MAIL NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1246, 6 May 1884, Page 2

MAIL NEWS.

Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. The Annual boat race between Oxford and Cambridge University crews occupied the morning of April 7- The course was the regular four miles and two furlongs on the Thames, from Putney to Mortlake. The weather was unpropjtious; the air was tilled with a drizzling rain, and a heavy mist overhung the river, while the water was decidedly choppy. There were but few spectators. The Cambridge crew were the favorites from the start, and gained an easy victory. Oxford won the toss, and chose the Surrey side. After one false start, Cambr.dge, at the word “ Go, gripped the fir f , and gained a lead of neatly im a length. Oxford by a

great effort almost caught Cambridge in the first hundred yards, and a ding-dong ; 'V tussle was kept up for the rmt of the first mile, when Cambridge led, and was neves afterwards headed. Passing Hammersmith, Cambridge was nearly a length ahead. Oxford frequently spurted, and Cambridge promptly answered. The nasty, 'choppy water and head wind seemed to favor the Cambridge rowing, and the steering of Oxford was somewhat wild; but the men worked gamely until Barnes was reached, when they want to pieces, and Cambridge finished fresh, nearly three lengths ahead. Time—Slain 19tec. Affairs In'Egypt. The news reached London on March 30, that on the 19th General Gordon made a sortie from Khartoum with 3,0Q0 men, two guns, and a squadron of Biubi Bazouk cavalry, accompanied by three steamers 6n the river. The rebels were encamped near Half ayah. Sixty of the v enemy’s cavalry charged ' the Baahl Bazouka and put them to light. On nearing the rebels, General Gordon drew up his troops in the form of . a,«quare, in which position they were kept until attacked by the enemy, when the Egyptians turn ad and fled. Two hundred of them were slaughtered, and three of their guns were lost. Notwithstanding this check, General Gordon declares Khartoum quite safe until the winter. * Later advices received in, London on March {3l give details of Gordon’s rout. The rebels pursued the Egyptians for two miles after the battle near Halfayah, and the confusion during the retreat was faarful to behold. The Egyptian regulars and Basbi kept .shouting that _ their Generals had bet. ayed them; and the wounded received no attention for sdvan hnuri. ' been clamoring for; three weeks- before they met the enemy. In the early part of the encounter thefEgyptians were successful, and many of the enemy were actually in full retreat when their cavalry made a desperate charge. Despite this reverse, it is an id the inhabitants of Khartoum atilt remain the firm.friends of.. Gordon., One Arab sent him LIJIOO to replenish hi* treasury in part, and another equipped : 2,000 blacks for him. Two black pauias hare been arrested for charging into the ranks of their own thua .allowing the enemy to enter the gap they made-- 1 Reports were current in London on i A pril 3 that Gerdon had met with a further reverse. . In a letter .tip the explorer Sohweinfurth,.the General says that the demean- . I our of the people bad changedi oontider- ) . ably since he was last in the l-oad»n----i Despatches received in . London from » Cairo on April 5, represent Gordoh’s position os becoming desperate. In a private i letter to Commander Maxwell he writrs : i “We exist day by day, and though exoita--5 meat is desirable, sometimes weean bare 3 too much of it while, ceapensihillty is heavy. I cad only trust in God’s mercy, for there is nothing else.” , The indications that the Government r intend to undertake an autumn campaign 1 towards Khartoum are multiplying, and r preparations for such an event are being , actively made. The survey of ,the. Nile as . . far as the Second Cataract, which Cap- - tain Molyneauz undertook some .weeks ■ ago at the command of the Admiralty, to . determine the feasibility of the use of gunboats, haa been completed ; and Caoa tain Uqlynesux returned to Cairo - April 7. *He is now ordaead'to report on t the appearances of the river as far as • a Shendy. He is also to report on a scheme t forgetting English regiments across the i Korosko desert. i It is certain that the last estimate which t Gordon sent of the time he could hold 1 out was only two months more. , > Death of Prince Leopold. I y —- 1 Prince Leopold died from a fit, result--9 ing from a fall. He waa on the point bt b starting for Darmstadt to attend the wedt ding of his niece, Princess Victoria of f Hesse, which has been postponed in consequence of the sad event. The Prince 9 of Wales who wss visiting the Earl of 9 Sefton, received the news on hi# arrival . ? 9 at the rdceeoursa, and returned at onoa 9 to London. The Queen was terribly, diss tressed at the news, and the meeting of 9 Her Majesty with the widowed Duchess > of Albany was most affecting.. As she enl tered the Park she was unable to restrain - her tears at the sight of her son’s desoli ated home, and waa weeping bitterly. ■ when she met the Duchess. Prince Leo-. ... , pold had gone to Cannes only a few days I before, for hia health, and nothing serious, ■ was anticipated, He was looking fairly ! well, and had been taking part.in the fas- . ■ tivitiea of the place when he met with the ....... ; fall. He treated the matter lightly at the j time, but in the middle of the night hit attendants were - awoke by a noise of struggling and hard breathing. 1 It, was . i then found that effusion of blood on the ...' lungs bad taken place. ; The Prince of ■' Wales and Major-General. Sir John 0. ilowell, Ma-t-T of thajQueen’a.Household, '■ brought the body to London. In'Acoord- ’ ance with the wishes of the deceased, he 1 was buried in the Royal vault, at St : George’s Chapa?, Windsor, on April 6. 1 The interment was entirely private. The Orownj Prince Frederick William of Prussia assisted at the funeral. _On ■ i March 30 Parliament adopted resolutions ■ of condolence with the Queeii and,- the Duchess of Albany. The Queen returned thanks. Further particulars o c the obsequies are communicated by a despatch dated April - 5. On that day the" Duchefs of Albany visited the Memorial Chapel, where the body of her husband was rest jog, and r(*■* mained a short time beside the dead. The funeral service took place half-past IJ. The Queen, the Princess of Wales, and the Princesses Helena, Louise and Beatrice went from the Castle through the Deanery to the chbpel. The Prince of Wales, the Grown Prince Frederick William of Prussia, and other Royal person* ages assembled in the Memorial Chapel, and marched in procession to St George’s. - The Prince of Wales followed the ooffinas chief mourner.- The' Dean began the service as the coffin entered the door. The choir sang “Oh God, .our help In ages past,” and Spohr’s anthem “ Blessed an the departed." The coffin waa then placed in the vault.. As the Queen returned, the choir sang “Lead, kindly light," and Chopin’s “ Funeral Match ” waa played as the Royal personages withdrew. Mcer the service, the ’ Seaforth Highlanders (the Duke’s Regiment) played “He will return to Lochaber no more. ” The Queen sat during the service, weeping bitterly, and all the young princes were sobbing. The Prince -of Wales was deeply agitated, and very pale. The chapel wu draped in black, relieved by wreaths of flowers, conspicuous among them being one from the ex-Etapreaa' Eugenie.