LATEST MAIL ITEMS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3181, 24 April 1871, Page 3

LATEST MAIL ITEMS.

. 0, . , The body of another murdered child has been found among " lost luggage" al Paddington. This time the child was a girl, and the box in which it was found, after being sent all over the line in the hope of finding an owner, was labelled, "T. L Elej, passenger." Mr Hepworth Dixon has given notice of the following motion to come before the London School Board : — " That ' nieans shall be provided for physical training, exercise, arid drill in every public elementary school established under the authority of this board." The grand Mount St Bernard dog. Tell, noted as tho leading representative of the rough-haired breed, and the winner of all the principle prizes at the English shows in the past six or seven years, is dead. He is the chief figure in the a recent Alpine picture by Mr Earl, the short-haired dog Monaique being his companion. Tell was tho p.ioperry of the Rev J^hn Cu mining Macdona, to whose excellent kennel the monks of St Bernard look for his replenishment of their stock in case of any such disaster as that of the avalanche, by which, some years ago, many dogs were destroyed. An explosion took place on February 7 in the large cartridge manufaetury at Dunkerque, utterly destroying the buildings. From 200 to 250 hands were employed, mostly young girls and women, who here in the building at the time, and the result was a fearful loss of life, but the exact number killed has not been*ascertained. We understand that his lordship, Lord Redesdale, when recently walking over his estate, near Moretonle-IVlarsh, was severally bitten by a dog 1 in the calf of the leg, and, unmindful of the distance, returned on foot to his residence at Oatsford Park. Serious symtoms ensued, but according to the last reports Lord Piedesdale is recovering from his serious illness, and all probability will shortly be able to attend to his Parliamentary duties. A notorious poacher, named Boxall, residing in the neighborhood of Midhurst, met a shocking death on Feburary 12. It appeurs that on the previous Friday evening, already equipped for a night's adventure, he spent the evening at a public-house, kept by one Venus, at Henley Hill. About ten o'clock, on leaving, he struck bis pocket, which contained his gun, already loaded and cocked, against the door post. The whole contents were at once discharged into his hand. The unfortunate man lingered in the greatest agony about thirty-six hours, when he expired. On February 4, one of the most destructive fires known in the annals of Manchester occurred at the extensive cotton mill in the occupation of Messrs Shaw, Jardine & Co, Elizabeth street, Oldhara road. Although the whole of the fire brigades of Manchester and Salford were on the scene of the fire very shortly after it was discovered, they were unable to master the flames, which spread with awful rapidity. After the ■ fire had burnt ten hours the mill was completely destroyed. A large quantity of valuable machinery and an immense stock of material were in the mill when the lire occurred. The damage is estimated at £50,000, and is only partially covered by insurance. Upwards of 500 hands will be thrown out of work. The cause of the fire is unknown. It has been notified that under a commission from the Argentine Govern- 1 ment, Messrs. Waring Brothers are sending out a staff of engineers to survey a railway route of about 1.200 miles from Buenos Ayres across the Andes, to join the Chilian Railway system from Santiago to Valparaiso, thus connecting in the southern hemisphere the Atlantic and the Pacific. "We are informed, with reference to recent statements which have appeared regarding onr future route to India, that the Hon. Frederick Walpole, M.P., fov North Norfolk, is now at Constantinople conducting negotiations with the Turkish Goverumeut in behalf of Mr. W. P. Andrew, the well-known advocate of the Euphrates route to India, and those who are associated with him, with the view of obtaining a concession for a railway from a port in the Mediterranean Sea to Jtfussorah, at the head of the Teisian Gulf, with the object of ultimately extending the line to Constantinople. By recent advices it would appear that Mr. "Walpole was sanguine of success. The wool sales, which were down to commence on Februury 2, were postponed till February 3, owing to a dense fog which prevailed. The arrivals in

time for these sales amounted to 76,811 bales. There was a large attendance of the home trade, and, if we exempt France, the Continent was well represented. There was a good deal of anxiety apparent as to the effect the attendance would have upon the opening rates, and this anxiety increased when the presiding broker took his place in the rostrum. As, however, lot after lot was disposed of with a dispatch almost equal to the velocity of a 24---pounder, it was seen that November rates, at least, would be maintained ; and before the sale closed it was generally agreed that au advance of from •i-'l to Id on combing fleece and scoured had been established. Clothing fleeces from all parts showed about the same average result as in November. Combing flocks from Victoria and New Zealand have been in demand by Bradford consumers. Fine Sydney and Queensland flocks, owing to a slack demand for fine goods, and the supply being in excess of present wants, are said to have receded in value Id per lb. Good New England flocks sell at from Is 3d to Is 4|-d perlb. Adelaides show better condition and growth than last year, and realise better prices. From what we can iearn, grease wool may be quoted at about November rates, save (or exceptional parcels, which some say rule vkl higher. The auctions, as at present arranged, are to last till Feb. 27. The next sales are expected to commence on the 12th or loth of April with about 150,000 bales. The revictualling of Paris has given a decided impetus tv the Australian meat trade. Somt parcels of tinnedbeefs were sold immediately after the armistice at Sod per lb. Since then, however, the. price has receded, but remain suHiciently high to leave a profit. \lr Tallennan is now in Paris ministering to the wants of the embryo Republic pretty much in the same energetic fashion that characterised his proceedings with the Emperor a few months ago. The newly-arrived agent for the Victoria Meat Preserving Company, has parted with the whole of the shipments to hand, and has sold others to arrive. | The small cases in which the meat is now packed, and the evident care bestowed, not only on the preserving of the meat, but on the rendering of the fat also, has had the very best effect upon the money value of " meats packed in tallow." Should the process of preserving in vacuo, patented by Mr Irons here, and vow in process of working by Mr E. W. Perry of •Melbourne, prove as successful in the colony as here, Australian tinned meat will take its place among the most approved viands of the world. On February 8, Sir Morgan Crofton, of Box, Wills, was sentenced by the Bath magistrates to seven duys' imprisonment, without the option of paying a fine, for beiug drunk and disorderly. It is reported that the Board of Works has entered into an agreement for the purchase of the area of Leicester Square for a sum of £50,000. A blacksmith, named Kirkland, has died at Buhvell, near Nottingham, through excessive drinking. He was in in the habit of drinking nle at the rate of a quart per minute for the amusement of those who would pay for it. Craycombe House, a portion of the property which adjoins the hunting seat of the Due d'Aumale in Worcestershire, and which was a short time ago added to that estate at great cost, that it might become a shooting box for the Comtede Paris, is announced to be let. The Danube has overflowed its banks owing to an accumulation of ice in the river, and all the streets adjoining it are under water. Upwards of three thousand persons in Vienna are withouta roof over their head?, and still a greater number have been thrown out of work in consequence of this calamity. Great apprehensions are expressed for the safety of the railway bridges over the river. Mr Macfie, M.P., has given notice that on March 3 he will call attention to the relations existing between the United Kingdom and the colonies, and ask the Under Secretary of State for I the Colonies if her i\lajosty's Government intend to propose the appointment of a commission or select committee to consider whether any and, if any, what amelioration may be made in their relations, with a view to the permanent maintenance of the most cordial relations between all parts of the empire. Australian preserved meat has been more in demand of late. The meat is nicely picked, and the >tins certainly look very inviting. There has been a great demand of late for Paris, and a large quantity of the meat has been used in succouring the starving garrison. Mr Tallerman is now in France, and if he should succeed in inducing the authorities to use this article in the French navy he will have done a good thing for his constituents. The Pioyal Coal Commission met on Tuesday, the 7th, in their committeeroom, House of Lords. We learn that the great question of the duration of our coal receives a satisfactory solution. In a few weeks the report of this Commission will be presented to Parliament.