GENERAL SUMMARY.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4972, 16 December 1884, Page 2

GENERAL SUMMARY.

The Agents-General for the Tarious colonies visited Plymouth and were entertained by the Chamber of Commerce at a ball. In responding to the toast of " Our Colonies," Mr Humphries, a well known New Zealand journalist, who acts as emigration agent for Tasmania, created some commotion by rising and stating that he considered it a slight that no one should hare been called upon to respond for Tasmania.

General Charles Lavallin Nugent, late of the 58th Regiment, died on November 3rd at Southsea, aged 68. Deceased was son of the late Colonel Andrew Nugent, of Portaferry, County Down, and entered the army in 1835. He served with the 58th Regiment in the New Zealand war of 1845-46, in command of a force which penetrated the forest surrounding Ruapekapeka, and was present at the capture of that pah.

Hunt's Guardian, published at St. Ives, has been purchased by Mr Henry Stringer, who was for nine years connected with the daily press in New Zealand.

Major Te Wheoro is at Brighton, seriously ill with acute bronchitis. When well he will sail direct for New Zealand.

Mr Pearce, of John Elder and Co., who own the Zealandia and' Australia, says he will place the Alaska and Arizona on the Pacific service for a consideration, and would undertake a service between London and Auckland in twenty five days.

Messrs C. Teschemaker and R. Wilson, qj Dunedin, have been elected Fellows of the Colonial Institute.

At a demonstration of workmen and socialists in Paris, on Nov. 23, several advocated the robbery and massacre of the rich. Two of the speakers who advocaled moderation were kicked into the street. Shopkeepers in the vicinity of the meeting closed their places, fearing violence and pillage. The police were unable to disperse the assemblage, and were obliged to call the military. The troops then took possession of tho streets.

Bismarck is so terribly incensed against the Niedenwald conspirators that he will give no quartor. Evidence shows that the explosion was not directed against the monument at all, but was intended to kill the Emperor, Crown Prince, Chancellor, and other august personages.

The latest letter received from General Gordon says:—"My position is very secure. The troops are in excellent health." The General adds, " The Mahdi regularly receives copies of European newspapers, by which he learns of the movements of the British troops." A despatch from Cairo, Nov. 21, says :—The man who arrived here yesterday evening from Khartoum says : Disease is making great ravages among the Mahdi's followers, fully 100 dying daily. Sheik Morganna, with a large force, had arrived at a point midway between Kassala and Berber to lend assistance to General Gordon. Michael H. de Young, surviving partner in the business of the San Francisco Chronicle, was shot and seriously wounded in his office on the evening of November 19, by Adolph Spreckels, son of Claus Spreckels, the Sandwich Islands sugar millionaire. De V oung was shot on precisely the same spot where his brother Charles was killed by young Eallock a few years ago. Two balls were lodged in his left shoulder, and it is feared tUe wounds will prove fatal. The cause was that the Chronicle hqd charged Claus Spreckels with swindling stockholders in the Hawaiian Commercial Company out of a million dollars. Spreckels, in t\\ta, was shot in the fleshy part of the arm bj a clerk in the office.

In the Presidential election, Cleveland secured 219 electoral votes against Elaine's JS2. The hitch was in New York, which castjthirty-six votes in the Electoral College, and the Bepublioans were kept between hope and fear for nearly a fortnight, while a careful canvas of the States' vote was being made. At last, it was decided on the 15th, that Mr Cleveland's plurality in New York was 1147, and the Republicans struck their oolors.

Au ex-priest, theßev. Father Chiniquy, attempted to lecture in Russell JbUJI,

Montreal, on No. 5, but was prevented by a mob of young Catholic students, who threatened to take-fain life. On the 6th he preached at the Canning-street Presbyterian Church, and was again interrupted by the students. They were ex palled from the churcli by the police, who severely clubbed several of them. The rioters then marched through the city, yelling derisively in front of every Pro* testant church.

A despatch from Berlin/ November 22nd. says the German Government is credited with the intention of annexing several islands in the Pacific Ocean, as well as part of New Guinea. The Worth German Gazette makes a bitter attack upon English operations in the Pacific, and says the British High Commissioner recently inflicted a mock sentence of eight days' imprisonment apon the pirates of the schooner Stanley, who plundered several German mercantile firms at the Langhein Islands, and who, after massacreing a number of natives, took one hundred of them as slaves. The pretence of the Australians, says the Gazette, to humanity, has no basis in fact, and Germany is bound to insist up* on the immediate annexation of the an* claimed islands in New Guinea, if only for the purpose of protecting the natives from English barbarities. The distress among the English shipbuilding workmen is increasing. At the shipyards on the Tyne, Clyde, and Mersey there is scarcely one-fourth of the possible working force and power now in effectiye operation. Miss Fortescue, the actress, who obtained a verdict of £10, COO damages against Lord Garmoyle, son of Earl Cairns, has temporarily retired from the stage. A severe shock of earthquake, acconv panied with a terrific explosive report) occurred on the night of November 14th, at Clittieroe, Lanchasbire, 25 miles from Manchester. The shock threw down the horses in the streets, and caused great consternation and excitement among the inhabitants.

On the 12th the Government issued deficiency estimates. With reference to the cost of the Nile expedition army, it will require a million pounds more than previously estimated, and for navy £324,000. For the Beohuana expedition the Government estimates that £665,000 will be required by the army and £50,000 by the navy. Postmaster-General Fawcett was buried on the 9th ult., at Cambridge; there were fully 15,000 persons present.

Fifteen lives were lost by an explosion in the Treadegar Coal and Iron Company's colliery at Hockin, near the town of Tregar, on November 9th.

Henry George, the land agitator,arrived in London on November 9th. He went from New York at the invitation of the Scottish Land Restoration League, and in bis public lectures will deal particularly with the crofters question.

A troopship, with 2000 ■ marines^ was ordered to proceed on November 10th from Portsmouth to the Isle of Skye to assist the police in restoring order among the Crofters. Fully 2500 Crofters met the detachment of police on their arrival on November 11. They demanded the object of their coming, and no satisfactory answer being given, the islanders conducted them back to the landing-place, and requested them to leave their shores. A despatch of the 16th says news had been received that the Crofters have resolved to submit unconditionally. There was a debate in the House of Commons on this subject. Sir William Harcourt denounced* both emigration and eviction, and so general was the feeling in the Crofters' favor that the Tories spoke with considerable moderation. Several Conservative landlords have agreed to stay their demands, and a resolution asking for prompt legislation for the Crofters was carried unanimously. The leading farmers, at the same time, have called for a wholesale reduction of rents.

Recently Major Te Wheoro, the New Zealand Aboriginal Chief, who accompanied the Maori King to England, and remained behind for a few months, paid a visit to Mr George Graham, of 42, Tidsbury road, west Brighton, one of the old* est colonists of New Zealand, and well known there as a staunch friend of the Maoris. The chief was accompanied by his interpreter, Mr Skidmore, and during their stay at Brighton visited the Aquarium and drove round the town with their host. Subsequently they were taken to the Art Loan Exhibition, and were afterwards entertained at dinner by Mr James Asbury, of Eden-terrace, who is himself about proceeding to New Zealand. A London paper states that the King, himself, has arrived safely at nil home at the Antipodes.and we notice that the press of the colony is giving scant courtesy to the pretensions put forward by him in England, and vehemently charging his statements as lacking veracity. Commander R. F. Hammiok, who serred with distinction with, the Naval Brigade in the New Zealand War of 1864, being specially mentioned in despatches, has been appointed to the command of H.M.S. Lion (training ship) at Devonport.

The "United Ireland," of November 21st, states that it is the intention of tbe Nationalists to impeach Earl Spencer, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, for oonspir* ing to murder. It says the Irish party is determined to force an inquiry into Earl Spencer's act.

Bomb shells were found in a sbed at Stoke-Newington, on the Hth by some boys. The bombs do not bear the Government mark. The police are investigating the matter.

Fred. Archer, the jockey, who has recently lost his wife, has left England for the United States.

Lord Tennysons^ poem, "Freedom," will not be issued till December.

The Queen returned to Windsor from Balmoral on the 19th November in excellent health.

Michael Davitt made a speech at Coal Bridge, Glasgow, on November 11, in which he predicts great danger for England when, tbe passage of the Franchise Bill having augmented the Irish party in ParliameaMhe Government refuses to aIW Home Eule in Ireland.

Patrick N. Fitzgerald, Fenian suspect, arrested m London last April on a charge of treason and felony, was acquitted in Dublin on the 11th. Owing to his acquittal, the Crown has abandoned the Sudbercurry oases, and all the prisoners were released. They were received by their friends with great rejoicing.

Frederick J. Allen, Vice»President of ■!u UDg Ireland Society, was charged with treason and felony and committed for trial on November 13.