DEATH OF THE PRINCESS ALICE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3362, 17 January 1879, Page 3

DEATH OF THE PRINCESS ALICE.

Darmstadt, Dec. 15. As early as Friday morning the physicians recognised that the condition of the Grand Duchess was hopeless, and sent secret messages to that effect to England. Symptoms of suffocation appeared at one o'clock on Saturday morning, but were temporarily removed. The Grand Duke was then induced to leave the room, but his mother remained to administer to the Princess to the last. The Grand Ducal Court and Hesse-Darmstadt generally, go into mourning for twelve weeks. London, Dec. 24. The Queen will epend the anniversary of the Piince Consort's death at Windsor, and will remain there, although the memorial service will not be held. The Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince Leopold, and Princess Beatrice are also there with the Queen. All Her Majesty's Ministers and the members of the Government, have sent expressions of their sympathy with her.

FOREIGN MISCELLANY. Princes Gortschakoff and Orloff have tendered their resignations. Count Charnbord thinks that if God grants wisdom to France she will proclaim him King and restore the ancient glory to the realm. The Turkomans are fighting the Russian General Lomakine, -who is slowly pushing to Heraborli. In December he was reported to be within ten marches of Herat. It has since been learned that he call 3 for reinforcement. War between China and Eussia i? probable. Sir T. F. Wade, British Ambassador in China, left London for Pekin on Not 26", with instructions to consult the Viceroy of India en route regarding the altitude lie should assume towards the relations of Eussia, China, and the Kashgar question. The Russians manifest a disposition to conquer Kashgav, while the Chinese General having defeated the Mohammedan dynasty, and broken the Kashgariau army declares that he will permanently occupy that country. Foreign merchants have been expelled. The Kashgar question has an important bearing on the Central Asian difficulty, and may involve India with Russia at another point besides Afghanistan. The Bulgarian Assembly, composed of the bishops, functionaries, and notables, was convened on Dec 27, to prepare to organise laws. The Province will elect a prince in April. The balance of the 1 per cent Canadian loan of £3,000,000 has been allotted in London at a minimum price of 96A-. Mr J. IS. Buckstone, the actor and dramatist, is in great distress in his old age. The Whitehall Review has opened a subscription in relief. Fifteen thousand cotton operatives are on strike in Oldliam. The Great Trenton Colliery Co. close their mines till trading improves. During a fog on the Mersey on Nov. 26, a 1 ferry boat ran into a vessel at anchor. A panic ensued, and several leaped overboard and were drowned. The Kaffir war is exciting interest. Vigorous measures have to be taken for the suppression of the rebellion in the Transvaal. The mail steamers of the Cape lino have been hired to transport reinforcements, which sail early in December. O'Connor, the Fenian prisoner on Spike Island, was released on condition of living outside the Queen's dominions, and sailed for America. Distress prevails in South Staffordshire. Works are closing and wages being reduced. The Eentish hopgrowers declare that the general depression has been caused by the free trade tariff admitting foreign products in competition with British, and recommend the imposition of higli duties. The Canadian ladies are displeased at the order of vice-regal receptions by the Princess Louise. It is requested that they present themselves in low-bodied dresses, or come armed with a doctor's certificate. The ladies declare that the climate is too rigorous to bare the shoulders, and moreover that they had been unaccustomed to such a costume, and that they will absent themselves from the Vice-regal Court if the order is persisted in. Obituary : Wm. Henry Palmer, better known as Robert Heller, the magician, in New York; George Lewes, editor of the Fortntf'hllij, husband of Miss Austin (George Eliot) ; Chief Justice Monaghan, Irish Common Pleas; Wliyto Melville, the novelist, who broke his neck hunting ; Orson Hyde, Apostle of the Mormon Church, a great friend of Joseph Smith, sen. ; Alyanbara, President of the Republic of Venezuela (the Chief Justice Guillens, under the Constitution, succeeded as Acting President) ; Carl Ferdinand Gutzkow, German dramatic poet ; Duchess de Montenzie, aged 89, one of the richest persons in France ; Henry Wells, founder of the well known banking-house of Wells, Fargo, and Co. ; Bayard Taylor, United States Minister at Berlin. Copenhagen, Dec. 22. The Duke of Cumberland and Princess Thyra were married with great pomp at the chapel of Christianbcrg Castle on Saturday evening. London, Dec. 22. A correspondent at Copenhagen, describing the wedding of Princess Thyra, says the crowds were particularly enthusiastic in their manifestations of loyalty and joy, which intended as a demonstration againsb / the recent sinister rumours that a letter had/been received threatening the King of Denmark with assassination. / Berlin, Dec/ 22. The funeral services of Bayard Taylor, late Minister from the United States to Germany, was conducted with great pomp to-day. The body will be removed to America. < The following appeared in oivr second edition yesterday : — London, Dec. 5. The Standard's Vienna Correspondent declares that the special object of Schouvaloff's visiting here was to try to persuade the Austrian Government to agree to the joint occupation of Constantinople. Austria insisted on consulting England first. The Count's mission failed. Lai-ge reinforcements have reccntlv joined the Russian army of occupation in Turkey. The Berlin papers declare it is the intention of Russia to retain her hold on Turkey by keeping the district of Bourgas and Adrianople occupied until the Sultan signs the proposed definite treaty of peace. Returning from Livadia the (?zar reached Moscow on Monday, when he received an enthusiastic reception. Negotiations between Austria and Turkey respecting Bosnia are virtually completed. It is arranged that the Sultan retains his sovereign rights, and that the Austrians retire when permanent order is established. The expenses of the occupation are to be recouped. It, is reported in diplomatic circles that negotiations were proceeding for the concession of a fresh convention between England and Turkey. At the request of the Porte, French and English officials are to undertake the reform of the Turkish Custom-houses. Au Imperial decree authorises the Porte to take steps to raise a loan of 20,000,000 Turkish pounds. The English have been asked to guarantee it. /^The Emperor of Germany returned Ao Berlin to-day. Extraordinary precautions have been taken to ensure his safety. Owing to liis feeble state of health, Prince Bismarck was unable to be present on the occasion of the Emperor's reoption. The week previously an order was issued under the new Socialist law enacting that all dangerous persons were to be expelled from Berlin and its suburbs, and prohibited carrying arms, and the possession of explosive projectiles. ' Alarm has been excited by the seizure of Orsini bombs at Hamburg. Nov. 29, forty conspicuous Socialist Democrats, including two Socialist deputies, received notice of expulsion from the police. No time was given them to arrange their affairs. They will seek refuge in Switzerland, Belgium, England, and America. A manifesto addressed to the Socialistic brethren \was confiscated by Lhe Government. Great alarm prevails, rumours of conspiracies are current, and the Federal Council urges the proclamation of a limited 6tate of siege for the capital, owing to the activity of the internationalists. Agitation is general throughout the Continent. The Spanish Government has resolved on the expulsion of all foreigners belonging to the International Society, and the Madrid Cabinet is corresponding with foreign Governments as to joint action being taken against Socialism -and Secret Societies. A Congress at Rome, to discuss the subject, is suggested. The great bank fraud trial at Brussels, after lasting one month, terminated yesterday in the conviction of T. Kind and Fortamps on the charge of the embezzlement of twenty millions of francs. Kind v - a3 sentenced to 15 years' solitary confinement, and Fortatnps to one year's imprisonment and 600 francs fine. The Times' Philadelphia Correspondent slates that orders have been received to prepare immediately for sea the Russian cruisers bought in America. All are expected to leave before Christmas. Parliament was convened on Dec. 5. The Queen's speech referred principally to the Afghanistan Avar. In the debate on the address, after the sharp criticism brought to bear by the leading Liberals on Lord Lytton's course towards the Ameer, it was generally accepted, that war having been commenced it was necessary for the security of India that ifc must be conducted vigorously. The address passed without a division. General Roberts gained a complete victory over the Ameer's foroes on Dec. 5 capturing Piewar Pass and Khotal with slight loss, and all the Afghan cannofi. The British loss was SO killed and wounded.

The Afghan loss was very heavy. Captain • Kelso and Major Anderson are among the killed, and General Cobbe and Lieut. Monro i among the wounded. [Full accounts of this engagement appeared yesterday.] ! A raaa named Maddin was arrested in London for uttering threats against the Queen. A telegram announces that Mr Edison lias perfected a machine for measuring the current used in light, and that' his'inventiou for counteracting loss in the subdivision is complete. A reduction iv the cost now engages his attention. It i? rumoured that the Pacific Mail Company will withdraw from the Australian route. Jonathan Nierd, the managing partner of the private bank of J". and J. Fenton and Sons, Rochdale, England, in November lust lost 3,000,000 dollars of the bank's money by speculation on the Stock Exchange. * " The Czarina was delivered of a son at Sb Petersburg on Dec 5. Sulieman Pasha has been sentenced to 15 , years' imprisonment. He has appealed. The Chinese Legion is organising a Press Bureau to influence public opinion in America. Already several Eastern papers are heavily subsidised ; also the Alia California and other _ papei-3 of the Pacific Slope. An American correspondent is to be sent to China, accompanied by the Chinese editor of the Chinese newspaper in San Francisco. The Chinese Empire is to be open to the corrrespondent, who will be in chnrgo of officials during his stay in the country. Money is no -

object. WRECK OF THE POMERANTA. LOSS OF FORTY-EIGHT LIVES. The wreck of the Poiuerania, steamship, belonging to the Hamburg Line, by collision off Folkestone on tho night of Dec. 25, caused great excitement. From various details gleaned, it appears that tho Pomerania, Captain Schwensten, left New York for Hamburg on Nov. 14, and arrived at Plymouth at midnight on Nov. 21. She lauded all her .English pnssengers and proceeded to Cherbourg, where she landed other passengers, and sailed on her voyage up the Channel at midnight on Nov. 25. There was a dense fog a3 she ncared Dungencss. About three miles off shore tho Pomerania collided with the Welsh barque Norleilcen, of Carnarvon, from Rolherhain to Cardiff. The steamer sank in twenty minutes after the collision. The barque anchored off Folkestone with her bow stove in and her forward compartments full of water. The Pomerania was struck on the starboard side amidships. Distress signals were given and responded to by the steamer Glengarry, which was going down the Channel towards the scene of the disaster, and arrived in time to rescue 172 passengers. There were nine boats on the Pomerania, four of which were crushed by the collision. The other five were cut off, but one was overcrowded with passengers and sank. All the boats pulled away from the doomed ship, leaving tho captain, who refused to quit the ship until the last moment. The last boat to leave was under the charge of the chief officer, who did all in his power to persuade the captain to leave. After pulling for half an hour the survivors were picked up by the Glengarry. One gentleman was taken from tho water in an unconscious slate, and restored. The Glengarry stayed near the sceno till day break, wliGn the Pomerania was seen with her mast above water. Tho Glengarry then proceeded to Dover with those saved, and landed them at 0 o'clock. They were taken to the Sailors' Home, treated with every kindness, and had breakfast. The greatest possible order under the circumstances was ■ maintained by the officers and crew.