NEWS By THE MAIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 506, 3 January 1870, Page 3

NEWS By THE MAIL.

« »•; The Duke of Edinburgh is expected at Calcutta on December 20. Lady Mordaunt is said to be more hopelessly deranged than ever. French inventor has taken out apatent *i». for "stockings with garters attached?^ Mrs Vivian remains in Paris, havTEig, it is ; said, declined the Marquis of Waterford's offer of marriage. The Mastership of the Mint, it is now said, S will be conferred on Professor W. A. Miller, ! M.D., of King's College, the eminent chemist. It is said that Mr Chatterton and Mr Bou- j cicault have already netted £10,000 byForr mosa. Mr Spurgeon has quite recovered from his recent illness, and is once more able to discharge the whole of his onerous duties. The small green paroquet has acclimatised * himself in London. Troops of them may be n seen feeding witb the sparrows in some «• places. ™ A Canadian alderman, at whose, house , Prince Arthur recently stayed two days, has. sent in a bill for 2500 dollars for his Royal Highness' board and lodging. Some of tbe Church papers state that the Boyal Commissioners on Ritual intend to - propose that the Athanasian Creed shall be struck out of the Prayer Book. Sir J. Y. Simpson has been presented witb the freedom of the City of Edinburgh, in re- '

cognition of his contributions to medical science and literature. On October 19th the mountains in the Lake districts of Westmoreland and Cumberland were thickly covered with snow, which had fallen during the previous night. The Bishop of Lichfield has been staying with the Rev C. Daniel, at the vicarage of Hope, Derbyshire. His lordship preached at the pariah church, on October 17th, to a very large congregation. It is rumoured that it is intended to fit out another flying squadron of a less formidable character than that which is under RearAdmiral Hornby, to leave England about the month of April next. A passage between Boulogne -sur-Mer and Calais has been made in four hours and threequarters on two podoscaphes, or marine bicycles. The currents were against the voyagers, but they landed almost dry. The Crown Princess of Prussia has received from the Amsterdam Exhibition a diploma of honour, as an acknowledgment of the noble and successful efforts which she has made to found au association for the employment of females. The Duke of Montpensier, who had been residing at San Lucar, received a letter threatening him with assassination if he returned to Seville. He immediately returned to that city, where he was received with much cordiality. The prospects of the cotton trade in North and North-east Lancashire are not very cheering; and a hard winter is expected. At Darwen the masters have given notice that they will not use gas during the winter unless a change sets in for the better. Tramway omnibuses, constructed to carry 40 passengers each, commenced to run in Liverpool on the Ist November. The omnibuses are drawn by three horses each, and are a great improvement upon the oldfashioned vehicle. Clarance Holt, as the Free Lance, in the drama of that name, commenced a short season of six nights at Astley's, on Saturday, October 30th, Mr Holt is accompanied by his daughter May, of whom the critics anticipate great things. The Facade of the Edinburgh Winter Garden will extend along the Glasgow Road 130 feet. It will be 30 feet broad and 26 feet high. In connection with the main building will be another 50 feet in length, to be used as a fernery. " Water of the Nile " is to be the name of the next new colour for ladies' wear in Paris. Since stays have gone out of fashion in the same city, female mortality has decreased 18 per cent.; to balance this, the use of chignons has increased the cases of brain fever by 72£ per cent. jt Placards have been posted at Clapham ■containing the following piquant invitation to worshippers at " Bethesda Chapel ": — " Ned Wright, who before his conversion was convicted three times of burglary, will deliver a gospel address. Come and welcome ! No collection i-ajJA It is staled that the wish entertained by many of the Irish subjects of the Queen, that Her Majesty should visit Ireland next year, is likely to be gratified. We even hear that arrangements are in progress at the Viceregal Lodge with a view to a visit from Her Majesty in June next. The Figaro says that Latin will be the language which will be used in the CE-u---menical Council, and that the Congregation of tbe Index has been commissioned to fix a uniform pronunciation, in order that in the diversity of accents the assembly may not degenerate into another Tower of Babel. Professor kisley has been tried at the Central Criminal Court on a charge of abducting a girl under sixteen years of age, and acquitted. He has since written to the papers, disclaiming the remotest criminal intention in thought or deed, and thanking his friends and the Press for the generous treatment accorded him. The London Scotsman says : — We are glad to notice that Mr Lewis has announced his intention of introducing in the London Presbytery of the English Presbyterian Church an overture to the Synod in favour of granting permission to congregations to adopt instrumental music when two-thirds of the members are in favour of its use. On Oct. 28, Braemar was comparatively isolated from the rest of the kingdom, as all communication, except on horseback, was out of the question, owing to the snowstorm. Tbe ordinary coach from Ballater could not run, huge snow wreaths crosssing the road at short distances. The mails were brought up on horseback, including thoße for Balmoral. The snow-drift was almost blinding. The lapse of two knighthoods of the Most Noble Order of the Garter at the same time, by the demise of the Earl of Derby and the Marquis of Westminster, is almost unexampled in the records of Crown dignities. His Royal Highness Prince Arthur, the third son of Her Majesty, and Earl Marshal hia Grace the Duke of Norfolk, have been mentioned as probable recipients of the dignities. At a meeting of the committee of Wool Importers, on Oct. 28, resolutions were passed to hold five series of sales next year, in lieu of four as heretofore, the dates of commencement to be Feb. 10, April 7, June 16, Sept. 8, and Nov. 17. The importers general y, it is said, have reason to believe that the alteration will be acceptable to their friends in the colonies. The Empress Eugenic during her stay at Venice visited every object of interest in the city, and was everywhere attended by a curious but respectful crowd. It is even said she joined in the ordinary evening promenade in the Piazza St. Marco, and this report, whether well or ill-founded, led to an English lady who was mistaken for her becoming one evening the object of somewhat embarrassing attentions on the part of tbe multitude. The boldest and most scientific feat yet performed at Niagara is promised before the season closes, by a daring fellow, who proposes to cross the river without the employment of any such safeguard as an " undershot " velocipede; and in fact, he will even

dispense with the Tope. This new miracle, which, we presume, will claim the distinction of the "Canadian Sinhad," designs taking an aerial flight across the chasm on wings. The Morning Star, a daily paper started in London by the once powerful party called the Manchester School, ceased to exist on Oct. 13. Mr Bright, whose powerful writing was frequently recognised, has ceased for some little time to give active co-operation to the journal. Mr Milner Gibson and the other chiefs of the party had also withdrawn : their support. It is said that the interests of the paper have been disposed of to the pro- ; prietors of the Daily News for £8000. Trouble seems likely to arise between the United States revenue officers and the Mormons, owing to the many efforts of the latter i to evade paying taxes. A majority of the : houses at Salt Lake have been consecrated for " religious purposes," and the theatre, though it has long been in use, has been pur- , posely left " unfinished." It seems that I Brigham Young is becoming sarcastic. He i proposes to limit himself to oue woman if every member of Congress will do the same. The new poem by Alfred Tennyson, announced, -' The Quest of the Holy Grail," is ■ only another of the Arthurean legends which : will go to make up the laureate's epic. It is understood that he has others on hand, and is more especially engaged in expanding the '■ Mort d' Arthur" of his early volume 1 , so that it may form the fitting close of his great work. Tennyson's poems must sell very largely, as his publishers guarantee him an income of £4000 a year. General Sir Nevile Chamberlain leaves Suez for Bombay by the next Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer, en route to Calcutta, to attend his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh during his sojourn in India. A proper personal allowance, and also an outfit allowance of £650, has been granted Sir Nevile by the Government of India. The departure of General Chamberlain sets at rest any doubts that may have been entertained as to the special character of the Duke of Edinburgh's visit to India. Four Royal accouchemenls are expected either next month or in December, viz. : — The Princess of Wales, the ex-Queen Sophia of Naples, the Princess Margaret of Italy, and the Duchess of Parma. The Pope has promised to be godfather to two of the expected infants, those of the ex-Queen of Naples and the Duchess of Parma. Francis 11. and his Queen have been hurrying back to Rome, in order that the birth may take place on Italian soil. The new Thames Tunnel haa progressed so fast that it may now be said to be virtually complete, and will, it is expected, be in a fit state for opening for public traffic about the middle or the end of November. The whole length, from what may be called the summit of Tower Hill to the end of Vine street, in Tooley atreet, on the south side of the river, isjust 1320 feet, and of this distance more than 1280 feet has already been accomplished and completed. Only about 40 feet remain to make the junction with the Tooley street shaft. The question of the admission of ladies to medical study at the Edinburgh University came before the General Council of the university on October 29. The Key Dr Phin, bf Galashiels, moved that the meeting disapprove the resolution of the University Court to admit ladies to medical study in the university. Thia was seconded by Dr Andrew Wood. Professor Masson, seconded by Professor Bennett, moved that the resolution admitting ladies be approved, and on a division Professor Masson's motion was carried by a large majority. It was generally understood throughout the diocese of Edinburgh that Bishop Terrot had resigned. The bishop has, however, reconsidered his. determination, and resolving not to resign, has issued a commission to the Bishop of Moray and Ross to administer the diocese. The diocese of Edinburgh is now, therefore, is this singular position, that whereas it had until lately two bishops— Dr Terrot and Dr Morrell, coadjutor bishop, who resigned a few weeks ago — it is now practically without any, and is placed under the direction of the bishop of another see. Lieut. J. Newton Emra has written to the Standard volunteering to raise a body of young men — probably all Wiltshire men, and at least 100 in number — to proceed to New Zealand for whatever military service they may be called upon to perform, provided, of course, that the expense of voyage and outfit and regular payment be undertaken ; and tbat he is authorised to hold out such further inducements, guaranteed by the Colonial Government, as may ensure their not being dissappointed, whatever may be result of their joining the expedition. Professor Seeley — tbe newly-appointed Professor of Modern History in the University of Cambridge — delivered an address, on October llth, at the opening of the Working Women's College. He maintained that both men and women ought to be better educated, but that the two sexes ought not to be placed on a different footing. He considered that the present system of education for men , was devised in the interests of the sebool- ' masters rather than of the learners. The : object of education was to produce good women, and he bad no doubt that the plans i carried out by the Working Women's College would achieve that end. The foot and mouth disease is gradually ; spreading over England, and it is feared that : farmers and others will have to sustain severe losses. It is said to bave been imported from the Continent, wbere it prevails i to an* immense extent. The disease has long been known to veterinary surgeons. In 1837 it committed great ravages among the cattle, and in 1844-45 it broke out among the poultry. When the animal is attacked, it becomes depressed, and the secretion of saliva is greatly increased — the lips and mouth being covered with froth. It has been remarked that the advancing spirit of the age must indeed have reached Eton — that ancient seat of permissive instruction and privileged idleness-— when we

find the cause of "advanced education for ladies" occupying the leisure of the most eminent and successful masters. Under the auspices of the Rev. Stephen Hawtrey and the Rev. W. B. Marriott, it is proposed to hold classes at Eton for ladies " not under sixteen " during the present autumn and the coming winter, in Latin, English history, elementary geometry, and physical geography. Mr Johnson conducts the Latin course, Mr Oscar Browning undertakes the English history ; the Hey. Stephen Hawtrey the elementatry geomery ; and Mr W. H. Harris (head master of an old-established school at Windsor) will superintend the class of physical geography.