News of the Week.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XI, Issue 47, 21 March 1884, Page 9

News of th e Week.

Fbiday.

A WOMAN named Royal, wife of a carpenter living at Sydenham, is supposed to have drowned two of her children in the Heathcote River, last evening. Tt is believed that her mind has been slightly affected since her confinement nine months ago. Yesterday afternoon she went «ut for a walk, taking three of her four children, two boys 3 J and 2£ years old, and a baby girl. Two men subsequently saw tbe eldest boy holding on to the willows in the river, aud rescued him The mother was seen with her clothes wet. She and the rescued child were taken to the Hospital. The bodies of the other children were recovered. In answer to Inspector Pender, the woman said at one time that the children had fallen in, at another that she did not know how they got into the river.

A correspondent of the Daily Times writes :— " On Wednesday 12th inst., a sad accident took place about two miles out of Macraes! Mr. and Mrs. Allan Campbell, of Macraes, and oue of their children left their residence to bring in a load of bogwood from Swampy Peak, a place about nine or ten miles out of Macraes. They were returning with the load, and when near block 1, Highlay, near Jackson's and Donaldson's farm", were coming down an incline. Wh?n near the bottom tbe horses began to trot, and Mr. Campbell got in some way entangled amongst the reins. He fell, and the wheel passing over his bead, caused instantaneous death. Mrs. Campbell remained with the body whilst the little girl went to Macraes for assistance. Constable Kennedy and others were soon on the spot, and removed the corpse to Mr. Stauley'd hotel. Mr. Campbell leaves a wife and 12 children.

In the course of an address at Chelsea the Marquis of Salisbury stated, in reference to the Conservative programme, that the Opposition were determined to secure an appeal to the country before the Government Keforra of the Franchise Bill could be passed. Goldsbrough's "Annual Wool Review ""has been issued. It states that the season's clip has been an excellent one. The sales in the Colonies have amounted to 349,000 bales, or 40 per cent, of the total production. The sales increase has been as follows : Victoria 34,000 bales ; Sydney, 35,000 bales ; and Adelaide, 6,000 bales. There has been an active demand for the Continent, whither 64,000 bales have been exported ; 22,000 bales have also been sent to America being an increase of 16,000 bales. The total exports for the year Bhow an increase of 83,500 bale 9 coiiparod with the previous year.

Saturday.

Mr. E. Ford states that he has discovered a copper lode 16ft. thick near Whitecliffs railway station, llalvern district, The copper was exposed by a landslip.

A suit of youth's clothes has been found on Shelly Beach, Ponsonbv, as if the owner had been bathing. They are marked "G. Schmidt. 481." The affair is shrouded ia mystery. No one of the name is known in the district.

Mr Clifford, who arrived at Wellington to take charge of the ova brought out by the lonic, has examined the Doxes. and finds that nearly the whole of 24.000 salmon ova has gone bad. The consignment of 24,000 sea-trout ova has, however, turned out to ba in excellent order. Two or three boxes of thia will be left with the Wellington Acclimatisation Society. The Cook County Council have £10,000 to spend in roacimaking, but finding it would cost nearly the whole sum to make a road to the metal quarries, have determined to invite contr ictors and capitalists to make a light railway of H miles under the District Railways Act ; the Council and other local bodies guaranteeing the metal traffic for a term of years, and also interest on the co«t.

Sir Dillon Bell, Mr. Murray Smith, Sir S.iul Samuel, and Mr. Hemmant have met to consider the report of the Western Pacific Commission and the hostile attitude assumed by Sir A. Gordon to the Australian Pacific policy. Mr. Hemmaut urged tnafc they should proceed to consider the report of the commission which he considered struck at the root of the policy approved of by the AustiatasiaD Colonies; but the meeting finally del er mined to await instructions from their respective Government sbefoie taking any action. Official dispatches have been received from Tonquin announcing that the French troops have captured and occupied Bacninh. Th« city and outwoTks were held by a strong force of Chinese regulars, besides local troops, bntthe French succes-fully stormed the positions! After several hours" fi^htinsr, during wbic 1 ! the Chinese suffered heavily from the fire nf the Fmnch artillery, a eeneral advance was made, and the Chinese fled. The city and neighbouring forts are now occupied by the French troops. A dispatch to hand from General Graham states that Osman'a camp has been taken, after heavy n<»oHng on both sides. The engagemeut was very brief. The loss on the British side is given as 70 killed and 100 wounded. The enemy's loss is not known. Later telegrams state that Major-general Graham's force advanced' against the enemy in tvo squares. The Arabs chaTged them furiously, and did considerable execution with their spears. They were repulsed with great slaughter, but they renewed the attack time after time until neailv all who were engaeed were either killed or desperately wounded. The British loss is 70 killed and 100 wounded . Ths Arabs are now collected at the wells of Tamaneh, and the British are shelling

The laiest telegrams to hand from Soaakim announce that the whole of the British foice under General Graham reached Zariba on Wednesday evening, and that the troops bivouacked there for the night. Orders had been given for an advance to be made yesterday at noon against Osman Digma's position. The troops were io be formed into squares, and in this order they would attack the rebels who are encamped in strong force at Tameneb, a short march from Zariba. Telegrams from Souakim report that General Graham had taken up a position a mile distant from that occupied by Osman Digma, and would commence the attack at daybreak,

The cage of murder against Donohue was proceeded with yesterday at Greymouth. The evidence of Drs. Grady, Hector, and Meller concluded thecase for the Crown. Mr. Guinnesa, for the prisoner, called no evidence. The Crown Prosecutor spoke for two hours, and was followed by Mr. Guinnes< in a speech lasting one hour. The iud^e summed up at length, reviewing the evidence thoroughl v The iury retired at 20 minuter part 5, and came into' Court at 6.30 with a verdict of « Guilty." -The prisoner, in answer to the usual question, said : "My Lord, lam innocent of the crime. O God ! witness this murder abouc to take place ; for I know lam to be sentenced to death. I shall meet the jurymen who have found me guilty above and tnen they will biable to sny if I was euilty. lam a Komiii Catholic and if all the priests and bishops come to console me I will tell theni lam innocent. I ana goin£ to meet ray God, and am not afraid to do so." Prisoner, then said Constable Nash had told the truth, but be did not care about the other witnesses. He then proceeded • " I shall go to my God, who alone knows that I did not commit the murder. I have been 15 years in New Zealand, and defy any man to say I served him a dirty trick. If ever I had any words with another man I stripped and had it out, and generally got a.thrasbing. I again say I ana innocent. I suppose I have only a short time to live. I would not commit the crime, nor would I stand by and see another commit it. [ will say that the jury whu have found me guilty, and the officials who helped them, will not be long after m*. I have no more to say, except to ask that what I have said may be" remembered when lam lying rotten in my grave. I am innocent of the crime. Now, My Lord, you may proceed with your sentence." His Honor then assumed the black cap and passed sentence of death m the usual f >rm. The Court was crowded during the day. Intense interest was taken in the proceedings. The prisoner preserved a collected demeanour throughout, showineno signs of nervousness. The young daughter of John Carr, of Wuodside, fell from a cart, the wheel of wuich passed over her body. She died in an hour.

Monday.

Mr. J. A. Chapman, Dunedin, reports for -week ending 15th March :— Keep-it-Dark Co. crushed 202 tons of quartz, which gave a return of 349uz. of amalgam. The ]ovv level is b?ing well opened up ; plenty of quartz in sight to keep the batteries fully employed — Welcome Co. reduced about 90 tons of stone, which yielded 3550zs of amalgam.— Fiery Cross during the week had 10 head of stamps employed reducing quartz, whicn gave a return of 288oz. of amalgam. — Globe Co. : 120oz. of amalgam for the week.— Tipperary (Jo. (Macetown) : 3820z. of retorted gold.— United Alpine Co. (Lyell) since intersecting the leef in No. 6 level have driven north o,i the lode 145 ft., which ia s > far proved to be a solid well-define I reef, averaging over sft. thick, and which is estimated by many people in the district to be worth loz. to the ton ; several hundred tous of quartz is to grass ; a crushing will be commenced the latter end of thia month.

Information has been received from Mr. Donkin's party, who are prospecting for a railway route northward, stating that they had reachel Okura and obtained a route through nine miles of rugged country, and were in open Jand. The party expect to reach Kihiklhl at the end of next week. A goo i level coun<ry exists on this side as well as on the other side of where Mr. Donkin has discovered a route. King Tawhiao, accompanied by three sons (fute, Kewi, and Houana), have come down to Auckland en route for Kawau to consult Sir George Gray as to their visit to England. Te Wheoro is also coming down. They have been advised by their Men Is in Auckland not to go by way of America, in caw of getting into trouble, but to go by a direct steamer. Iv pursuance of the decision of the Supreme Court, officers have pullei down the whare-j of the Native squatter's* on the contested block.

Toe prosf lectors of the Kvnieri coal lease have reported striking a 9ft. seam of good qinlity of coal. On Saturday morning the Lyttelton Times was published for the first time from the new building just erected at a cost of £8 000. To commemorate tbe event a/ac simile of the first copy of the newspaper, published on January 11, 1851, and an illustration of the new building was published with the morning's issue. At the eighteenth annual meeting of the Agricultural and Past Ji-nl Associatio ion Saturday the report was not a very cheerful one. Ie spoke of the last show as a complete failure as compared with previous shows. The reductions in the prizes and increase oE entranc i fees together with the depressed times, were suggested as the cans 1 . The committee recommended that, in future °trials of reapers and binders, the work be done one day and the judging the following day, instead of as usual the judges seeing the work done, The balance-sheet showed the actual receipts during the year to nave been £636, and the expenditu c £592, of whicn £172 was prize moneys. The Association have now au overdraft of £431. It was resolve I to make a can vass for subscriptions to raise prize' moneys for next year, iudepen le:itly of the ordinary revenue, and the retiring committee are subscribing for a special cup, to be made £100 if possible. Mr. R. H. Khodes, juu., was elected President, and Mr D dtTLaren, Vice-President.

Hanlon was accorded an enthusiastic reception at Sydney on tho arrival of the stoa uer by wuich he was a passenger. As yet he has not arranged for any match with Australian oarsmen, and he intends to give rowing exhibitions throughout Australia. Hanlon will visit New Zealand on his return, and will give s-imilar exhibitions at various places.

The will of tbe late Hon. J, G. Francis, of Vi toria, has been proved under £178,000. The money is divided among the members of the family.

Tbe French Government has determined to appoint an official resident at Obok, in Abyssinia.

A telegram is to hand announcing that an explosion occurred in a coal mine at. Pocahontas, Illinois, and caused the death of 150 Miners.

Full particulars are now to hand from Souakim regarding th> defeat of the rebels near Tamaneh. Tae British troops advanced from Zareba in two squares, and shortly came up with the enemy

who at once opened fire. They attacked tlie British columns most fiercely, and repeatedly broke the leading square, and. after desperate fighting;, captured some of our guns and drove back the Ist battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment (65th Foot). The Marines and troops, however, speedily rallied, and further heavy fighting took place. The rebels were finally driven back completely defeated, and the guns lost in the early part of the battle were re-captured. The fighting lasted fully two hours and a half, during which time the whole of both forces were actively engaged. The Ist battalion Royal, Highlanders (42nd Foot) were the heaviest sufferers. Osman Digma with a remnant of his followers, has retreated to the hills near Tamaneh. It has been definitely proved that the rebels suffered more heavily than was at first supposed. Their loss in killed alone may be set down at fully 4300, and the wounded exceed that number. Major-General Graham telegraphs the Sheik Mahomed, a prominent ATab chief of the Eastern Soundan, has expressed a belief that the recent victory of the British will have the effect of pacifying the natives of that district, and that the road to Berber will now be opened. Further details state that the Arabs by an impetuous charge broke the square commanded by Colonel Davies, and, creating a panic, succeeded in making a temporary capture of the guns. The cavalry, however, came to the rescue, and attacking the enemy afforded time for the brigade to be re-formed, and re-captured the guns. Colonel Buller's square proceeded without check and captured and burnt the enemy's camp. Major-General Graham's force has returned to Souakim after burning four villages and exploding vast stores of captured ammunition. The bodies of 1500 Arabs were found on the spot where the square under Colonel Davies was broken. The total British loss in killed proves to be 120, of which number the 65th Regiment loat 30, and the " Black Watch " 65, including 10 sergeants. The Victorian gunboat Childers is at Souakim, and may not improbably be employed for some time as a despatch boat.

Tuesday.

The French captured 100 guns at Bacninh. Their loss was eight killed and 30 wounded. The troops are following up their victory by pursuing the Chinese and driving them from the various positions in the neighbourhood of Bacninh. The Press generally urge that the troops. should advance towards the Chinese frontier and recommend that the army should forthwith occupy Honghoa and other towns to the westward of Bacninh. A number of disappointed Spanish officers, including two generals, have been arrested on a charge of conspiring against King Alfonso a Government. A Republican conspiracy, having ramifications throughout the country, has been dissovered. Numerous arrests nave already been made of persons suspected of complicity in the movement. The police of Buda-Pesth have effected the arrest of 36 men on a charge of plotting to incite anarchy in tnat city. Seven hundred Anarchist, have been expelled from Vienna. In the House of Commons Lord Hartington, Secretary of State for War in, reply to a question, has announced that the telegraphwire between tihendy and Khartoum had been cut, and that a steamer from Khartoum had been fired upon. It is assumed, his Lordship added, from these facts that the tribes inhabiting the country between Shendy and Khartoum are now in rebellion Admiral Hewitt and General Graham have conferred with the leading sheiks of the loyal tribes, and a reward of £1000 has been offered tor the rebel leader, Osman Digma, alive or dead. Before leaving thescene of the recent battle all the villages in the neighbourhood of Tamaneh, occupied by Osman's followers were burnt to the ground It is rumoured that Earl Granville has received information that the rebel tribes at Khartoum have risen in rebellion. Anxiety is being felt m Cairo regarding the safety of General Gordon. Mr. Richard Turnbull, member for Timaru, addressed a meeting of his constituents last night. There was not a very large attendance. Most of the address bad reference to the land question, condemning the holding of large blocks, and of any blocks (large or small} for speculative purposes. The speaker advocated a progressive land tax as a first tax, an income tax next in order, and if these wore not sufficient, then a tax that would reach the industrial classes. He proposed that the land tax should be Is. in the pouDd on value with modifications. He argued that a land tax would burst up the big estates owned by the English capitalist companies, but would not injure the resident freeholders. He advocated annual Parliaments (at least so long as harrowing continued) ; to give the electors better control oyer their representatives ; and the restrictions of votes at general elections to one. He ridiculed the excuse offered by some independent " members for supporting the Government ; said that no Government could be formed out of the Opposition, and condemned f°«- c If J, n e members * h °> foreseeing a change, were now speaking against the Government. At the close of the address a few unimportant questions were asked, and a vote of confidence passed to him Sir Charles Dilke, president of the Local Government Board 'has made a statement to the effect that if the Opposition succeed in forcing a dissolution the Government will take care to appeal to the country, not on the Egyptian policy alone, but upon their policy The wool sales have closed. 300,000 bales were sold during the series, and 26,000 are held over for the new auctions. Unwashed Australian wools closed at £d lower than at the close of the December auctions. Good medium Australian, good qualities of fleece genera 11 v and medium to good scoured have closed in good demand Faulty wools are Id to l£d lower than in December. ' * Mr. Fitzgerald, M.H.R., both at Boss and Hokitika sooke strongly against land nationalisation, and said that freehold was the best tenure and was what attracted men to the Colony. He argued that the Legislature should either limit the area which any one man could hold, or should impose a progressive tax on holdings above a certain area. He preferred the former plan, but had no objection to a limited area of agricultural land being leased by the Crown He waß, however, sure that the Byetem would break down if an attemot were made to pUBh it too far, "^pn

At Auckland yesterday nearly 2000 children took part in the the Catholic school procession to the Domain. One child was ,run , over and had both of its legs broken. In a dispute that arose over the arrangements one of the committee struck Monsignore Fyhes, the Vicar-general. At Wellington the day was {celebrated by the Irishmen by a procession through the town and a picnic at the Hutt ; and at Christchurch there was a banquet at the Catholic Literary Society's rooms and a concert at the Theatre Royal. Both events were a great success. Tawhiao and party are being advised by their friends here to go to England in the lonic, which leaves Lyttleton at the end of the present month. The usual meeting of Parihaka Natives took place yesterday. Altogether there were about 200 visitors, making a total at Parihaka of about 900. The proceedings were of the most orderly character. Captain Anderson, of the Rotorua, visited the breakwater at New Plymouth on Saturday, and intimated that he would be ready to bring the Union Company's boats alongside at any time. The breakwater now extends over 1000 ft.

Wednesday.

Agricultural statistics give the following results :— Total number of acres under crop : Selwyn, 385,037 ; Ashburton, 402,967. Total for Canterbury north of Rangitata, 1,184.352. Upwards of 1000 sheep per day were brought into Wellington by railway last week to be slaughtered for export to England. The lonic is now loading 4000 carcases of mutton. A boy named Kelly, about sixteen years of age, was accidentally shot through the right arm at the Nelson rifle butts yesterday morning. The danger flag was flying, but no notice was taken of it. Both bones were broken. It is intended to reduce the number of Armed Constabulary, so that at the beginning of the year (Ist April) the total number will be only 500. The reduction has been carried on for some time, but on the first inst. notice was given to between sixty and seventy men that their services would be dispensed with on the 31st. The Mount Ida Chronicle has been informed that the crops in the Hyde district are, generally, very heavy this season. Some crops of oats, calculating roughly, will yield 100 bushels to the acre. The general average will be somewhere about 70 bushels. The wheat is in fair condition, that which was sown in light soil being superior to that grown in heavy ground. Some of it has been attacked by blight. The farmers are thoroughly satisfied with their prospects. The only drawback is the want of a market at which they "could dispose of their produce. But that is a complaint, says our contemporary, that is to be heard from Strath-Taieri to Cromwell, and is likely to be heard for eight or ten years to come. In consequence of the increased railway tariff it is proposed to run a coach between Kaiapoi and Chris tchurch ; return fare, 3s. The Christchurch Chamber of Commerce have passed the following resolutions :— " That this Chamber consider it most unjust that grain should be singled out to bear so large a proportion of the recent increase in the railway rates, especially at a time when extreme depression exists among grain« growers in consequence of the unusually low values ruling for their products. That this Chamber shall, in co-operation with the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, the Corn Exchange, and the Industrial Association, call a public meeting for the following purposes :—(1): — (1) To respectfully protest against the action of the Government in raising the railway tariff on grain and on other articles in the Canterbuiy district, and to consider what steps should be taken to induce the Government to abandon the increased rates ; (2) to consider the advisableness or otherwise of taking steps to effect the transfer of the management of the New Zealand railways from the Government to an independent | and non-political board, and to consider what other action should be taken in order to secure efficient railway management and an equitable tariff : (3) to appoint a representative Committee as an executive to carry into effect the resolutions of the said public meeting." In the House of Commons the other night Lord Edmund Fitzmaurice, TJnder-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, stated in reply to a question that the Government did not intend to protest against the action of the German Government in stationing mea-of-war in the South Seas during the labour season. News has been received that the French troops have entirely routed the Chinese at Johnhung, and that the standards and a number of guns fell into their hands. Monday was a great feast day at Parihakas. About 100 Natives and 100 Europeans were present. Te Whiti entertained the pakehas and Tohu the Maoris. Te Whiti was nicely dressed and proved a most attentive host, having tablecloths, cruetstands, knives, forks, spoons, and everything in regular European fashion. A large crowd of Maoris sat down to a repast, Tohu going up and down and seeing everything right. Each man and woman was served with a cup and saucer, bread and butter being brought in large trays and served out by waiters attired gaily in worked aprons, and with towels slung across their shoulders in orthodox fashion. There was a procession of about twenty wopen dressed in European clothes. For the privilege of exhibiting their figures and dresses they had to contribute some silver as they entered Te .Whiti's bouse, but to what purpose the money was devoted did not transpire. Tohu, wh« was dressed in European costume, addressed a few words to them, donouncing extravagamce ia dress, and one of the women replying. There appeared a general tendency towards European ways and customs, so different from two or three years ago, when all the Natives who came to Paribaka at once assumed the Maori blanket or mat. Yesterday, on the contrary, most of the men were smartly dressed in European costume, and many of the women also, especially those belonging to the younger generation. Although Tohu served out grog to all the Natives no drunkenness and no disorder of any kind was to be seen. Everything was scrupulously clean so far as the food was concerned, and the pah was much much cleaner than it used to be. It is > anticipated that the patchas will invite the Maoris to partake of an

entertainment. A public meeting is talked of to petition for the right of the Maoris to use the public highway like other people. It is announced that the British Government have expressed their disapproval of the action of General Graham in placing a price on the head of Osman Digma. Telegrams from Souakin state tbat it has been ascertained that Osman continues in active hostility to the British, and is endeavouring to re-assemble bis force of ATabs with a view to renewing the contest. Ho is reported to be camped nine miles from Tamatek. A detachment of British troops numbering 1000 is about to start for Handak, a town on the Nile, midway between Assouan, on the Nubian frontier, and Khartoum. The troops will fortify the position there, with a view to check any advance of the rebels in that direction. The majority ia the Cabinet, it is understood, desire to declare a protectorate over Egypt for a fixed period, but Mr. Gladstone and Lord Derby are opposed to such a proceeding. The struggle between tlie two parties ia said to be of an acute character.

Thubsday.

When the secretary of the Napier Board of Education was in Wellington last week, he was officially informed that the reason why only £50,000 of the £70,000 vote for school buildings had been divided was that £20,000 was being kept back for Native schools. Thousands of pounds have already been spent on fine school buildings in Native settlements in this district, and at the present time there is not a single Native school open. The buildings have been used by the Natives as residences or store houses. The Austrian Imperial authorities have addressed a formal protest to the Swiss Fedeial Government, complaining of the countenance which is being given by the Republic to Anarchist conspirators, who are permitted to find an asylum and carry out their intrigues in Swiss territory. The French intend to occupy the islands of Obuala and Jerisb, situated in the Bed Sea. Official despatches from Tonquin state that the Chinese troops have been utterly routed at all points, and that General Millot is not returning to Hanoi, having established a line of outposts in the neighbourhood of Bacninh, which is now occupied by the French garrison. Although telegraphic communication is open between Shendy and Berber, and from the latter place to Cairo, no news has been received from General Gordon of later date than the 11th inst. Some anxiety, therefore, prevails as to the General's safety. The latest telegram from Souakim state that a number of sfaeiks who are friendly towards Osman Digma have publicly burned the proclamation issued by the Commander-in-chief of the Soudan offering a reward for Osman, alive or dead. Admiral Hewitt, in compliance with the request of the British Government, has ordered that the proclamation be forthwith cancelled. Osman Digma has rallied 2000 of his troops, and has resolved to fight. He will renew hostilities in ten days.