AMERICAN SUMMARY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2464, 15 February 1876, Page 3

AMERICAN SUMMARY.

it is gonorally known here now that President 'Grant's proposition for modiation on behalf of peace in Cuba, will bo carried into offoot. Cuba is to Assume aboufc fcho aamo rotation fco Spain as tho Canadian Oonfotl oration does to tho British Government. War will cease on fcho Island, and tho insurgents will be admitted to fcho full .rights of citizenship to join in the business Mre- organisation upon v basis of now Govornmont of tho pooplo, wifch elftvory abolished throughout, fcho Inland. This much ia aoknowlodgod by oflloials who besfc know what is going on. Afc a meeting of tbo Common Counoii of Philadelphia, a resolution was adopted that the Board of Publio Eduoafcion ho requested to inform tho Council by what authority tbo reading of tho Bible had been discontinued in certain schools.

At Now 'York on Jan, 8, arrangements by tbe National Eifla Association and Amateur Eiflo Oilibs for tho Centennial International Eifle Match were progressing. Invitations fco participate have been sent to Great Britain,. Australia, Canada, France, India, Prinoe Edward Island, Sweden and Norway, Austria, Belgium, the German Empiro, Switzerland, Chili, Brazil and Poru. Eight mon will constitute a team, and the ranges will bo at 800, 900 and 1000 yards. The tournament will lasfc four days. Each man will have ninety shots with a possible score of 450 points. It is not yet decided whether tho contest will tako place at Creedmoor or Philadelphia. Major Fulton is at presonfc visiting the Centennial grounds, to report; upon thoir adaptability. It is believed that Oroodmoor will be selected.

Philip Stoiner, ouo of the loading dealers in tea and coffee of Now York Oity, has failed, Ho had eighteen stores in this City, besides othors in Brooklyn, Jersey City and Newark. His liabilities aro 98,000 dole, assets 39,000 dole.

News has boon roeeived from the Phillipine Islands giving details of a dreadful hurricane on Dec. 30. The storm was particularly Bovero in tbe Provinces of Alben and Canaries, On the Island of Lucan two hundred and fifty lives wero lost, 8800 dwellings destroyed, many oattle perished, and the crops in all directions were ruined,

A telegram from Porak shows that tho British hold all the important positions in that neighbourhood. Maharajah Sola has taken refuge in Siamese territory, and the British power is supreme, only the murderers of Birch being now in Arms. A Times speoial from Penang says General Colborno roports that he has taken Kinfcral without loss. Maharajah Ismail and Leila fled to Penang. At Brooklyn, Judge Now,' Coutt, and Committee of Representatives of tho Congregational Church, have been in communication with a view to determine whether thoy shall participate in the Oounoil of Jan. 25 for settling the question between Mrs. Moulfcon and fcho ohuroh. Invitations have beon sonfc to hor. The Church's lisfc is kept secret, but it is believed that noarly all will-accept. On Doc, 22, shortly before 7 p.m., a fcorrible explosion ooourred in Soufch Boston, by whioh a large number of porsons wero injured and sovoral killed. Ifc is impossible as yofc to learn the cause of tho explosion or tho oxtont of the damage. A large gas main running under 4he Federal-street bridgo to South Boston, and along tho water's edge under the pave* mont in Federal-street, exploded with a loud report, tearing up the pavement ior 150 feet or more. It, is supposod that several persons wero blown into tho water. Several dead bodies wero taken oufc, killed and wounded. Thus far, they aro known to number fifty. It is supposod that tho recent cold weathor oausod tho pipos to burst, and the ground becoming impregnated with gas, ignition arose from some oause, and communioatcd with tho gas in the main. The causeway on the right hand under whioh tho pipe ran fell into the river, carrying with it sovoral persons who wore stunned, injured, or killed by tho explosion. The numbor of these has not yet bodi ascertained.