THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1936, 2 April 1891, Page 13

THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

GENERAL SUMMARY.

Dates to March 6.

Over £9,000,000 has been spent on the Manchester ship canal, which is rapidly approaching completion. If more money is sot secured by August 15,000 men will be out of employment, and the plant, which is worth £1,000,000, will be left to rust. Application for assistance has been made to the City Council, which it is understood will advance nearly £2,000,000 for the completion of the canal.

It is said that in consequence of unlucky speculations on the Stock Exchange ex-Empress Eugene is about to sell the celebrated chateau Dareberg in Switzerland.

Henry Harrison, M.P., visited the offices of the Belfast branch of the National League on March 12 and seized all the money and documents he could lay hands on. It is said the central branch of the league authorised the seizure owing to .the disorganised state of the Belfast branch and their disloyal attitude to Mr Parnell. Mr Harrison and friends then declared the branch dissolved. A free fight followed between Harrison's friends and their opponents of the Belfast League, and fists, sticks, and chairs were freely used. Finally the police cleared the building.

A despatch from New York of March 3 says : — T. P. O'connor, late editor of the London Star, sailed for Europe this morning because hi 3 mission to America, in the interest of the Irish party is a failure. He thinks the outlook for the Irish cause dismal. He will start a London paper called the Sun, devoted to the Irish cause and American news.

On March 2, the Pope received congratulations on the occasion of the 80 th anniversary of his birthday. Cardinal La Fadletta preseuted an address from the Sacred College. His Holiness, in the course of his reply, said he had passed another year of anxieties and vexations, due to attacks on the church. His position was similar to that of Gregory's pontificate. Though barbarians tried bis patience, Gregory's greatest triab were with internal enemies, who were less ferocious but more evil than the barbarians, so now tbe malice of the church's enemies was subtle, bat their snares would not prevail.

Eyraud, the atrangler, whose head was eat off in Paris, had his life insured for 10,000dol, but the companies refuse to pay on the strength of a clause in every policy relieving the company of liability if the insured meets his death while violating the laws of the country. The charge for a conversation by telephone between London and Paris is 2dol for three minutes.

A curious and startling case is shortly to be heard in the courts of London. A wealthy lady of Stafford, Mrs Cathcart, mysteriousiy disappeared some time ago, and all the efforts of relations and friends failed to discover her whereabouts. Quite recently, however, her friends traced her to a lunatio asylum, where she had been confined at her husband's instigation. Mrs Cathsart is the possessor of an estate valued at over 5,000,000d01, which reverts to her husband if he can have her certified as of unsound mind. Mrs Cathcart's relatives insist that she is in full possession of her senses, and consequently a long and interesting trial is expected.

The official Government statistics have been prepared in Berlin on 2172 cases treated by the Koch methods. Of the cases of internal tuberculosis 13 are reported cured, 171 considerably improved, 194 improved, and 46 died ; while of the cases of external tuberculosis 15 are reported cured, 148 considerably improved, 237 improved, 9 died. The success of Koch's remedy exceeded all expectations.

The Renfrew Gingham Cotton Mills in Massachusetts, were burnt. The loss is 500,000d01, with 800 people thrown out of employment.

The coloured people, who lately emigrated to Oklahama, are at starvation's door. They number several thousand, and find themselves the dupes of unscrupulous agents.

A man and his two children were attacked by two wild cats at Lake Weir, Florida, but the savage creatures were beaten off after a straggle in which the man's hor«e was badly injured.

One of the leading Scutch gingham manufacturing firms has commend, i operations in Massachusetts; and it ii considered in some quarters that the transfer of British industries to the States, brought about by the M'Kinley tariff, will make the States the workshop of the world.

The London Exchange Telegraph Company's Berlin correspondent telegraphs that he has information from the highest sources to the effect that a feeling of general uneasiness prevails in regard to Emperor William's utterances.

In an interview with Miss Cuthbertson, a missionary amongst the Chinese girls in 'Frisco, a paper of that city elicits the information that there are scores of female Chinese slaves in 'Frisco to-day. The most of bhe young Chinese girls who come are brought as slaves, and a cash payment to parents has secured their services, or in many other oases they are kidnapped. In still others these girls leave HongkoDg deluded into coming by false pretences. There are a few who come actually as wives, but not many. From first to last they are under intimidation. They are told what they must say to be allowed to land, and they are so taught on the voyage, before they sail, and further instructed upon their arrival here. They are victims to a regularly organised conspiracy existing in both sides of the Pacific to consign them to slavery and life-long degradation. O; cc in this country face to face with their fate, and seeing what miseries they must endure, the fear of what may happen should they not succeed in getting safely through the courts by lying as instructed is greater .than any other fear. There was a suggestive case recently whioh came to Miss Cuthbertson's personal knowledge. Two young Chinese girls failed to show that they had a right to remain, and they were remanded and actually taken down to the mail dock to be deported for Hongkong. At the dock they manifested the greatest terror, and amid sobs told of tortures which they would be subjected to on their return to China, because they had failed to lie their way through the Federal Courts in 'Frisco.

Pobtsmouth, February 26 — Great throngs of people gathered here to see the Royal pageant accompanying the launching of the new warships at Portsmouth and Gosport. The Queen launched the ironclads with the usual ceremonies. According to report, previous to the ceremony, acd while the Queen and Prince of Waleß were standing beneath the bow of cne of the ships, they quarrelled for several minutes. Both Queen and Priuce as a result of their quarrel had an apoplectic appearance when it terminated. The cause of the quarrel is believed to have originated in some trifling breach of etiquette. The two war vessels were christene 1 Royal Arthur and Royal Sovereign.

M. Vypcbnegradfky, Minister of Finance of Russia, has obtained a suspension of farther repressive measures against the Jews by pointing out to the Cz*r the vexations financial results which each mt wares might involve,