NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2833, 25 June 1895, Page 3

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

An English syndicate has quietly secui od a site in the central part of Chicago, ami intends to erect a spacious hall simihr to the Alhambra Music Hall in London. The Princess of Wales is greatly changed, uud now looks like an old woman. Rumours are rife in London of the approaching retirement of the Duke of Cambridge as Commander-in-Chief. It i 3 anuouueed by the Times that it would bo a most welcome step, as the Duke's continued retention of the office, which tho Hartiugton Commission advised |the total abolition of, means an immense pecuniary loss to the country. At the meeting of the leading city bankers and merchants, held in Londoci on May 28th, it was decided to form a gold standard defence association and Mr Bertram Currie was elected president of the new association. An address was forwarded to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, signed by those present, to which Sir William Harcourt returned a reply, concluding thus :—" You may rely upon it that Her Majesty's Government will give no countenance to any change in the fuudamantal principles of our monetary system, nor to any discussion in which they may be called upon to take part; nor will they admit any doubt as to their intentions firmly to adhere to the single standard." The sale of the jewels aud racing cups of the late Duchess of Montrose, who raced horses under the name of "Mr Mauton," took place in May, and realised over £25,000. A celebrated pearl necklace was sold, according to the terms of her will, for the benefit of the poor of Bast London. It was knocked down at £11,200. The necklace is composed of seven rows, and contains 362 finelygraduated pearls with a diamond clasp. The mate of the necklace, for size, color, and faultless matching, can hardly be found. Prince Henry of Battenburg with the Duke of Orleans went hunting in Spain and had a narrow escape of his life. At a fair in Andalusia he kissed a rustic beauty, and her sweetheart and several hundred of his fellow peasants resented it. There was a regular fight with knives, and had it not been for the police both Bi\tteuburg and Orleans would have been killed. As it is the Frenchman, according to the common report, is now laid up from wounds received in the fray. Mr C. L. Taylor, land agent for the Marquis of Ely, was shot at and killed on May 2ud while standing ontside the courthouse, at New Ross, County Cork, by a bailiff whom he had threatened to evict from his holdiug. The affair caused great excitement. A mysterious explosion took place on May 17th in a railway carriage which was just arriving at the Walworth Railway Station, on the London, Chatham and Dover road. The sole occupant of the carriage was badly injured. Near him was found a brass cylinder 9 inches long. The Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha is attending very many public functions, and seems specially anxious to win public favor. H« is afraid of the continued growlings of the Radicals and others over the pousion he receives from the British taxpayers. Johu Lawrence Toole, the well-known English actor, is suffering from paralysis, and it was announced on May Bth that he would retire permanently from the stage Tho total realised by the Bale of art treasures of the late Mrs Lyonel Stevens in London on May 24 was £141,000. Mrs Stevens was formerly a well-known French dancer, aud retired from the stage to marry the late Lyonel Stevens, who was a member of Parliament.. She became renowned by her charity, giving large sum", of money to various charitable institutions. Bicycle riders have been granted the privilege of Hyde Park. Tho application of the Dowager Duches ß of Marlborough, formerly Mrs Louis Harumersley, of New York, who wished to be presented to the Queen on her marriage to Lord William Beresford was returned to her through the Lord Chamberlain's office, where such applications are tiled, with the endorsement in the handwriting of Queen Victoria, that Her Majesty could only receive her as Lady William Beresford, and that she has often done. Consequently the lady will iu future have only her place in precedence at Court as Lady William Btresford. Her new huaband cost her the old title.