OUR LETTERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1777, 12 December 1885, Page 1

OUR LETTERS.

OUR AMERICAN LETTER.

It has been the general complaint in all kinds ©f business throughout this country for the past year and more that there was a great dullness and lack of spirit in trade, and this is fully confirmed by the tables just issued by the Bureau of Statistics, showing our foreign trade for the year ending August 31, 1885. The imports of "She country fell off 13 per cent, or about i86,635,373d01, from last year, the totals being:— Period ending August 31, 1885 ... g1.235.g01. TChe detailed statements show that the decrease was pretty evenly distributed along the line but are more noticeable in dress goods, drugs artificial flowers, and articles of similar character.

Our exports for the same period decreased but to a much less extent, the decrease feeing about 3 2,253,331d01, or 2 per cent. The total exports of the year ending August 31, 1885, were 722,765,461d01, against 735,018,792d0l Jior the same period in ISS4. The quantity of goods exported in 1884-5 was really larger than in 1883-4, but the difference in value makes ±he apparent decrease. For example, in the second quarter of 1885 we exported, in xound numbers, 16,000,000 bushels of corn -against 10,000,000 bushels in the same period of 1884, but the price obtained for the first-mentioned was only 8,782,000d01, while the 1884 shipment brought 6,239,000d01. For the same quarter of 1885 our wheat shipments -were 3,000,000 bushels less than for the corresponding period of 1884 ; and the decline appears much greater, as the shipments of 1884 brought Idol a bushel, while those of 1885 only realised 90 cents. As the second quarter of the year is a fairly representative one. we will look at that in our trade statistics. For this period we exported 65,000,0001b of bacon, realising 5,165,000dol ; and in the same period of 1884 only 61,000,0001b, which brought .over 6,000,000d01. The lard shipment of 1885 was 78,000,0001b, which brought us •6000,000d01, while 60,000,0001b shipped in 1884 realised the same money. The same 5s noticeable in cheese, when the identical nuantity exported in 1885 realised half a million dollars less than in 1884. The 190,000,0001b of cotton exported in this quarter of 18S5 brought into this country exactly the same amount of .money that 181,000,0001b shipped in this period of 1884 did. The most noticeable increase in was in refined sugar and salt beef. Of •the latter, during this period of 1885 we exuorted 19,000,0001b, worth 1,371,000d01, against 9 000 0001b, worth 700,000d01, in 1884. In sugar we shipped 139,000,0001b for this quarter of 1885, against 58,000,0001b for the same period in 1884. From a perusal of this brief epitome it wilJ be seen that the exports of this country for the year 1885 far exceeded those of 1884 in quantity, but so low were the commodities in the world's markets, that the values fell far below those of the later year. This would seem to -show that the stagnation m business was not confined to this country alone* but was pretty -evenly distributed throughout the world.

SMALLPOX IN MONTREAL.

This dread scourge has been raging in the «hief city of the Dominion for some time, and ■notwithstanding the efforts of the authorities, Jhe disease seems to have increased rather than .diminished in severity. The lower and poorer who are principally French Canadians, have been the chief victims owing to their less ■jrieanly methods of life, and the lack of vaccination among them. The civic hospitals have been .filled with patients, and the Exposition building tad to be converted into temporary pest-houses for the accommodation of the unfortunate. So severe became the plague that the health •authorities issued an edict of compulsory and established offices for this pur■nose throughout the city, but to no purpose, as ■the French Canadians declared openly that they •mould not submit to the measures of the English .authorities, whom they cordially detest. Finding that these measures were fruitless, and that -the epidemic could not be checked unless the were vaccinated, the Board of Health detailed officers to visit the people at their .homes and compel them to submit; especial attention was to be directed to the schoolchildren. These measures exasperated the ignorant French citizens to such an extent that they held meetings and denounced the English people and then started out to make Rome jaowl. 'A mob of 2000 strong attacked all the vaccination offices and completely demolished them, and then proceeded to the City Hall with the avowed intention of destroying it. By this ■time the town was in a perfect riot, and the attack on the City Hall was defeated by the police, but not until every window in the edifice had been broken. Enxaged at their defeat, the mob attacked and completely destroyed everything breakable in •the houses of the members of the Health Department and attacked the temporary hospital in the Exposition buildings with the intention aof burning it down, notwithstanding the fact •that numbers of unconscious patients were within their confines. The militia appeared •upon the scene and drove the crowd back without bloodshed, established a guard around the and then proceeded to clear the streets, which they effectually did, the cowardly mob -melting away like mist before the glittering arms of the soldiers. For three days this .state of affairs existed, and the soldiers were •called upon twice to disperse the rioters, which they did each time without blood being shed, -which speaks highly for the temper of the men, the stoning they received from the anob and their friends on the house-tops.

The priests came out and advocated vaccinaiaon from their altars, which had the effect of the bigoted populace, and making submit sullenly to the cure. These disturbances show the temper of the French inhabitants of the Dominion, who hate the 'English and every measure proposed by them with a deadly hatred. Indeed, there exists a anost perfect race antipathy between these jpeople, who are really aliens in everything, and

only kept from ojjen rebellion by the fear of the sword and the English-speaking inhabitants. Several minor riots have occurred in different places over the Riel case, which show clearly that the sympathy of these people is entirely with him, and as the Privy Council have dismissed his appeal, and he must face the gallows, more trouble may arise.

POLITICAL

The Ohio election is over, and the Republicans have succeeded in carrying that State by 20,000, considerably less than their usual majority. The fight in this State created great interest, as it was the first election since the elevation of Cleveland to the Presidency, and the Republicans endeavoured to make out that the result in the State would show the feelings of the people towards the new Administration, forgetting entirely that the State is one of the staunchest Republican States, and in the last election went for Blame, their candidate, by over 40,000. The Democrats in their State platform did not live up to the policy of the President, and he granted them but little aid in their struggle, which was chiefly for the Legislature, which body will have to elect a successor to John Sherman in the Senate of the United States. The battle was a fierce one, and from the first an almost hopeless one for the Democrats, as the whole force of the Republican party of the country was exerted to secure the return of Sherman for another term, and they had to rely entirely upon their local force. The Democrats carried the State_ four years ago upon the issue of Prohibition, in which campaign they captured the German vote by advocating free beer, but this time the fight was strictly upon party lines, and they had a majority of 40,000 to overcome. The Republicans elected all their officers and carried the Legislature, thus securing the re-election of Senator Sherman.

The New York election comes off next month, and it gives promise of being a close fight, with the indications favouring the success of the Republican ticket. The Democratic Convention, in adopting their platform, evolved the astounding principle that the President should hold the Civil Service laws in abeyance until all Republicans had been put ojit of office and their place filled by Democrats. This declaration completely antagonises the policy of the President and his Cabinet, and estranged the " Mugwump " or Independent votes from the party in that State. The Administration also do not feel inclined to over-exert themselves to assist their partj to victory, after such a repudiation of the mainstay of their national policy. The Republican platform, on the other hand, upholds the Civil Service laws, and really, if they are successful, as they undoubtedly will be, it will show that the independent voters are in hearty accord with President Cleveland's endeavour to maintain and enforce the laws as he finds them. Both parties have come out against silver, and seem to this extent to be under the influence of the banker element of the East.

The fight for Governor in the Democratic Convention was a close one between Governor Hill and Rosswell P. Flower, one of the wealthiest and most popular men of the State, in which Hill was successful, and Flower was given second place upon the ticket without consulting him. When he received notification of his nomination, he flatly refused to have anything to do with the party this time. This put the State Committee at their wits' ends, as they had hoped to use Flower's name and money to help them on to victory, so they had to cast round for an available man, but nobody seemed desirous of the empty honour ; but at last they found a man who was willing to accept in the person of General Jones, a comparatively unknown politician. The nomination of Hill caused great dissatisfaction, so much so, that I think his chances of election are problematic.

HELL GATE.

Another great stride in the direction of freeing this dangerous entrance to the harbour of New York has been accomplished in the shattering of Flood Rock, ons of its most dangerous obstructions, and once more science has demonstrated its power of " changing the whole face of nature," and destroying the everlasting hills. In 1875 this work commenced, and the first obstruction removed by dynamite was the euphoneous rock from which this channel took its name. Since that time work has been going on almost constantly, and sloAvly the foundations of Flood Rock have been undermined and deep chambers cut in them. The work was extremely laborious, as the rock was exceptionally hard, but constant labour completely honeycombed the island and formed the mine. The entire roof of the excavations was drilled full of holes, and 300,0001b of dynamite and "rackarock" deposited in the interstices, which were touched off by an electric wire connecting with Long Island, some three miles off. The explosion was a grand sight, as nine acres of rock and an immense quantity of water were lifted to a height of 200 ft, and then disappeared beneath the surface. The explosion was witnessed by crowds of spectators, and the shock was clearly felt miles off. The destruction of this rock removes the most dangerous obstruction to navigation, and it will be but a short time before this far-famed channel of danger will be open and free to navigation.

AN AFGHAN PRINCE.

An interesting romance that would make a good foundation for a novel or a drama has just been made public from Galveston, Texas. The hero is the alleged grandson of Shah Sujah, who was placed upon the throne of Afghanistan by the British in 18138, when they deposed Dost Mahomraed, the reigning Ameer. When Shah Sujah was assassinated in 1841 his son Fettah Jungh succeeded him, but despairing of holding the. throne, fled to India, where he died in poverty, leaving a son of tender years, who has been discovered in our chief Mexican Gulf port, and whom rumour says is to be put forward as the heir to the Ameership of Afghanistan by the Russians. The boy, after his father's death, without money or friends, became a tramp, and reached Calcutta in his wanderings, where he shipped on board an East Indiaman bound for Liverpool. From there he was traced back to India, and from there to New York, where he arrived at the outbreak of the Civil War, and enlisted in a Union regiment, but his previous bad luck attended him, as he was captured at the battle of Seven Pines, and confined in

Libby Prison until the close of the war. After his release he resumed his occupation as a sailor, and is said to have been with Stanley when he went to the relief of Livingstone, in Central Africa. Thence he went to Zanzibar and entered the military service of the Sultan, but had to fly to escape the ever-ready bowstring. From this* point every trace of him had been lost ; but Russian agents have searched every quarter of the globe for him in vain until this one happened to stop at Galveston en route to Mexico. Seeing a man of Oriental appearance employed at a fruitstand he engaged him in conversation, and soon found that he had made the long-wished-for discovery. The facts were cabled to Russia, and a week ago the heir apparent to the undesirable seat sail.cd for Russia, when, if his identity is clearly proven, he may be put forward, as their tool, for the Ameership.

CAKDIXAL M'CLOSKEY.

On October 10 the Catholic Church of America suffered a severe loss in the death of her most prominent son, Cardinal John M'Closkey, who passed away after a short illness in New York, at tho ripe age of 75. The deceased Cardinal was a remarkable man in every respect. Born in 1810, he entered holy orders in 1834, aud 10 years later was made titular Bishop of Axiere and coadjutor to the Bishop of New York, and three years later was translated to the see of Albany. The see of New York was subsequently advanced to an archbishopric, and Bishop M'Closkey made coadjutor thereof to Bishop Hughes, upon whose death he succeeded to the archbishopric. He immediately entered upon the work his predecessor had commenced — the building of the magnificent cathedral of St. Patrick on Fifth avenue, New York, which he superintended until it was finished, and which now encloses all that was mortal of this great prelate in its dark and consecrated crypt; while its huge belfry stands towering above as an eternal monument to the dead beneath. In March 1875 Archbishop M'Closkey was added to the College of Cardinal-*, as Cardinal Priest of the Church of Sancta Maria Supra Minervam, being the only American who has held a seat in that august body. Cardinal M'Closkey was a man devoted to his religion and his Church, and who, through his many charitable acts, will long be held dear in the hearts of his poor fellow countrymen who were fortunate enough to reside within the limits of his jurisdiction.

ODDS AND ENDS

Another American of some eminence in the literary world has passed over to the majority since my last letter. H. W. Shaw, or as he sigued himself, Josh Billings, has been in poor health for some time, aud came to Los Angeles to seek the salubrious climate of our coast, but without effect, as he died in the City of the Angels about a week ago. No more the public will be attracted and beguiled by the quaint witticisms clothed in still quainter spelling, or crowd the hall to hear the lecture bubbling over with mirth and laughter, as these perish for the time at least with their originator, Josh Billings.

The Mormons are not in a very amiable mood at this time of year, as the courts are in full swing, and indictments presented and convictions had with amazing rapidity ; and it looks as if the territory of Utah would be one huge penitentiary, in which will be confined all her residents except the court officials. The latest phase in the question is the activity of the fractional wives— l should say wife— to secure the conviction of their joint spouse. Evidently the women of Utah don't believe in the old saw, that a half loaf is better than no bread.

The Chinese question is again a topic of absorbing interest here, because of the discovery that an organised plan of selling certificates to Celestials who have no right to them has been going on for a long time between the customhouse officials here and a broker in Hong Kong. So glaring has been the frauds that the President's attention has been directed to it, and he has politely but firmly notified the Chinese Embassy of the facts and demanded that their Government exorcise its power to prevent its subjects from violating the treaties and our laws. Such stringent measures are expected to be taken that the Consulate here advises men who intend going to China, aurimo rivertandi, to postpone indefinitely their trip. A victim of title mania, who shculd be induced by the young American gentlemen to enter the lecture field to address herself exclusively to heiresses who are afflicted with this craze, has just been rulea&ed' by the . American Consul at Genoa from an insane asylum to which her aristocratic husband had confined her as soon as possible after their arrival in his native land. She was a wealthy New York girl who married a title, aud who, but for the opportune visit of the Consul, would have been wedded to a living tomb. I might give voice to tho sentiments of thousands of struggling young literary men in this land, and say, "Oh, ye foolish virgins (wealthy ones understood), why do ye thus offer yourselves as a living sacrifice upon the altar of the false god Title when so many brilliant intellects are willing, yea, more than willing, to clasp ye to their manly bosoms in true Anglo-Saxon style." The Prince of Wales has just taken a header in oil on the New York petroleum market, and realised a tidy little sum upon half a million barrels, which he sold at an increase of five cents per barrel the next day after purchasing. The great Colton suit brought by the widow of General Colton against the C. P. railroad magnates, for 2,000,000d01, has been decided against her upon all issues, as the evidence was insufficient to support any of her theories. Jacou Terry.

A seaman named M'Allister, on board the R.M.S. Rimutaka, was drowned in Lyttelton harbour on Friday. It appears that a stage had been rigged on the starboard side of the vessel to enable a man to bolt up the coal port holes. M'Allister, accompanied by the ship's carpenter, got on to the staging, and shortly after the carpenter left him M'Allister seems to have missed his foothold and fell into the harbour. He sank immediately, and although two men jumped overboard to try and save him they were unable to get a hold of him and he was drowned. The body has not been recovered.