THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1942, 7 February 1889, Page 22

THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

GENERAL SDMMARY. The Sheffield Independent has authority for saying that an English syndicate proposes to secure all the salt works iv America. Mong Kow, Chinese agent of the CanadianPacific steamship line at Vancouver (B.C), was in Ottawa on January 8 in references to the head tax on Chinese immigrants and interviewed the Minister of Customs. He represented that ' Chinese merchants and others were interested in a scheme for the immigration of a million i Chinese in the United States to British America and Australia, and that the present tax ot 50<lol ahead is an obstacle. It is feared that when this large movement of Chinese is made the Canadian Government will at once raise the tax to prohibitory rates. It; is thought the Canadian* Pacific is endeavouring to influence the Government in favour of this scheme as it will bring millions for transportation. Mong Kow intimates that a friendly understanding with the Chinese Government and a satisfactory issue to this negotiation would result in an increased trade between China and Canada immediately, as a measure on the part of China against the United States in retaliation for the Chinese Exclusion Act. It is now thought that the Murchison letter which cost Lord Sackville his position as British Minister at Washington, was written by an Englishman named George Osgood, of Pomona, Cal., who is a member of the St. George Society. He had no political design whatever in doing so. James Gordon Beunet has bought, it is said, the plant of the London Globe, and that paper will be transferred into an edition of the New York Horald. O'Connor, the oarsman, is en route for Australia, and will probably leave 'Frisco by the February boat. The London police have received and traced fco their origin letters which lead them to believe that " Jack the Ripper " is living in the vicinity of Drury Lave, and seem confident that. the clue upon which they are working will result in the murderer's capture. Mr Gladstone has recently written to the Rome correspondent of (he Tablet denying that he has at any time rr commended that the restoration of the Pope's temporal power be made the subject of international arbitration. There were 50,000 people present when the "Te Deum" was suug at St. Peter's, Rome, on December 30. Speaking of religious matters, the Pope's encyclical complains that the tendency of the age is towards material interests, and such a tendency is strengthened by the worldly pride, the evil press and drama, demoralisation of the arts, and changed education in the schools tending to materialistic and athestic teaching. Socialism and Nihilism are also the outcome of this tendency towards material thiugs. The crofter population of the island of Lewis, Scotland, is suffering for lack of food. The potatoes and other crops are exhausted, and the I people are on the brink of starvation. j The 79fch anniversary of Mr Gladstone's birth- | day was celebrated in England and Italy oh ! December 29th. Among the hundreds of letters , and telegrams received was a most cordial missive from Mr John Bright, now convalescent, to which Mr Gladstone feelingly responded by telegraph. The Hon. Cornela Pribtie, a sister of Lord Dunalley, was killed while hunting at Newgb, County Tipperary, on December 28 Her horse stumbled and she fell from the saddle. Her feet became entangled in the stirrup, and she was dragged to death. Pedro Diavo, the Italian brigand, who disembowelled the Marquh Sanduzzo in Italy, some time ago, and who hid in the mountains, was captured on December 28 at Stanford, Connecticut. Diavo tried to bribe his captor, but failed. The surplus in the United States Treasury atthe close of the year 1888 amounted to 80,000,000d01. The express car of the east bound overland train on the Central Pacific railroad was stuck upon December 24 by two young men, only partially disguised. They succeeded in getting away with SO.OOOdoI. The train men say the robbery was the neatest and best job on record. The fund of Plymouth Church, where Mr Beecher formerly preached, in Brooklyn, was reported to be bankrupt on January 11. Governor West of Utah opposes the admission of that territory into the Union, on the ground that the Mormons are unfitted to exercise the rights of citizenship. Mrs Jay Gould, wife of the American railroad magnate, died in New York on January 13, from paralysis. The American Anarchists have been pursuing Joann Most, once their leader, as " a liar and a scoundrel." He has applied to the New York police for protection. A movotnenb instituted by large employers of labour is on foot, in California to abrogate the Scott Exclusion law, and to promote Chinese immigration. A Russian sailor was sentenced to 10 years' servitu le at St. Petersburg on January 7, for murdering seven persons on shipboard in revenge for hard usage by the captain. Strong efforts arc being made by the National Woolgrowers' Association before the United States Committee for an increase of duties on all grades of wools, particularly on carpet and washed wools. There is no probability, however, that the committee will increase the rates over those contained in the proposed revised Tariff Bill The Cunard linor Umbria, which left New York on January 5, passed Browhead at 5 i o'clock on the afternoon of January 11, making the passage to'Queenstown in 6d2hr4smiu— beating the best record. The Rev. Fielder Israel, pastor of the First Unitarian Church in Salem, Mass., and prominent in Masonic orders, cut his throat in the vestry room on January 4. He died instantly. One of the biggest land deals on record has been consummated with the Brazilian Government by New York, Pittsburgh, and Washington capitalists. The principal object of the promoters of the scheme is to develop the valuable diamond and goldfidds in Western Brazil. The grant is for between 50,000 and 00,000* acres bordering on the Upper Amazon river. One hundred and twenty priests have signed a protest against the imprisonment of Father Kennedy, who was found guilty of attending a i meeting of the suppressed branches of the National League. ' Two sergeants of the Royal Irish ConstabuI lory were elected members of the National

League at Milballstown, on January 14. They say their action is a protest against the employment of the military in making evictions. The attempt to evict O'Donnell, a tenant at Donegal, on January 9th, led to a five hours' fight between his friends and the police. He was finally dispossessed and arrested. The crew of the Dublin University boat has challenged the Yale (U.S.) boat crew to a race provided the latter go to England this year. Yale will probably accept. The Empress of Russia is ordered to reside at Nice. A thorough change of scene is declared to be necessary in order to prevent a complete breakdown of her nervous system. M. Rochefort fought a duel on January £ with M. Lissig Ray, editor of La Baittle, using swords. M Bay received a mortal wound. M. Rochefort was also wouuded, but not danger* ously. Prado, the murderer of Marie Aguetant, was executed in Paris on the morning of December 28. He was unconcerned aiad acted. as if he were simply an onlooker. He made no con* f ession, and smiled blandly when his arms and legs were pinioned behind. He refused the services of the priests aud ehed tears dramatically at the ignominy of the guillotine. The few words he muttered were unintelligible. A large crowd jeered when he came from the gaol, and shouted with satisfaction when the knife fell. All night Long there was a great howling mob outside the prison— Bohemians from the streets, loungers from the avenues, workmen in the houses, and women with 2hildren in their arms. They could see nothing, but still they remained jostling, crowding, hooting, and shrieking. There were numerous accidents. Women fainted and were carried away by the gendarmes. Many had rented rooms weeks before in the immediate vicinity of Roquette to gratify their curiosity. After the execution the crowd dispensed in an orderly manner. During the performance of "A Midsummer Night's Dream " at the Opera House, Berlin, on December 30, Princess Adeberta of Bavaria was seized with a violent attack of hysteria, and had to be removed. It is now believed she has ; become insane. Secretary Bayard proposed a new form of government for Samoa. The proposition of the Secretary was for the appointment of three commissioners — one by the United States, one by Great Britain, and oue German, who should confer with the king and vice-regent, making a board of five to administer the government. To this proposal the German Government objected, and produced many arguments against it, holding that it would be impracticable to administer a government among this class of people in this mauner, and especially so as the Samoan king and viceregent are unfamiliar with any language which the representatives of the civilised nations would use, and that it would be impracticable for them to co-operate in the administration of ; the government. A counter proposition was submitted, iv which the German Government proposed that the nation having the largest interest in Samoa should appoint n single representative to administer the government jointly, with the king. This, of course, would have resulted in the appointment of a Germau representative. The Freeman's Journal, Dublin, says that The Times sent a man to Pubolo to induce Sheridan to testify before the Parnell Commission, promising if he proved satisfactory he would be paid £10,000 an hour for testimony after his examination was concluded. Sheridan declined, saying he did not desire to share the fate of . James Carey. Sheridan is president at the ! San Louis Valley — a point 140 miles south-west of Pubolo, on tho other side of tho mountains. He is regarded as a typical Irishman. ' A debate which gave great offence to the Parisian press took place in the United States Senate on the Monroe doctrine, and with particular reference to the late complications in tho Panama Isthmus Canal enterprise. A resolution was passed oh 7th January to the effect that the Government of the United States would look with serious concern and disapproval on any connection of any European Government with tho canal across the Isthmus of Darien or across Central America, and regard _ any such conuectiou or control as injurious _to the just rights and interests of the United States, and a 9 a menace to their welfare, and the President was requested to communicate the expression of the Government's views to the Governments of the countries of Europe. Senator Gray objected to the form of the reso-' lution. He favoured the Monroe doctrine, but could see no reason why the French Government should not protect the interests of the French people who have invested their money in De Lesseps' canal. He would notify all foreign Governments that the United States would tolerate no political control of the isthmus, and let the French Government act in the matter at its peril.

South. Eaitangata was reached about 9 o'clock on Saturday night, and the return journey was made the following day. At Waihola five more members were met and a pleasant run was en* joyed Into town. Roads south are greatly improved by the rain last week.