News of the Week.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XI, Issue 31, 30 November 1883, Page 11

News of th e Week.

Fbiday.

The Cromwell Argus says :— Some new ground has lately been opened up at the head of the Luggate Creek, Mount Pisa, which promises very favourable, and to which a rush on a small scale has already set in. Just before winter a party who had been prospecting came on some first-class sluicing ground, and at once applied for a claim, water-race, etc., but bsiDg high up on the range, as soon as the snow came on they were driven out. When the snow had sufficiently cleared off they resumed work, and we hear they are exceedingly well satisfied with their present prospects. Several parties have since taken up claims in the same neighbourhood, and no doubt during the summer a good extent of ground will be opened up, as the country has been known for some time to be more or less auriferous, bnt being at a great altitude it has been but lately prospected, and it can only be worked about seven or eight months of the year. Should the workings prove permanent the vicinity will afford scope for a good number of men, the country hitherto being untouched by the gold-seeker. The light at Waipapapa Point will be exhibited on and after January 1. The light will be of the second order, flashing a white light visible all round seaward, and will show a flash every 10 seconds. The light is elevated 70ft. above the sea, and allowing 15ft. for the height of the eye. will be seen at a distance of about 13* nautical miles in cl ear weather, and at a lesser distance, according to the state of the atmosphere. The French officials are of opinion that the decision of the Committee will delay the passage of the Eecidiviste law for some months, and that the measure is not likely to pass in its present form. c Three families of refugee Jews from South Kussia arrived at Anckland by the Antares. A French brig named the Rocaberg has been in collision with another vessel in the Atlantic. The Rocaberg sank almost immediately and 88 persons were drowned. The Duke of Connaught has arrived at Bombay from London en routs for Meerut to take up his military command. His Royal Highness landed in the presence of an immense concourse of people, by whom he was cordially received, mnch enthusiasm being displayed. The lad Bose, who was brought up last week at Wanganui on a charge of setting fire to a fence, for stealing boots, and other offences, was brought up at the Police Court on Tuesday. The doctors who examined him gave evidence that the boy was not responsible for his actions. The Bench dismissed the criminal charge, and ordered a fresh charge of lunacy to be preferred.

Satttbday.

At the Police Court at Havelock on Monday, Moss Fears (a publican), William Bignold (his barman). Mr. A. M'Nab (a solicitor), and Dr. M'Donough were charged with administering croton oil to an informant named Harton. The affair is said to have arisen out of a practical joke, but the Bench committed all four defendants for trial at the nest sitting oE the Supreme Court. The Rev. Mr. Sheriffs, a Presbyterian minister, from Waipukurau (Hawke's Bay), committed suicide at 8 o'clock yesterday mornin°at the residence of Mr. John M'Lean, at Newton. At the hour mentioned the door of his bedroom was burst open, when he was found hanging from a bedpost by a strap, and quite dead. The news was received at Wellington with widespread grief, as he was most highly respected, About two months ago, after an illness, his brain gave way. It was feared he would develop suicidal mania, and he was watched day and night. It was hoped his affliction would be only temporary, and to keep his family in the meantime a subscription was started, over £300 being raised to date. At the inquest a verdict was returned that he committed suicide while of unsound mind. News has been received that the Egyptian, forces under the command of General Hicks, sent against El Mahdi, the false prophet of the Soudan, were betrayed into entering an ambush, where, not being able to use their artillery, they were completely annihilated. The accounts received show that General Hicks had concentrated his entire force, consisting of 10,000 men and 10 British officeis, when an attack was made by the enemy, numbering 300,000. On the approach of the rebels, Hicks Pasha formed his troops into a hollow square, and in this position withstood the attack for three days, during which time the fighting was continuous, and was most desperate on both sides. At the end of the third day the square- was broken, and a general route of the Egyptians ensued. The enemy fell on the defeated army, and the slaughter was terrible, the whole force of 10.000 men, including General Hicks and the British officers, being killed. The European officers were :— Commander-in-chief,' Hicks Pasha (Major-general Hicks, late of the Bombay staff) ; staff—Lieu-tenant-colonel the Hon. J. Colborne, late major of the 11th Foot; Lieutenant-colonel Coetlagon, late major of the 70th Foot ; Major Martin, late captain of Baker's Horse iv South Africa ; Major Farquhar, late captain of the Grenadier Guards ; Captain Forrstier Walker, late lieutenant of the Buffs or East Kent Regiment; Captain Massey, late lieutenant of the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) ; Surgeon-major Rosenberg, Major Warner, Captain W Page Phillips, and Mr. E. B. Evans (Intelligence Department). The cavalry was under the command of Major Martin ; the artillery, with Nordenfeldt guns, under the command of Captain Forestier Walker. A German artist, and Mr. O'Donovan, probably the famous traveller in Central Asia, are said to have escaped. The effect of the slaughter among the Mahommedan tribes of Africa will, no doubt, be serious, particularly as El Mahdi had sent dtrvisb.es in advance to warn the forces of the Khedive that he would destroy

them by Divine aid. As things are, it would be hard to say how far the consequences may extend. Ttfe Marquis Tseng, Chinese Ambassador, has informed M. Ferry, French Premier, that an attack by the French forces on Bac -Nmb, in Tonquin, will be deemed by the Chinese Government as a casus belli. The Marquis Tseng has also informed M. Ferry that the report that the Chinese troops had evacuated Bac Ninh is devoid o£ truth.

MOKDAY.

Hicks Pasha was unable to use his guns. He maintained his position, for three days, but on the fourth his forces, exhausted by thirst, were entirely destroyed, with the exception of fifty taken prisoners. The Governor of the Soudan .was killed. All the arms, guns, munitions, and camels were captured. The rebels lost heavily during the engagement. The town of Kordofan has been lost, and the entire Soudan district is ablaze. The vaiious garrisons in the [ Poudan, numbering about 40,000 men, are retiring on Khartoum; where the populace are said to be disloyal. Sir Evelyn Baring, the British Consul-General, haa made a recommendation to the Egyptian Government that Soudan should be abandoned. Further hostilities will not be proceeded with.— -That is, we presume, if the British and Egyptians between them have not caught a Tartar, who will not be abandoned. So far as we now see there is nothing probably but the difficulty of providing water and provisions for his host which may be looked upon as countless, to prevent El Mahdi from marching on "Egypt, where he might possibly be joined by the Arabs.— And as to the difficulty of supplying his army, it may not be found insurmountable by men more or less • accustomed to travelling over the desert. The possibilities of the case are extremely alarming. News, again, travels swiftly into and about the interior of Africa — as the French have long since had cause to know — and becomes much exaggerated in the carrying, so that the slaughter of these English officers and their forces will greatly effect the credit of England among the tribes. Orders have been forwarded to Admiral StT John Hewitt, commanding the naval squadron at the East Indies, to proceed without any delay with H.M.S. Euryalus and other vessels in his fleet to the Bed Sea, with the view of affording British support to the Egyptian interests in that locality. The Admiralty, moreover, have issued orders for the gunboats now in the Mediterranean to proceed to the Red Sea as reinforcements to the Indian squadron. The evacuation of Cairo and the withdrawal of the portion of the British troops now in Egypt have been postponed in accordance with the advice of Major Sir Evelyn Baring, British diplomatic agent in Egypt. Messrs. Hamilton and Chapman, Dunedin, supply the following gold returns for the week:— Welcome Co.: Washed op and obtained 310oz. of retorted gold. The batteries are now stopped : cannot be kept constantly crashing until N0. 7 level is opened up. — Keep-it-Dark Co.: 4410z. of amalgam, from 178 tons of quartz.— Globe Co.: 4040z. of amalgam, result of two weeks' crushing.— United Alpine Co. (Lyell) : Cut reef showing gold in No. 6 level.— War between France and China is now lookod upon as inevitable. Troops are being massed at Canton, and Europeans in any part of the country are very much alarmed. The London police to-day have effected the arrest at Vauxhall of a German Socialist named Wolf, who has been under surveillance for some time in consequence of suspicious movements on his part. In his possession, when arrested, were two infernal machines, which were at once seized and destroyed. The prisoner is understood to to have had in view the destruction of the German Embassy in Carlton House Terrace, the officiar residence of Count Munster, the German Ambassador. The Agent-General for Victoria in London has telegraphed to the Government that the French Cabinet have decided to proceed with the Transportation of Criminals Bill, notwithstanding the recent rejection by the Senate of the principal clauses. — This is news that narrowly effects these colonies. The class of criminals whom it is proposed to send to the Islands are inexpressibly and incurably vicious, and they -would be sure to make their way over here in very considerable numbers.— The proposal cannot be too energetically resisted. The Wakatip Mail says :— Mr. W. L. Davis, manager e»f the Invincible Company's Mine, Head of Lake, brought down, on Saturday a cake of 118oz. of gold, the prodact of about 500 tons of stone, taken from various parts of the mine. The company are busy crushing, and there are fair prospects of a good cake at Christmas. The rabbits are not so numerous this year as in former years in the neighbourhood of Miller's Flat, says the Tvapeka Times. So far the crops have suffered very little from the ravages of the pest. Our correspondent says that the ferrets— thanks to the importations of Messrs. Cargill and Anderson — are spreading rapidly all over the district, and are exercising a wonderful influence in keeping the rabbits within bounds. The same firm of runholders, who have ever been noted for enterprise, have imported two sorfcs of monpeese from India. The larger sort from the plains, unfortunately, with the exception of one, all died on the passage out, so that it is impossible to say how they do in this part of the Colony. The smaller sort (or mountain mongoose) is an active, little creature, and becomes thoroughly acclimatised here. It is always in motion, looking for its prey ; when it rests, which is very seldom, it perches on any bit of scrub that may be handy. Messrs. Cargill and Anderson are thoroughly satisfied with the good work the mongecse are doing in checking bunny's increase.

Tuesday.

If El Mahdi advances into Egypt it is expected that an Anglo Indian force will be brought together to resist him. At present Egypt is in an unsafe condition beyond the second cataract. It is considered possible that the Porte may demand of the Khedive to restore order in the Soudan. The tqne of the French Press is jubilant over the disaster. There is great activity in Woolwich dockyard and arsenal just

The commander of H.M.B. Dryad reports from Madagascar that tne French warships, without giving any notice, bombarded the unfortified town of Votomer. Five British subjects were amongst those killed in the outrage, and a large amount of property belonging to neutrals was destroyed. The Emperor of China has proclaimed Anam a vassal State, and declares also that the seizure by the French was illegal. He hi ordered the defence of Bac Nmh, the position which the French are aoout to attack. M. Ferry proposes the appointment of a joint commission to determine and defi ie the neutral zone in Tonquin The Times considers that M. de Leaps' mission to England has been a failure. ° In his interview with the Agents-geaeral, Lord Derby appeared indisposed to offer any suggestions to guide the Conference, and hrmly maintained the position taken up in his last despatch. He declined to recommend any form of Federation, but stated that he was prepared to acquiesce in the decision which the Colonies might arrive at on the subject. When asked whether he would recognise federal action by the Colonies for annexation of New Guinea if they would guarantee £10,000 per annum towards the expenses, he declined to make any promise, but he created an impression that a Protectorate would be established oVer New Guinea. He expressed doubts as to whether the French Government had any real intention of letting convicts loose on the Pacific islands. Sir Dillon Bell and Mr. Archer sharply combatted the views expressed by the Secretary tor the Colonies. ■

Wednesday.

vJ: suT™V B J?- ba . nd from Kha rtonm. a large town in Upper Nubia, that El Mahdi, with a great following, is now in close proximity to that place, and has stopped all supplies from entering. It is feared that the rebels are about to attack the town, and the population, numbering 50,000 are panic-stricken. Hundreds have already fled from their homes. The Turkish officers of the Egyptian Gendarmes refuse to serve in the Sondan, and they and the troops under their command have refused to proceed there. A rising is expected A report from Greymoutb, dated yesterday, says :— Ah Young will be brought up to-morrow for killing his mate, Ah Jim, at Baxter s Creek, Moonlight, and grievously wounding Ah Loe. The instrument used was a Chinese chopper. His victims were dreadfully hacked. No motive is assigned for the murder. He appears to have been seized with a sudden frenzy. A meeting of shareholders in the Champion Copper Company was held yesterday, when it was unanimously resolved to wind up the present company, and form a new one with a capital of £60,000. *L™ amount . the Bharehol <iers in the old company subscribe for *.20,000 as against the purchase of the property for that sum. Already over 30,000 shares have been applied for. James M'lvor was killed yesterday morning in the Brunner mine. Death was instantaneous, some coal falling from the roof and crashing him. The inquest was adjourned till the arrival of Mr tfinns, mine inspector. A shock of earthquake was felt this morning about the time of the fatality, and this may have caused the fall of coal. Mr. Murray Smith, Agent-general for Victoria, has formally protested against the Bill now before the French Senate. In view of the possible outbreak of war between France and China, orders have been issued for the prompt reinforcement of the Cnma squadron. Parleying has been commenced between the British and French Governments, with a view of arranging a settlement of the Tonqum difficulty by friendly mediation between France and China. The Lyttcltcm Times says :— Reports received from the prospectors sent out to search for a gold-bearing reef in the valley of the Wilberforce Eiver, by the Premier Prospecting Company, Btate that their operations have hitherto been somewhat impeded by the rigour of the weather, but that the indications at present discovered may be considered as favourable to the hypothesis that the district is auriferous.

TfiUBSDAY.

An inquiry has been held in Dublin into the allegations which , were made against Hossamore, a magistrate, who is stated to have ' organised an Orange meeting at Rosslea in October last, and the . charges having been sustained, the Executive removed Mr. Hossamore from the magistracy. Bishop Luck, at a meeting of the St.- Patrick's parishioners on Tuesday night, stated that he intended visiting Eome, and returning with a number of priests. It was not his intenticn to give them the slip like Bishop Croke. but to return with increased reinforcements. He could say so honestly and sincerely, and while he bad life and health his services would be given to the diocese. The nave of the new St. Patrick's Cathedral is to be commenced. The estimated cost is £7000. News reached Hokitika yesterday that the prospectors have struck a horizontal seam of coal in their tunnel at the 160 ft. level at the workings at Kanieri Forks. It is reported that a serious division of opinion exist 9in the Cabinet on the question of the extension of the franchise in Ireland. Dispatches from Madagascar state that the parleying which has been proceeding at Tamatave between the Hova chiefs and Admiral Galliber proved abortive. The French adhered to their original demands, and these the Hovas declared themselves nnable to allow. There are indications that l>>r<l Derby will surrender everything to the Boers. Public meetings havu been held which demand the prevention of the Boers from having control of the Bechuanas, which would interfere with the Cape trade to the interior. Ah Young has been commuted at Grajmouth for trial for the murder of Ah Jim, and for maliciously wounding Ah Loe, who had nine cuts on his bead, some of which injured his skull, and two on his hand and wrists. The evidence of doctors showed that the murdered man had several wounds, each of which was sufficient to cause death. The priboner. when biouszht into Court, had become so violent that his legs had to be tied. He \\ as already handcuffed.

«.„ n £f ** 5we * "**■ : We learn torn a correspondent that the Cosmopolitan Company, Waipori, are at present .on a wry^ood ran of stone, about lOin. in width, which is expected to jieldabout i^aawt. to the too. The Company purpose erecting machinery on their ground at an early date.— Messrs. Cox and Clifford, of the Little Maori quartz claim, Waipori, washed up on Saturday last with most satisfactory results Work is still being vigorously carried on in the mam tunnel with the view of striking the main body of stone in the claim, which was lost sight of a few months ago. Twenty hands find employment in the mine, and it is encouraging to the proprietors to think that there is an early prospect of ftwr being well recouped for their late heavy outlay-in developing the property, me Wellington correspondent of JOxe Otago IkiUyJßimes wires as foUows :— x notice th%t some excitement has Deen created in the Houtn by the alleged discharge* of over 100 men on the Hindon section of the Otago Central railway. From inquiries I find that there has been a curious mistake somewhere. Either the facts have been incorrectly stated* or else the EngineeMto-chieXJCM*. Blur) has misapprehended the- Ministerial instructions. The late Minister of Public Works (Mr. Walter Johnston) had directed that the number °l "fIV " nnen »ployed " class engaged on the Otago;Central line saould be gradually reduced, so as not to cause inconvenience to the men, careful discretion being exercised incarrying/out these instructions, and a weekly report to be sent to the Government of the total number employed. Notwithstanding this, it would appear that there had been a numerical increase, for last report showed 200 employ«d l n Ur eu ni • ' At tnis Mr « J ohnstOD directed a telegram to be sent to Mr. Blair inquiring the reason, reminding him the Government re ? U l r .!r* c nxxm te* <» be gradually diminished, those men being selected for retention who were most in need of work and less likely to obtain it elsewhere. If on the stiength of this telegram Mr Blair proceeded to discharge over 100, as asserted, he evidently misconceived instructions. Several telegrams have been received on the subject ; and Mr. Mitchelson has replied to the effect that if the facts are accurately stated th* Ministefs% jnet^uotiono have been misunderstood, and explaining what was really designed. He has also telegraphed to Mr. Blair stating pre«BUely>,what the Government meant, and directing him to make gradual diminution in the number of men. . -.- .. c-*.