Tuesday.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 44, 20 February 1885, Page 11

Tuesday.

Very satisfactory news (says the West Coast Times) was brought to town on Saturday last from Bimu, that another shaft, Stinton and party, had bottomed at twenty-nine feet on four feet of washdirt, with prospects varying from one to two grains to the di<h. This is on the extension of the lead towards the shallow Rush, and the diecovery has caused fresh excitement on the field. The Premier arrived at Kumara at six 6 o'clock on Saturday evening, and lectured to a large audience on politics at 8.30. He visited the Hospital on Sunday morning. Mr. Larnach arrived on Sunday night. The Government have received official intimation of the approaching visit of a deputation of chiefs from the Samoan Parliament in regard to the proposed annexation of Samoa. They will be received here by his Excellency the Governor and the Premier, and the Colonial Treasurer will also he in Wellington to meet them. A deputation from Akaroa waited on the Minister of Public Works at Chnstchurch yesterday, requesting that the Little River .Railway might be extended for a mile and a half towards Akaroa and suggesting that the sale of one or two reserves would provide funds. Mr. Richardson replied that a survey of the extension would be made, and platelaying on the portion already made would be gone on with. ° A Mr. Thompson, (says an exchange) formerly a schoolmaster of the Marlborough district, but now tutor to the sons of the King in Siara, has written to one of the Inspectors of Schools some accounts of his life at Bangkok. Amongst other things he asks that there should be sent to him a few dozen tins of New Zealand preserved meat, and says :—" I want to make presents of the meat to His Majesty the First King, and to his younger brother, H.R.H. Prince Dies Narakumar the First King is the State; he is thoroughly and absolutely despotic, but he is an enlightened and progressive monarch. If the mutton suits the royal palate, he aad the others are sure to go in largely for New Zealand mutton. ... lam convinced that the quality of New Zealand preserved mutton only needs to be known here to be appreciated. Mutton, so-called, when it is procurable here (which is only about once every ten days) is charged at a rate about equal to ;2s English money per lb, and it is most wretched stuff—hard, tough, and with no more flavour or nourishment than well-cooked shoe-leather." On Sunday evening while Mr. Nathan, merchant at Wellington, and bis daughter, 11 years old, were driving in a buggy the horse bolted, upsetting the trap, which fell on Mr. Nathan and the child, the former receiving a slight concussion and a scalp wound. The girl received a double fracture of the right thigh, besides severe bruises and a shock to the nervous system. The patients are progressing favourably, * B A boy named Murray, aged four years, was poisoned at Auckland on Saturday through taking carbolic acid.—Simon O'Brien, aged 18, son of Mr. O'Brien contractor for the city tramways, was killed in tho city baths on the same day. The water was shallow, but he dived, striking his head on the bottom. Mr. Bright, barrister of Fiji, has been appointed commissioner to inquire into the German claims in Fiji. The inquiry will commence this week. The Hon. J. B. Tburston will watch English interests, and Mr. Sahl, German interests. The cases of Sahl, SedernaaD, Pfeffer, and Pflunger are the only cases that will be considered. After the conclusion of the inquiry Mr. Thurston and Dr. Kranch , the German Consul-general at Sydney, will draw up a report on the Anglo-German interests in Fiji. It is reported in Berlin that England has yielded to Germany regarding the disputed boundaries in New Guinea. Germany is taking steps to raise a Colonisl army. Bishop Vaugban, of Salford, has denounced the recent outrages by dynamitards as of the most diabolical character. Earl Spencer, while out hunting, wa3 thrown from his horse and broke his collar-bone. The Italian Government has offered to co-operate with Britain ' in suppressing the rebellion in the Soudan and restoring order. The limes, commenting upon this offer, says that Britain'syrestige would be destroyed if the aid of a Foreign Power was now accepted in bringing the Mahdi and his followers to obedience. A plot to destroy Nottingham Castle by dynamite has been discovered. In compliance with the request of Lord Wolseley, Prince Hassan, brother of the Khedive, has been appointed Governor of the Soudan. He proceeds forthwith to Korti, where he will assume command of the Egyptian troops. Rumours are still persistentLycirculated that General Gordon is alive, and that he has entrenched himself in the Coptic church. A

messenger who leftf t Khartoum on February 2 declares that the city has not been captured by the rebels* Lord Wolseley telegraphs th it ah eye-witness states that the rebels entered KharloonVon the 28th January, and that General Gordon-was killed by a volley from the invading troops when he was going to the Austrian Consulate. The New South Wales Governmeut having agreed to pay all the expenses in connection with their offer of men for the Soudan, the English Government have accepted the services of the, contingent. Out of compliment to Victoria, the Matquis of Hartington laid jfte offer of meu for a similar purpose made by that Colony before Joie Cabinet, but the offer has been declined. The acceptance of the Colony's offer of troops for Egypt has evoked extraordinary entnusiam in New Squth Wales. Oaly one battery of artillery is, hoY ever, required. The Agent-general wires that the force must be placed absolutely under the orders of the general commandant and that it must call at Aden for instructions. The local Press cdmments favourably on the splendid offer of the Orient Company's steamer. Iberia which is to be ready by the 28th insfc. to convey the mGh. ' A ftatriotio fund has been established, and numerous offers of men and money ara forthcoming. The proprietors of the Sydney Morning Herald and Evening News each give £1000, and a similar amount hat been subscribed by Sir Daniel Cooper. Colonel Richardson, 'commandant of the New South Wales forces, will take command of the contingent for the Soudan. The troops WiU enjb'ark on tne 3rd The Qoeen has personally indicated her high appreciation of the generous and spontaneous offer. Canada has made fresh offers to England of troops. I