ENGLISH CLIPPINGS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 1760, 21 June 1877, Page 4

ENGLISH CLIPPINGS.

The Journal de St. Petersbourg says that the most northerly telegraph office m the world has just b?en set up. It is at a Norwegian fishing station named Gjesvor, a little above the 71st parallel of north latitude.

The Jockey Club, on the motion of Mr Alexander, has just resolved that the lowest weight m handicaps shall m future be 4st 71b, instead of sst 71b. This resolution (the Sportsman says) will take the racing world by surprise, as any change m the matter was expected m the raising rather than m the lowering of the minimum impost.

Mrs Cobden, widow of Mr Richard Cobden died on the 18th April at Dunford, Midhurst, Sussex, having survived her husband a little over twelve years. Mrs Cobden was a daughter of Mr Williams, solicitor, of Machynlleth, near Aberystwith. She leaves five daughters, the eldest of whom is married to Mr Richard Fisher, of Hill Top, Midhurst ; the others are unmarried.

A man named William Blackburn met with a terrible death on the 14th of April, at the works of the Aireside Hematite Iron Company, Leeds. Ho had gone to sleep on some slag at the foot of a " tip," and before he was observed a mass of red-hot slag was shot down. He was observed to look up at the moment of tipping, but before he could effect his escape was overwhelmed by an avalanche of incandescent metal and burnt to death. Hii skeleton was dug out soon afterwards.

Bad news comes to hand regarding the spread of the plague. A telegram from Teheran says the disease has appeared at Resht, causing three or four deaths daily. There have been twenty-four cases up to the present, of which sixteen have proved fatal. It is feared that the mortality is likely to increase, and sanitary measures are being taken by the Persian Government. The sanitary officer at Bagdad repurts 176 deaths from plague between the 16th and 23rd inst.

The Magdeburg Gazetie mentions as a report that negotiations are going on having for their object the renunciation by the Duke of Edinburgh of his right of succession to the duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, and the transfer of this right to the heir to the duchy of Saxe-Meimngen, who would thus become heir to the two duchies. The Cross Gazette of Berlin says that the marriage of the hereditary Prince of Saxe Meiningen and the Princess Charlotte, eldest daughter of the Crown Prince of Prussia, will take place next year, and that the Prince and Princess will take up their residence at Potsdam, m the villa once inhabited by the Princess of Liegnitz, second wife of Frederick William HI.

Three hundred thousand breechloading rifles are reported to have been supplied to Turkey from the Rhode Island manufactory during the past two years. Two hundred thousand more, together with an immense quantity of cartridges, are stated to be expected by the Turkish Government. Russia is also said to have received a large supply of improved arms from the United States.

A despatch to the Standard says that the appointment of ex-Colonel Bakar to the command of a brigade has been cancelled, on the recommendation of Redif Pasha, who is of opinion that the Turkish army does not require any European officers.

Prince Hassan, the Egyptian Minister of War, intends to oommand the Egyptian Army Corps m the war with Russia. The Levant Herald states that it has the beat authority for announcing that it

is the Sultan's intention to proceed to the seat of war, but whether m Europe or Asia is undecided.

An attempt was made on the Salisbury line of the London and South Western Railway to upset the express train from Exeter to Plymouth. The express, which left Exeter at 5 o'clock, encountered an obstruction on the rails when at full speed, about a mile and a half from Botley. There is a foothpath across the line at the spot, and on examination it was found that a sleeper had been deliberately placed upon the rails. The guards of the engine were smashed, but fortunately the train kept on the line.

The action brought by Mr Plimpton against Mr Spiller for a perpetual injunction to restrain the defendant from infringing the plaintiffs patent for roller skates was heard before the Master of the Rolls on the 19th April. His lordship held that the evidence entirely supported the plaintiffs claim of originality of invention. With regard to the resemblance between the two inventions, he was, he said, of the same opinion as when he granted the interlocutory injunction — namely, that the defendant's principle of construction was the same as the plaintiffs, find therefore an infringement of the plaintiffs patent. His lordship therefore granted an absolute injunction with costs.

The Daily Telegraph states that Captain Burnaby arrived m London, having travelled from Kars m twenty-one days. He thinks that the chances are decidedly m favor of Russia should she assail Turkey m Asia Minor. The Persians openly declare their intention to join Russia, and Russia could thus easily capture Van, the capital of Armenia ; and Captain Burnaby believes that Erzeroum and Trebizond would aIBO probably fall into their hands. He fears that m the event of Russian successes, there would be cruel massacres of Christians m Asia Minor by the Kurds m the Turkish army. The stories which have been told recently of Turkish outrages on Christians m Armenia, he says, have been grossly exaggerated.

The correspondent of the Daily Telegraph at Pera has seen the Turkish fleet m the Bosphorus. Its condition, he says, is really splendid ; the vessels are fully manned, and the discipline appears as good as possible. Hobart Pasha has been formally appointed to the command-in-chief of the Black Sea squadron, which will number fifteen ironclads fully prepared for active service, with stores, ammunition, heavy guns, and equipments complete. Tho despatch adds : — " The forts on the Bosphorus are also m readiness, and the reports from the armies upon the frontiers are very satisfactory. The Turkish generals are all leaving for the expected seat of war. The enthusiasm among the population is something quite remarkable."

The Cork magistrates, after a hearing extending over four days, committed for trial Mr George Humphries, the city treasurer, on a charge, instituted by Sir John Arnott, of conspiracy to defraud him by a falsification of partnership accounts. Mr Humphries became private secretary to Sir John Arnott during the mayoralty of the latter, was fortunate m some stock transactions, and with £16,000 entered into partnership with Su John Arnott iv the Glanmire Mills. Sir John, however, took no active share m the management of the concern, and never derived any profits from it, though he had advanced £16,000, and given his name to the Bank " for all present and future liabilities." Mr Humphries speculated largely m grain until he became involved to the extent of £300,000. The assets realised £71,000 ; and Sir John Arnott, as the partner m the concern, has been obliged to pay the deficiency — £229,000. An investigation of the books revealed the fact that a false ledger was presented, and that the original ledger was kept back. On the question of bail Sir John Arnott did not press for heavier bail than Mr Humphries' own recognizances m the sum of £5000.