ENGLISH MAIL.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 126, 4 June 1870, Page 2

ENGLISH MAIL.

[Feom the " Eubopean STail."]

Tke "Waterford Vivian divorce case is to be revived, if we may credit the North British Daily Mail, which, says : "a. decree nisi was granted some time since by Lord Penzance for a divorce between Captain Vivian and his wife. The decree would have become absolute if within six months cause was not shown, or affidavits as cause lodged. Affidavits hare been filed, alleging several matters as reasons for tlie re-hearing of the suit Tke Marquis of Waterford, subsequent to the elopement, declared his intention of marrying Mrs. Vivian as soon as the divorce Lad been obtained, and he still adheres to that determination. J£i s family are, however, greatly dissatisfied with this step. It is they who have intervened, and it is !>aid they ara prepared to go into a history of the, intimacy between the marquis and the lady prior to the elopement, to show that the husband (who, no doubt, was deeply engaged in official and Parliamentary duties) was about the on)y one who did not apprehend something like what actually occurred. This will be the line taktn as cause against the decree. The intervening parties undertook it to let matters run their course if the marquis pledged himself never to carry out his declared intention, but this he declined to do, and hence their action."

Services in New Zealand.—ln the House of Commons, March 17, Mr. Portman asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when the medal which had already been issued to the army for services in New Zealand, was to be issued to the naval officers and sailors who took part in those services.—Mr. Childers promised to expedite the iasue of the medal.

The London correspondent of the Otago Daily Times says:—"Notwithstanding the poverty to which I have alluded, and the depression of trade, which tells in some cases rather hardly on the middle 1 and trading class, amusements of all kinds flourish in abundance. We are still to ' hava two operas. The coalition-direction 1 of Messrs. Gye and Mapleson commence their season on Tuesday next, the 29th,' with Madame la Marquise de caux (nSe Patti) as prima donna, and a host of musical scars of lesser magnitude. Mr. Wood, of the firm of Cramer and Co., music publishers,. &c, is the impressario of the rival establishment at l)rury Lane, of which Mdllc. Nilssou is to be the presiding cantatrice, and at which jvc are also to hear some new aspirants for public favour. A mania has set in lately for building new theatres, notwithstanding it is well known that all the old ones do not pay. A new one called the ' Variety,1 was opened last week in the district of Hoxton, which certainly is not overburdened with theatres, like the west end of London ; and an elegant little house is in course of construction, and will be opened next month in the Strand. The Vaudeville, as it is to he called, will be under the joint management of Messrs. H. J. Mcntague, David James, and J. Thorne, actors of established repute; and lam inclined to believe in their success. , A project is also on foot to erect aD imposing edifice on the site of the old baville House, Leicester Square, as a winter garden, club, and theatre; but I have no faith in the scheme. Concerts of all kinds, too, secure large audiences. The* different musical societies provide weekly . runions for their supporters and admirers, which are always well attended; and we have just terminated two separate series of Saturday Eveaing Concerts, one of which, " Boosey's Ballad Concerts," was a great success. Apropos of matters ■' theatrical, Miss Lydia Thompson and Miss Pauline Markhani, actresses wellknown on the burlesque stage here, have lately been earning questionable notoriety in the United States, where they have gone with others of their profession, in what they call the " Blonde Burlesque Troupe." The troupe visited Chicago lately, and the editor of the Chicago Times having said somethins^dipparaging of the " maids with the golden hair," the two above-mentioned waylaid and cowhided him in the streets of; Chicago, for which piece of feminine amusement they were fined 100 dols. each by thejlocal police magistrate. Miss Thompson also figured yesterday as a corespondent in the London Divorce Court j but the evidence, though very suspicious, was only circumstantial, and nothing was proven against her. The theatrical world has sustained a loss in the death of Mr. William Brough, the well known and well-esteemed dramatic' author. Mr. Brough's reputation was founded mostly on his burlesques, the pungent wit of which was always relished. I fear too, that the ranks of dramatic authorship may be still furl her thiuned Mr. Robertson, the successful writer of so many comedies under unisyllable titles, is dangerously ill with dropsy, and but small hopes are entertained of his recovery." The Peninsular and Oriental Company's new steamer Australia will be ready for launching in about a month. The Great Victoria, from Australia, is overdue, and is causing some anxiety. Great Britain is to be divided into nine great military commands, with, fourteen .districts within .those commands, conterminous with them and with th&J&p uties, which will make this country one j'Jx all miiilary purposes. The Inspectors of Keserve Forces have become inspectors on the general staff of the army, in order that they may be part of this general united military administration. There will be twice as many recruiting districts as before.

Deptford Dockyard has been disposed of for £76,000.

A barrister, practising In the. Court of Chancery, on 2nd March, applied to Lord

justice Giffard, in support of a claim for ifv'OO against the executors of the late Lord Mostyn. The sum sought to be recovered represented fees in respect of conveyancing and other professional work which he had done for the late peer. The Lord Justice held that a barrister could not recover his fees, and dismissed the application, with costs.

We learn from the European Mail that in the House of Commons, 28th February, Mr. Taylor asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in accordance with the suggestion of Lord Belmore in his despatch of the 17th May, 1869, it was intended to strengthen the Australian squadron, as the only way of checking the irregularities on the part of masters of vessels engaged in the deportation of South Sea Islanders. —Mr. Childors replied that the Australian squadron is, really, the Australian and New Zealand squadron, and, unless in case of special emergency iv New Zealand, is sufficiently strong to carry out the objects contemplated iv Lord lielmore's despatch. At the present time there is no absolute necessity to strengthen it; but we have determined to detach from other service an additional ship during the approaching fine weather season for special duty in preventing the irregularities complained of between Isew Caledonia, Fiji, and tho islands to the north, and we shall then be able to judge whether the squadron requires permanently this addition. [Possibly, this may explain why the Galatea lias been placed on the Australian station.]

On the arrival of tbe 3.50 p.m. train from King's Cross at Hitchin on March 14, the front portion of it was shunted to allow the .4 25 train to pass. While the carriages were being again shunted, they were by some means or other thrown off the track, thus fouling the main line. Just at this moment the Iloyal train, which was conveying the Prince end Princess of Wales to Kimbolton, whither their Royal Highnesses were proceeding on a visit to tbe Duke and Duchess of Manchester, was nearly due. Men were at once set to work to clear the main line, but before this could be effected, the Boyal train came up «t full speed and rushed past the carriages which had been thrown off the line. It will be understood that the Prince and Princess had a narrow escape, Jvrhen it is stated that the train in which they were travelling ran within six inches of one of the carriages which had fouled the main line. The occurrence was witnessed by several persons, amidst a scene of intense excitement.

The winter has not passed without bringing its disasters. Poverty and distress have, of course, prevailed. They always do when frost and snow abound. The stories from the sea are very saddening. Wrecks strew every shore. The Boston left America for England two months ago, and has never been heard of since. Hope is still entertained for the Boston, and for those aboard of her. The insurance agents have, however, decliaod to take any further risks about her, and she is " written off." How many hearts are breaking because of those who sailed in her, daybooks and ledgers say nothing about It has been a terrible time at sea. The Cambodia, from New Zealand (Auekand), is now more than five mouths out. As we write, news is to hand of her having been spoken, and hopas respecting her are revived. For weeks the arrivals into English ports from the south and west were almost nominal. Every ship that comes home tells a tale of disaster and distress. Under these circumstances the best is hoped for those who have sailed, and have not been heard of since. Every peril passed through with safety leaves a hope for those who may have to undergo similar experiences.

The verdict in the Morclaunb case, although, foreseen, lias been on all sides regarded as a sorry ending to a judicial proceeding. The couusel on both side 3 is agreed that the issue to be pat to the jury should he, " was Lady Mordaunt fit and able to instruct her atlorney on the 30th of April, and has she since become unfit, and when ?" The jury, after very brief deliberation, found that Lady Mordaunt was totally unfit to answer the petition at that time, and that she has ever since been in the same condition. No one dispute's that this conclusion is in conformity with the evidence, but it leaves all the grayer ciiarges unsettled. The reputation of many persons is involved, and all this loathsome scandal has been poured forth to no purpose but to give publicity to rumours and suspicions. It is felt that a serious mistake has been made in the conduct of the case. An order has now been made in chambers by the Judge Ordinary, the effect of which will be that the question of Sir Charles Mord aunt's right to proceed, notwithstanding Lady Mordaunt's insanity, will be argued and settled. Then must come over again all that we have already heard. Surely it was possible to have ascertained the legal bearing of this principle first. It involves large general issues. It is asked, for instance, whether by the same rule an insane debtor could escnpe proceedings from his debt?

Advices of the shipment of butter_bj' the ship England, from Canterbury, ]New Zealand, {o London, aro to hand by the

lass mail ; should it arrive safe and i it will find a good profitable mar'..ket. Peoplo in England have almost given up expecting to have decent butter. The ordinary fat and tallow with wliich " real Dorset " and " prime Dutch. " have hitherto been adulterated was bad enough, but the last development is the worst. Some clever chemist las succeeded in extracting a grrasy c mpound from the filtli deposited b} the receding tide in tlifl Thames, and this grease is, it is said used {or making cacsp butter. It can easily be understood then how anxiously Jie new venture will be received.