed, and over seventy had to be removed to save their lives if possible, while all the animals showed signs of distress. On the night of the 9th every precaution was taken to purify the atmosphere : the gas was put out, the doors and ventilators set open, and the dust raised by the trampling of visitors laid by sprinkling water. But the quality of the atmosphere was not perceptibly improved from the exceeding density of the fog outside the building. The poor suffering animals appeared in danger of suffocation, and anxious exhibitors demanded tickets to authorise the immediate lemoval of their stock. There were difficulties in the way of this demand being complied with. There was some lifting of the fog about mid-day on the ( 11th, and the more distressed animals, chiefly I prize winners, were brought out of the hall, and slowly walked up and down an adjoining street. They appeared the better for this constitutional, and were returned to the hall at 3 o'clock ; but, unfortunately, the fog returned with all its old malignity, and with it increased distress to the animals, In fact, the veterinary surgeons could no longer forbid their removal. When the hall closed at 9 o'clock, the air was then so oppressive that many animals were in a most critical state, and later accounts will probably add greatly to the Jist of dead and slaughtered beasts. The exhibition this year, owing to the fog, must be I considered as a failure ; otherwise it is described as having been large in number and excellent in quality. In the Devons, Her Majesty carried off the principal prize in the first two classes. DISMISSAL OP DR HAYMAN, OF RUGBY. The governing body of Rugby School have come to a unanimous resolution that, as Dr Hayman had declined to act upon an invitation recently conveyed to him to resign, he should be removed from the head-mastership, the removal to take place ou the 7th of April. When Dr Hayman was nominated head-master in 1869, Rugby held an extremely good position, rauking in all respects as high, and in regard to moral training possibly higher, than other public schools. The position which Dr Arnold had originally won for the school had been worthily maintained by the present Bishop of Exeter, Dr Temple. Confidence in Rugby training may now be said to be almost completely destroyed, and under any circumstances it must take some time to revive. Forced by trustees who did not know | their business upon an unwilling school, and a I hostile staff of under-masters, Dr Hayman, mstead of striving to allay, unfortunately did everything in his power to stimulate, the elements of restiveness which he found there, until the quarrels between the Rugby mnsters become a scandal to the country. Dr Hayman's great fault was that he could never forget. Making the original mistake of supposing that all opposition offered to him was founded upon personal grounds, he allowed the vexation which he thus suffered to rankle in his mind. Dr Hayman is no doubt a well-meaning man, and one who, as far as scholarship and intellectual gifts are concerned, was perfectly competent tor the post which he occupied. But qualities other than intellectual, and a knowledge which is not to be obtained from books, aro absolutely necessary in a head-master. He must be capable of sympathising with all varieties of character, and in so far as is possible to humanity, incapable of misunderstanding. It is because Pr Hftyman could not do this; because

he saw in everything which thwarted hla view, evidence of personal malice { because his whola course at Rugby wag one of perpetual misunderstanding, that the trustees have at length been compelled to dismiss him from the post to which he never ought to have been appointed, and which [ he has never wisely filled. The dismissal of a headmaster from hia post is an event which, on ac- • count of its extreme rarity, must excite consij derable attention, and nothing but the most cogent reasons could justify such a step. In thii instance, had the trustees failed to dismiss Dr Hayman, they would have sacrificed Rugby and their duty. OBITUARY. The Liberal interest has sustained a. great loss in the untimely death of Mr Winterbotham, M.P. for Stroud, and of State for the Home Department. He was a man of unusual promise, one of the ablest statesmen of those now rising into notice. By his premature death many hopes are blasted, and a great gloom overspreads Stroud. Mr Winterbotham'a health had become impaired by excessive application to his official duties, and he had gone to Italy to seek health and relaxation. Tt wa3 thought that change of scene was producing a beneficial effect, but, after a drive in the neighbourhood of Rome, which he seemed to enjoy, he was seized on the following morning (Saturday) with sudden illness, and died in a few hours. Sir Henry Havelock has accepted an invitation to come forward as a candidate for the representation of Stroud in the Liberal interest. | The election will be contested by Mr Dorrington, the late unsuccessful Conservative candidate for that town. Mr Mason Jones, the well-known orator and lecturer, died at Kensington on the 13th, quite suddenly, of heart disease. He was in his 41st j year. Only a few weeks ago Exeter Hall was crowded to listen to his address on disestablishment, and against denominational education. Sabsequently he held a full meeting at Lambeth ! Baths on the same subject. He had planned to ' deliver many lectures this winter in the neighbourhood of the metropolis. Mr Mason Jones was a man of untiring energy, and had a wonderful gift in controlling and arousing great bodies of people. He was also a very fluent speaker. The death is announced of the Rev. John Howard Hinton, a distinguished Nonconformist minister, at the age of eighty-three. He was the author of several theological works, SPEECH OP LORD DERBY. The Earl of Derby presented the prizes at tha Liverpool College. In addressing the boys, his lordship said — " First let me congratulate thd winners of the prizes. They may well feel glad, and perhaps a little proud of what they have done. But let them recollect, as a caution, and let the losers recollect, by way of encouragement, that an early success, though it gives a lad a good start, gives him little else; that the race of life is a race which tests endurance more than speed ; that some of the most hopeless failures in latter years have been of the dashing brilliant, clever young fellows who seemed at school and college to carry everything before them ; and that the slow, plodding lad, who seemed to have nothing in his favour, except a dogged determination to go on, often comes out higher than either he himself or any of his friends expected." His Lovdship spoke of the value of training and energy, and of the habit of reading, and of the true use of science. He then continued — " There are graver subjects which I will barely touch. You live in an age of enquiry — of doubt, of mental restlessness— when more than ever men are unwilling to accept traditional solutions of the great mysteries which surround our life, and when many brains are bewildered, and many hearts are made to ache by the vast efforts to solve problems impenetrable to human reason. You cannot escape the coiumon destiny. Those of you who reflect will inevitably have times of mental perplexity, when the very purpose of existence seems obscure and doubtful, when traditions ap- | pear to fail and reason is baffled, and when men ask in bewilderment— what does it all | mean ? I am not here to deal with these high matters ; it is not my duty, neither is this the place. Only so much I tell you— -I believe that there are ideas implanted in us which in a sound mind no intellectual disturbances will long affect, and of which, in the deepest darkness, wo j may always if we will keep hold. Right and I wrong, honour, duty, and country, benevolence towards men, and responsibility towards the main power by which numan action is guided and controlled— these are not ideal phrases. In all ages and countries they have retained their meaning. They are realities which correspond with the deepest wants and feelings of our nature ; and no man will feel himself utterly cast down who can say in his heart what the wisest and best m the human race have proclaimed in the whole tenor of their lives— Whether I am happy or unhappy is not my chief affair ; what most and first concerns me is to find my work in life, to recognise it, and to do it." MR LOWE AT THE HOME OFFICE. On the 13th Mr Lowe was visited by two deputations—one from the new National Federaation of Associated Employers of labour, an association raised up to answer and refute working men's deputations ; and another from the Licensed Victuallers National Defence. About the former, which asked him not to hearken to demands for the repeal of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, and endeavoured to refute the statements of former visitors, I need say nothing, since Mr Lowe said nothing. But on the subject of licensing and the hours of closiug he spoke decidedly and clearly. He declines to bring in a Bill next session, for many reasons. Not only does he dislike interfering with a measure prepared by Mr Bruce, but he is sure if he did introduce a Bill it would not be passed. So the publicans must wait and grumble.

Mr 0. Holloway, a prominent member of the Agricultural Labourers' League, and delegate and chairman of the Oxford district, is a passenger by the steamer Mongol, now in quarantine. Mr Holloway, we believe, comes out in charge of the immigrants on board, and ha 3 also been instrumental in forwarding those who will come out per ship Scimitar, which is announced in our telegrams published to-day as having sailed. There is every reason to believe that Mr Holloway proposes making himself acquainted with the special advantages which I New Zealand offers to agricultural labourers : as a field for immigration.