GENERAL SUMMARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2085, 8 February 1894, Page 35

GENERAL SUMMARY.

la Pondoland, Africa, says a Capetown despatch of December 30, a woman accused of causing the death of her child by witchcraft was bound to a stake planted in the middle of an anthill, and her body stripped of all clothing and smeared from head to foot wibh grease. The ants, attracted by the grease, swarmed all over the unfortunate creature, and eventually devoured her.

Three thousand five hundred huDgry poor in San Francisco were fed by the Salvation Army on New Year's Day. Roasted turkeys to tho amount of one ton and a- half were among the viands.

Tho East Indian mails received in London on December 28 announced the death of Miss Charlotte Maria Tucker, known all over the world as "A.L.O.E" ("A Lady of Old England"); For the last 18 years Miss Tucker had been engaged in missionary work in India.

A cylinder, while being- sunk at the wharf of the American steamers in Southampton, exploded. Several workmen are missing,- and, in addition to these; two are so terribly mutilated that death is expected to ensue. A London despatch of December 20 says the Court of the Queen's Bench had rendered judgment in the suit of the Republic of Chili against the Royal Mail Steamship Company and the London and River Plate Bank, regarding the possession of 338 silver bars, valued at £130 each. Those were conveyed from Chili to the Monte Video branch of the River Plate Bank by the British warship Espiegle at the request of President Balmaceda. Tho judgment favours the defendants.

In the London Daily News list of deaths for Christmas Day 1693 there are 40 names, and of these 25 are over 81 years of age. The London Agricultural Gazette of January 1 takes a gloomy view of the crop prospectß for 1894, owing to the extraordinary mildness of the tvinter, and the absence of snow, which promises badly. The specialist S-wanh Stonnekoff predicts a widespread famine. Three more Anglican clergymen joined the Cihurch of Rome in London on the Ist, making 14 Anglican ministers who hare become Roman Catholics since the famous Lificoln judgment. The intended shooting party at Sandriiigham (aays a London despatch of January'l) has been abandoned in consequence ot the recent illness of the Princess of Wales, which has lefb her very weak and much depressed, and there will be no more guebts there this winber. Tho Princess will go to Osborne on a visit to the Queen when she leaves Sandriugham, tho week alter next and later ou her Royal Highness and Princesses Victoria and Maud will probably proceed to Italy, then to Abhens on a visit to the King and Queen of the Hellenes— remaining abroad till the end of April. Mr J. Henniker Heaton, M.P\, speakiDg at the Colonial and Indian Exposition ia London, formulated a charge of gross mismanagement against the British commissioners of the World's Fair. Sir Henry Trueman Wood, secretary of the commission, replying on January 9, says the charges are baseless.

Lord Dunraven announces that he will return to the United States in May next to race the Valkyrie against the big American sloop. Tho London Telegraph thinks the proposal to add Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico to the States of the American Union will probably involve the United States in embarrassment more difficult tfci surmoiint than any ib has thus far experienced.

The Pall Mall Gazette publishes a' review of trade for the year, compiled from official returnp, which shows that trade during the year 1893 has been worse even than in 1892, and a general gloom now hangs over the country's industries. Imports during the 11 months declined £17,500,000 as compared to 1892, and exports declined £6,500,000. There has been a shrinkage of every important class. American trade is steadily advancing, and what effect the Tariff Bill has caused is a matter of conjecture. Brazil and other American republics, except Chili, have been largely buyers. Merchants generally are looking with confidence for improving trade in 1894, provided there is no serious strike or lock-out.

Snow fell in London on January 8 to a depth of several inches. Nothing like this period of .snow and cold at the beginning of the new year had been experienced in the English metropolis since 1881. There was a large quantity of snow in the streets at Thorncliffe. On the night of the sth the mercury fell to zero. In Ireland there was a renewal of the storm?, and railway traffic was much impeded. The cross Channel service between Dublin and Holy head was delayed by the severity of the weather. In England there had been house-boiler explosions, attended with several fatalities, owing to the intense cold.

The wheat area of 1894 in India will be an increase of G per cent, over 1893.

Cholera is ragiDg in St. Petersburg. Several schools were dismissed in January.

Polish newspapers publish accounts of a recent attempt to poison the Czar of Russia at a banquet. The first course was only half consumed, and the Czar ordered the remainder to be sent to an orphan asylum. Later the Czar, orphans, and all who had partaken of the fish were taken sick, and an investigation showed that the fish was poisoned.

Archduke Otto, heir to the Austrian throne, attempted suicide recently) but in view of Crown Prince Rudolph's tragic death efforts are being made to hush the matter up. In the meantime the Archduke has been sent to Egypt. The young man's eccentricities distress hi 3 uncle, the Emperor, very much.

Superintendent Neilson, of the United States railway mail service, has issued a general order of January 5 that he left all mails for Hawaii, Samoa, and Australia, excepting New Zealand, to be forwarded by the most direct route to Vancouver, B C, and be included in the mails for despatch thenca to their destination on the 9th of each month. Ib is provided, however, that such mail matter can be forwarded to Vancouver only in time for despatch at an earlier date than the siiling date of the regular 'Frisco mail steamer. The object of this arrangement is to provide against delay in the delivery of the mail. Ib is also ordered, in any ciee in which ifc ;s net reasonably certain that the Vancouver route will be the more expeditious, that the mail shall be forwarded to San Fraucisco.

A sensation was caused in Paris on January 6 by the arrest of Abbs Biimeau on a charge of murdering Abbe Fricot, whose body was found in a well in his garden at Eatrammes, in the department of Mayeciie. Brimeau is also suspected of haviDg caused two fires at the Presbytery of Astile, where he -was assistant priest before he went to Entrammes.

The raising of the American Minister, the Hon. Theodore B. Runyon, at Berlin, to the rank of Ambassador was given a fitting significance by a special compliment paid by tho Emperor William by up to the embassy on New Year's morning and sending up a card specially inviting Mr Runyon to a reception. Mr Runyon drove up to the palace in blatant style, with a coachma.u and two footmen in blue coats and white caps.

The American eagle was painted on the carriage, and the harness and other trappings were elaborately embroidered. Tho equipage caused a 1 great deal of curiosity, the colours not yet being familiar to the people of Berlin. Mr Runyon gave a splendid banquet on the 6th to members and their wives of English and American Embassies, all of whom attended, including the British Ambassador, Sir Edward Malet. The newly-made American Ambassador is letting people know he is around.

Mr Davitt, on being asked by an American pressman whether he had advised the "removal" of Dr Cronin, murdered in Chicago, said he never knew Cronin, and it would be just as true to say that he had advised the "removal" of Julius Crcsar or Abraham Lincoln. It was a monstrous fabrication, and the press of America waa the only press in the civilised world through which ruffianly attacks like this moral assassination of public men could be made.