Monday.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 43, 13 February 1885, Page 9

Monday.

The Courier reports that payable gold has been discovered on Mr. R. T. Elliot's farm, near Tapanui, and a sample of the gold obtained, which w&9 exhibited in Tapanui, gives promise of good .results. Sirs. Buckley, wife of the Colonial Secretary, met with a painful accident on the Wellington race-course on Saturday.' After partaking of lunch in Sir 'William Fitzherbert's phaeton she was about to leave the carriage when her foot slipped and she fell forward, striking her face on one of the sharp iron rods which guide the reins over the splashboard. The rod tore her nose from near the nostril to over the top of the bridge. It is not expected that she will be disfigured. The Recidiviste Bill has passed its second reading in the French Senate. M. Bossean contended that the recidivistes would be an acquisition to the Colonies. France is unanimous in demanding that the convicts should be relegated. M. Beranger's scheme, which would have largely superseded the present billj has been rejected. The. Chinese .have sustained sever.il defeats in Tonquin recently The French forces, under General Negner, have captured a Chinese catnp near Lang-son. . A cathedral at Jacobstadt, a town of Russia, in Finland, has been dynamited. The feeling of public indignation and disgust pervading all classes of the people regarding the miscarriage in the Soudan is unpalleled, and in consequence consuls have declined one-half per cent. Profound sympathy is. expressed on the Continent at the failure of Lord Wolseley's expedition to rescue General Gordon. It is reported that 2000 of Gordon's followers were massacred, and the Palace at Khartoum was. completely gutted by the rebels. Some of the repdlts state Gordon^was killed, and that there was 15 days' hard fighting, while others say that two parties betrayed him, but that he is alive, and still defending Khartoum. The Observer states that Lord Wolseley has been instructed to suppress the rebellion if General Gordon is dead. The Italian Government are prepared to send 35,000 troops to the Soudan if necessary. Sir Charles Dilke, speaking at radctiogton on Thursday evening, stated that Count Munster, German Ambassador at London, was, on the 26th January, instructed to convey the British Government's protest against the German annexation of North New Guinea as being contrary to a promise made by the German Government to England. Prince Bismarck contends that the recent annexation by England of a part of Northern New Guinea is at variance with the assurance by Earl Granville. The latter replied that this step was rendered necessary from a fear of filibustering. In connection with the question of annexation the following particulars have been published :—ln: — In August Prince Bismarck intimated to the Imperial i Government that Germauy would protest against the northern portion of New Guinea being annexed by Great Britain. To this iutimatibn Earl Granville replied that the limit of British would be only the southern coast; and in September he informed Piince Bismarck that, in consequence of the pressure brought to bear by the Australian Colonies, the English Governjment had decided to protect sJL'unoccupied territory except a small piece at the north of the isHfd. Prince .Bismarck 'objected- to j^nis, aid in October, E^rl Granville reverted to the -first of only annexing the southern coast. In December the Hon Robert Meaue, one of the

assistant Under-secreiary'a of the Colonial Offic, who was despatched to Berlin by the Foreign Office to make arrangements for the meeting of a Convention to adjudicate upon the rival claims to the Pacific islands, proposed at Berlin, that Great Britain should powss exclusive protection over New Guinea, and that Germany should be recognised as having a protectorate over New Britain. 'New IreUnl.anri the York islands. He also proposed to neutralise the lecniiining nn ccupied islands of the Pacific, and specially referred to Samoa and Tonpa. He further sngges-ed ihaf England should offer a small concession in Africa to France, providing the latter gave up all claim to the New Hebrides. I'rince Bismarck lefused to agree to this. Earl Gran ville answered that the proposed annexation cf the northern portion of New Guinea by Germany would lead to strained relations with the Colonies, and P:ince Bismaick replied that the ioternal policy would be unaffected so far as Germany was concerned, and he insisted on the fulfilment of the promises made in October. In January Earl Granville again protested against the German annexation of the northern portion of New Guinea prior to the appoint* ment of the proposed commission, and at the same time intimated that. England had now extended her pro'ectorate as far as Huon Gulf. He also charged Germany with intriguing for Simoa. On receipt of this Prince Bismarck instantly wired that the proposed extension to Huon Gulf would probably involve a collision of interest. Earl Granville explained that he was unaware that. Germany desired any of the ttnitory to the southward of the gulf named, and he also admitted that there was a treaty which provided that neither England nor New Zealand must annex Samoa. At present there is a deadlock. The Cabinet Council on January 7 decided to extend the Bechuana frontier to the Linipopo Biver, the westward frontier to include both banks of the Fish River. This cuts the Transvaal off from any chance of German connection. The Transvaal Government ie preparing to protest against English annexation in Zululand. ltef erring to the death of the Bishop of London, which occurred on the 6th, a London journal says it is generally believed the catastrophewas hastened by an unpleasant episode which occurred on the Sunday previous, when the Bishop preached in St. Paul's Cathedral. During a momentary pause in the discourse a wild-looking individual jumped from a chair, and pointing his finger towards the pulpit, yelled "You worship idols, while you scorn to save souls. Woe unto you." The Bishop was qnite moved by the occurrence. Earl Granville has ordered the British Minister at Tangiers to remonstra'e with the Sultan of Morocco about the treatment of the Jews at Demnat, where they have been driven from their homes, imprisoned in foetid dungeons, and their warehouses robbed. The j Grand Vizier charges the Jews with fomenting rebellion. Captain Phelan, a dynamiter, and one of O'Dcnovan Rossa's gang, v»as stabbed in the latter's office in New York on January 9 by Richard Stuard. Fhelan was severely but not fatally hurt. He believes he was deliberately entrapped into the office to be murdered because it was thought he blabbed too much to newspaper reporters in this country. Phelan was in Hull in 1883, and the police there were notified by those of Newcastle of his arrival. He was carefully watched. He there met Carey and other Irishmen of the same dynamite type as himself. The espionage, however, was so close that he bad to leave without accomplishing anything. He had the aadacity to visit the chief constable of Hull, and complain of the surveillance, and threatened to complain to Bir Vernon Harcourt unless it was removed. Papers in his possession would show Phelan to have been an officer in the United States Volunteer force, and also a New Y>ik police officer. A New York dispatch of the 17th says : "Although Phelan is improved, he is not out of dinger. His wife and daughter are at either side of bis ot ti minister to his wants. He is very weak and not permitted to t-ilk any length of time. Mrs. Phelan says he will make a statement to the public as Foon as he is well which will strike terror to the hearts of Rossa and his cons.uixents." Startling revelations are made by a St. Paul correspondent at Fargo. Dakota, in his letter of December 29 to the effect that the Dakotas have been grievously disappointed and angered at the neglect with which they are treated by Congress. They have proposed to join the Manitoba people, some of whom are growling over their treatment by the Dominion Government in forming a separate republic. The Neiv York Tribune considers the proposition ridiculous an<l impossible to be carried out, but the people are very much in earnest about the matter. An improbable story was set afloat by a dispatch of January 7 to the effect that the English detectives have obtained evidence that a powerful society of dynamitards exists within the boundaries of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and that this society is directly responsible for the recent explosions and assassiiations in Great Britain. While the Irish-Americans scoff at the idea, a Greensburg correspondent says it is certain there has been something in the wind in this country for some time past of an unu-ually exciting nature. A scheme has been matured by certain Irish-Americans whereby responsible persons in the United States will agree to pay sdol per annum each towards a fund for the payment of Irish members of Parliament so long as constitutional methods as conducted by Parnell are maintained The organisation was to be completed at a meeting in Cincinnati on the 24th January. Mr. Redmond, M.P., ppoke in Edinburgh on January 12. He declared that the Parnellites had no sympathy with the perpetrators of the recent outrages, aod had no influence over them, but he said it was not the duty of Irishmen to net a* detectives. Dublin tradesmen have sent out writs against the Corporation to prevent the renaming of the streets ot that city. Mr. Biggar, M.P., addressed a meeting of nationalists at Londonderry. He described Earl Spencer as a murderer, and declared that he was answerable for the death of Myles Joyce, Mr. Biggar was enthusiastically received. The horses of his carriage were unyoked, and the vehicle drawn through the streets by a crowd. The British Admiralty has invited tenders from the ship-builders at Belfast for the immediate construction of six cruisers. Mr, Parnell addressed a meeting at Tipperary on January 8, in

which he said that he believed the great power of franchise recently conferred wonld be judiciously used. A mass meeting of unemployed numbering fully 10.000 was held in front of the Royal Exchange in London at which Henry George, Helen Taylor, and other well-known Radicals were speakers. Radical pamphlets were sold in large numbers. Some were headed in red type, '• Blood, bullets, and bayonets, '' and made appeals to the 11 Half •starved, herring-gutted, poverty-stricken parish inhabitants of a disunited kingdom." At Birmingham 6000 peisons out of employment adopted a resolution asking the Corporation to furnish employment. A procession marched through the streets, and halted before a bakery, and shouts of " Break in 1" were heard. An artisan Btole a loaf of bread, bat was promptly arrested. Violence among the working classes is feared. General Stewart's forces reached Howenjatt wells on January 10, and having obtained a supply of water resumed the march to Gakdul. A detachment of the Essex Regiment will Temain at Howenjatt, where a fort and ho-pital have been erected. There are a few natives in the vicinity of Howenjatt. Ai account says:— •' We are experiencing the difficulty of a desert march. " The immense column starts at 2 a.m., and the march continues the whole day. We are going to Gskdul, via Abulkalfa wells, where we hope to find sufficient water for men and camels. A small party left at Howenjatt was fired into one night, but otherwise we have not been molested. Small parties of Arabs wearing the Mahdi's colours are roaming the desert, yet some sell v* sheep, and assert that there are only a -few rebels at Metemneh. The heat is very trying. The camels go 60 hours without water, and the men are allowed only two pints daily. The water resembles peasoap in thickness. The soldiers freely offer a crown a tumbler for it. If the Arabs had been in active hostility, they would have rendered the desert route impossible, and it would have been necessary for us to carry every ounce of food and water for both men and animals." A dispatch from Gakdul, received in London on January 16, says: — " Thirty camela dropped dead on the march from Howenjatt. The troops suffered severely. A majority of the water skins leaked, and the men yielding to their thirst exhausted their rations of water prematurely. Very few fell out of the line, and the condition of tht soldiers under the circumstances was splendid. All bore their hardships bravely, as is evidenced by their singing as cheerily as their parched throats would permit. They are keenly anxious to fight." Granada, Malaga, Nejah, Algamana, Alhama, and other places in Spain have been visited by tremendous shocks of earthquake. They occurred on New Year's Day, and were repeated with more or less violence for several days af f erwards. A number of towns and villages ra*e bean completely destroyed. The people have deserted them. Many persons slept in railway carriages. Alhama is among the ruined towns. A royal decree has been issued ordering that a national subscription for the relief of the sufferers be made. The public offieiils have agreed to contribute one day's pay each, and £5,000 will thus be raised. Spanish officials abroad are requested to open subscription-lists. Tbe official reports state that 900 lives were lost in Granad* alone. A church, convent, and 500 houses were destroyed at Motrill on the sth. Another severe shock was experienced at Granada on the evening of January 16, causing great alarm among the inhabitants. Heavy snow-storms and frosts have continued in Malaga, the most severe since 1861. Tne sugar-cane crop is destroyed, and the orange and olive groves damaged. The situation is most critical. The earth is constantly trembling and the wind and snow have destroyed the huts of those who fled to the fields from the cities and towns for safety. At Frigiltana, 27 miles east of Malaga, the people, rendered desperate by cold nud hunger, attacked the houses of the landowners. Another severe shock of earthquake was experienced at Cammillas on January 17. A dynamite explosion occurred on the undergrouud railway between Gower street and King's Cross station, London, at 9 30 on January 2. The windows of a passing train were shattered and the the gas lights extinguished. Beyond this there was no damage done. The" passengers were greatly terrified, but no one was hurt. The train resumed its journey after a delay of 25 minutes. The shock of th« explosion was felt by the residents of Easton road, between St. Pancras Church and Judd street. The railway rnns the whole length of Euston road underneath the roadway. The gas liehts in Gower street station were put out. The platform at the station was literally strewn with persons prostrated by the shock. On the night of the 13th the Town Hall of Warminster, in Wiltshire, was partly wrecked by an explosion of dynamite. Several houses in th», neighbourhood were badly shattered, and several persons were thrown to the ground by the violence of the shock. The report of the explosion was heard two miles from the Town Hall, and great excitement reigned till it was found no one was hurt seriously. Pieces of tin tubing, which bal apparently contained a fuse were found near the scene of the explosion. Two suspiciouslooking strangers were noticed loitering near the Town Hall during the afternoon, but no arrests have been made. A boy named Samuel Cooper aged 13, son of William Cooper, carpenter, was drowned while bathing in the surf off the Ocean Beach at St. Clair, near Dnnedin, on Saturday afternooD.