General News.

Otago Witness, Issue 1584, 1 April 1882, Page 14

General News.

A French war frigate has been sent to the coast of Guatemala to demand satisfaction for an assault on the Secretary of Legation. An indemnity of 10,000 francs is required, as well as the punishment of the offenders whom the Supreme Court had acquitted. A crowded meeting was held at New York to express sympathy with the persecuted Jews in Russia. The assemblage was in response to an appeal headed by General Grant, to which many prominent politicians and leading citizens subscribed. Among the resolutions was one calling upon the United States Government to use such influences as long-standing friendship with Russia might justify, to stay the spirit of persecution, and by a wise and equal administration to secure the Jews in Russia from a recurrence of such outrages. M. Bonteaux, President, and M. Fedder, Manager of the Union Ge'ne'rale, have been arrested in Paris, and their request to be allowed bail was refused. Action has also been taken against several of the directors of the Union Ge'ne'rale. The prosecution will probably be instituted under the law forbidding officials of any public company to cause fluctuations in their stock for gambling purposes. One Dr Clarke, of New York, has introduced an interesting innovation into dentistry. He does not remove the carious dentine at all ; he merely disinfects it, and then proceeds to fill the tooth. He claims that all decay of teeth, and everything else, is caused by the presence of bacteria, the smallest living thing that permeates all human organs and tissues. This theory he substantiates by the microscope, showing in all carious dentine millions of these minute beings, so small that they are quite invisible to the unaided eye, and 10,000 would not reach across an inch, but very lively and rapacious when brought within the field of glass. Disinfection with carbolic acid and other poisons arrests decay by destroying these infinitesimal devourers, and Dr Clarke thinks that by timely and constant disinfection all decay of teeth can be prevented. He believes, also, that all disease of every kind is produced by some species of mischievous bacteria, and that the various ailments can be suppressed and rendered manageable by a judicious attack on the bacteria. " The Physical and Social Capabilities of New Zealand for Tea and Silk Culture" the title of a paper read before the Foreign and Colonial Section of the Society of Arts on January 31st by Mr _ William Cochran. He pointed out that the climate in many parts of the Middle Island closely resembled that of the tea and silk districts of China, and he believed that but for the apparent apathy ot the New Zealand Government sericulture might at tho present moment have been of great importance to the Colony. It was his opinion that the higher grades of silk and the better class of teas could be successfully cultivated in New Zealand.

This is the manner in which the artful Chinese conducts his clever smuggling operations in Melbourne : — The principal consignee was Sun Rum Lee, and the most deliberate falsification was apparent in nearly every line. Out of 170 cases said to contain sauces 'in the bills fir.st presented to the. Customs 110 were described as spirits in the Chinese invoices; six packages entered as candlewick were three of candlewick and three of tobacco ; 30 packages of lily flower were five packages of lily flower and 25 of spirits, of four gallons each ; and 1 3 packages of merchandise were three of merchandise and 10 packages of tobacco, in all 26 cwt. A rough estimate fixes the value at between £40,000 and £50,000, so that the revenue will receive an unexpected addition, if, as appears almost certain, the goods are to be sold.

In the recent financial crisis at Paris the £5 shares of the Union Gcnerale (the Catholic Bank), which had gone up to £130, fell first to £i>C and then suddenly to £52, meaning a loss of millions to speculators.

The trade of New South Wales continues to exhibit a wonderful elasticity. Up to tho lKth February of this year the value of the imports was £2,269,469, and of the export* £2,fi(i0,23J. For the corresponding period of last year the figures were 81,884,485 and £2,034,58.) respectively. A 'phase yt "the Clunebu Question' 1 ca,me before tho "Resident Magistiabe't. Court in Wellington a day or two ago, when Lno Vim, a market gardener at the Ifult, brought a charge ef larceny as a bailee against Long Quong, also a gardener. In February last Luo Tim, the innocent, informed Long Quong, tbu knowiiijj, that btt mis soin&toWiu^umi

for a trip, and in answer to Long Quong, said he had £80, with which sum he intended to proceed to China in April. Long Quong, feeling solicitous for the welfare of his brother Celestial, told him it was not safo to keep such a sum in his pocket, and induced Loo Vim to give him £70 till the former returned. On Loo Vim's return, he found the knowing one had himself taken a trip to Sydney, as an initial step to a journey home, and of course the £70 had vanished with the possessor. This was the effect of the evidence given, and the question waa whether a warrant could be issued for the arrest of Long Quong at Sydney. Mr Hardcastle, after hearing the evidence, decided to issue a warrant at once.

The idea of connecting Manchester with the Mersey and enabling shipping to go right up to that very important manufacturing centre, avoiding the necessity of the intermediate land transit to Liverpool, has again cropped up. The project was mooted some years ago, but was deferred owing to the depressed state of commerce. Commercial prospects having brightened since then, it has again been taken in nand by a body of influential capitalists, and there appears to be a probability of its ultimate accomplishment. The Quebec Government has approved of an offer made by the Rev. Fathers Labelle and Lacosse to organise a provincial lottery of 10,000,000d01. It is proposed to have two annual drawings of 5,000,000d01. The conditions offered the Government are that it shall take the lottery under its patronage, and receive a revenue therefrom of 10 per cent., which amount will be applied to the payment of the large sum which is devoted annually to the various charitable institutions of the province of Quebec. The remainder of the profits is to be expended by the promoters and the Government for colonisation purposes. In a recent divorce case at Home the petitioner had married a cook upon the understanding that the alliance was not to hold good unless she should arrive at the following accomplishments (besides cooking) : — " Piano, singing, reading, writing, speaking, and deportment. " And whereas the said accomplishments "were in no way sought after, much less mastered," the husband endeavoured to get off his bargain. The exploration of the Nickajack Cave in Tennessee has already revealed many miles of galleries, yet no ending has as yet been reached. Its entrance is on the northern side of a hill ; a river flows through it. Many most interesting animals were found, including an apparently new salamander, a snowy- white and blind crawfish of a new species, several other Crustacea, also blind, and two crickets. Tenders are being asked in Victoria for the supply of 20,000 tons of steel rails. A somnambulist in Collingwood, Melbourne, about 18 years of age, got out of bed while asleep and walked through a window, falling to the ground, cutting his legs, hands, and body severely.

In Geelong recently, whilst a young gentleman was walking in the street, an insect flew intoone of his ears. All attempts to dislodge the insect proved unavailing, and recourse had to be made to a surgical operation, when a large-sized moth was found to have pierced its way right through the cavity of -the ear, and had caused symptoms of inflammation to : et in.