English News.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 156, 6 July 1877, Page 7

English News.

Among the recent notables who have "done"' the Colony was Sir Crawford Brown, late Surgeon-General of lieMajesty's Indian Forces..

A gentleman in England, named Hicks, has forwarded the stun of LoOO to the Rev. Mr Redstone towards building a United Methodist chapel in Wellington. A similar sum has been forwarded to Cliristchurch to be used for a like purpose). The income of the Vienna head of the house of Rothschild is stated to consist of L 3,800,000 from railways, Li-00.000 from land, and L 2,000,000 from Bourse transactions, making a total of L6,000,0C0 per annum, or L 15,000 per day. Negotiations for the renewal of the treaty of commerce between England and France aro virtually suspended, tho French Ministry feeling unable to press the Chamber of Deputies for an extension of free trade, unless England reduce;, the import duty on cheap wines. Daily receptions of bands of pilgrims of all nations, who are pouring into Rome., and who come offering presents and money, are being held at the "Vatican by the Pope. His Holiness, in receiving some German pilgrims, made a speech, in which he compared the Emperor of Germany to Attila. Sir Robert Christison, on account of failing health, has resigned the chair of Materia Medica in Edinburgh University, which he has filled with such distinction since 1812. For ten years previous to that date he was Professor of Medical Jurisprudence in tho same University, so that he has now fairly earned a rest. 'J 'he Scotch confirmation of the Will, codicils, and other testamentary papers of Mr James Baird, lato of Auchmedden, granted to tho nephews of the doceased, the executors nominate, has been sealed in London, the ag^r-gate value of tho effects in England, i reland, and Scotland, is said to amount to up- j wards of L 1,190,000., 190,000. ; Notwithstanding the Russian promises \ that Turkish ships should have eight days to leave the Russian waters, ten Turkish ships were seized at Kertch on the day following tho declaration of war. England having agreed to accept the protectorate of the Turkish subjects in Russia, the Porte has instructed Musurus Pacha to request England to remonstrate at St. Petersburg. The French public executioner is certainly a well-paid man. Last year he received LlO-15 for his services, and the Committee on. tho Budget propose in future to allow him only LIOOO per annum. The functionary talks of resigning if his salary is reduced, and pathetically speaks of the heavy expense of the education of his seven children, whatever that xnay consist of. • Some of the bettor papers in Madrid have commenced a crusade against bullfights, and especially against the 'employment of horses in them. It is declared that there are 100 bull-rings in Spain, but only 12 savings banks, and that several of the towns which have recently built bull-rings have no schools. Such a fact as this helps to explain Spanish cruelty and ignorance. Mr Albert Grant's collection of pictures was sold by auction in London on April 27 and' 28. The interest taken in the sale was immense, nnd the crush was consequently very great, but the bidding waa anything but proportionately active^ and the loss by the sale must have been very heavy. The highest price given was L 5650 for Landseer's " Otter Hunt," for which the auctioneer said he believed Mr Grant paid LIO,OOO guineas. The total sum realised was L 106,262.

A Polish Legion is being formed in Turkey.

Recruiting is brisker "than 3ince the Crimean war.

Renewed wholesale changes are being made in the Frcrich Prefoctorial administration.

Steps aro being taken in Italy for the erection of a national monument to Virgil at Mantua.

A Russian commissary has been summarily sbot at Odessa, for tampering with provisions.

A conflagration took place at Constantinople on the 29th uit. ; GOO houses wore destroyed.

In a piece lately performed in one f tho Paris theatres, a sleigh was drawn across the stage by two reindeer.

The Dnieper overflowed its banks at Krementsching on the 28fh April, and 20,000 persons were left without shelter.

Lieut. -Colonel Baker, 18th Royal Iris-h, who served in New Zealand, has been appointed an aide-do-camp to Her Majesty.

The Persian Minister at Constantinople has presented a note to tho Porte containing most pacific assurances from the Shah.

Sir -John Macdonald and Mr Mackenzie, of Canada, have proposed that the Queen should assume the title of Empress of Canada.

Tbe aggregate total incomes of tho London charities, according to the 1 lustra ted London News, amount to between Lu'oo,ooo and L 700,000.

The Irish Sunday Closing Bill Committee have decided by nine to seven votes to recommend the application of the Bill to the whole of Ireland.

The Turkish Chamber of Deputies has voted an address thanking England for her reply to the Russian circulars justifying the proclamation of war.

News of war breaking out in the East was received with great satisfaction af Aldershot, ifc being hoped that that it would lead to active service.

Preparations are still making in India for warlike eventualities, and inquiries for tonnago to transfer 15,000 men to stations in the Persian Gulf, if

required.

Cardinal Howard, the now English cardinal, took possession of his church in Homo on the 22nd uit. There was a large assembly, including many English Roman Catholics.

A great storm occurred at Colombo, lasting three days-— from May llth to 14th — ushering in the south-west monsoon, Two barques — the Julia Ram and Yokohama — were blown ashore. INo liveo were lost.

A Birmingham manufacturer has received an order from the English Government for 20,000 tents. Five hundred Whitehead's torpedoes have been bought at LSOO each.

A universal amnesty to soldiers and oflioon. of all grades who took part in the Carli-it or Federalist rebellions, lias been proclaimed iv Spain, they being promised pardon if they surrender within thirty days from April 21st.

The Chinese Government have purchased the Shanghai and Woosong railway, and they propose establishing railways in other parts of the empire, particularly in Formosa, where there are valuable, deposits of coal and petroleum. At a meeting of the Sustontation Fund Committee of tho Irish Presbyterian Church, hold on April 20, it was stated that from all sources there was a surplus for tho past year of I___5 3 137, being L6O more than the surplus of the previous year. A man named Frederick Ford has boon sentenced to seven years' penal servitude for stealing New Zealand bonds to the value of L2OOO from his employers, a firm ot solicitors. Ho bolted to San Francisco, and was there apprehended and brought back to England. A large number of 10 horse power boats are being built at Devonport for landing troops on shallow beaches, and are to be finished by the ond of May.

200,000 felt helmets, to replace the shako worn by tho infantry, have been ordered through the Royal Clothing Factory.

The schenio for deepening the river frwell so as to make Manchester a tidal port has advanced a stage, definite plans having beeu prepared and submitted to the Manchester Chamber of Commerce by Mr Pulton, CE. The cost of tho scheme is estimated at 1.3,500,000.

The Emperor of Germany has been visiting Alsace and Lorraine, and has been well received. During tho illumination at Meta the Cathedral caught fire, and way seriously injured. The Emperor, the Crown Prince, and Yon Moltke superintended the efforts to extinguish the flames.

A remarkable Yorkshireman has just passed away in the person of Mr John Carr, of Grimesthorpe. Pie was 93 years old, and had been a follower of ths Fitj-william Hunt for over 80 years, besides being master of the Eoclosfield harriers for some years. He had a rooted objection to conveyances of all kinds, and never could be induced to enter a railway train.

v Uncle Torn" (Rev, Josiah Henson), sailed from Liverpool to Canada on April 26, A week previously he was presented in Glasgow with L 750, and his wife with a gold watch and chain. After clearing off the debt on the Dawn Institution, Uncle Tom has obtained about L2OOO in. Britain (inclusive of the L 750 mentioned), to enable him to pass his last days in comfort.

A piece of Gobelins tapestry has beeh sold in Pa riii for L4OOO.

American engineers have reached Sd, Petersburg to enter Russian service*

The municipal buildings at Paris hf\vi\ just been supplied with new lightning conductors at a cost of L 40,000.

The French Ministry, at the request of the Spanish Government, have ordered the expulsion of Don Carlos from Franco.

The statistical bureau of Washington states that the present grain supply is short, and the Californian crop for 187?' will be short.

Russian subjects in Turkey are placed tinder German protection, and Turkish subjects in Russia are placed under English protection.

Tlie personalty of the late Admiral Sir Augustus Clifford, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, has been sworn under L 250,000.

It was stated in the House of Commons on the 13th April, that tho total expenses of the circuit in the Tichborne trial were 1,00,093.

Tho Italian Senate has rejected the Bill for dealing with clerical abuses, thereby giving groat satisfaction to the Ultramontane party. Speaking at Penning. on, Lancashire, the other day, the Bishop of Manchester said that there are 120 sects of Christians in England at the present time, A Scottish Club is in course of formation in London, and a large number of Scottish noblemen and gentlemen are reported to have consented to join it. An extraordinary number of'the London Gazette has been published, which contains a Royal proclamation, in which the Queen enjoins all her subjects to observe strict neutrality in the war pending between Turkey and Russia, on pain of her Majesty's high displeasure.

In consequence of Mr Layard's remonstrance, Chefket Pasha, a leader in the Bulgarian atrocities, was removed from a military command and sent to Bagdad. The punishment of'the leaders of outrages continues to cause a strong feeling in England against tho Turks. Daily receptions of bands of pilgrims of all nations, who are pouring into Rome, and who come offering presents and money, are being held at the Vatican by the Pope. His Holiness, in receiving some German pilgrims, made a speech, in which he compared the Emperor of Germany to Attihi.

The Hon. Mrs Hobart, wife of Admiral Hobart Pasha, died on the lUtli April, and waa interred in the English cemetery at Scutari. The chief mourner was Mrs Hobart's niece, Miss Boyd, tho admiral being too much overcome hy .the suddenness of his bereavement to attend the funeral ceremony. Ie is stnted that his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh is in treaty for the purchase of Old way House, Paignton, Torbay, tho splendid mansion recently erected by tho American millionare, the lato Mr Singer. The House contains a private theatre, in addition to evory requirement ior a family of the first rank. Torbay fias long been a favourite resort for the Russian Royal Family ahd nobility, and the climate has been considered as especially advantageous to tho Duchesi. of Edinburgh. in consequence of the contradictory reports regarding the Pope's health and the alarming rumours continually spread, the ambassadors accredited to tho Holy See have requested Cardinal Simeoni to keep them correctly informed upon the subject. His Holiness is somewhat better, but still unable to walk without difficulty. The Pope, having been informed that the pilgrimages on the occasion of his Episcopal Jubilee are a cause of apprehension and difficulty, has corifidentally assured the Government that for his part thoy shall not bo inn do a pretext for raising any political question.

On April 30 her Royal and Imperial Highness the Duchess of Edinburgh left Windsor Castle for the purpose of attending a special service, held at the Russiau Church, Welbeck street, Cavendish square, London, for the success of the Russian army now in tho field against Turkey. Although very small, the church is handsomely designed, the interior having a domed roof, a beautiful altar screen, enriched with costly pictures of the Virgin and Saviour, and walls decorated with shrines. On this occasion the candelabra in front of the altar were filled with lighted wax candles, and the ceremonial, with the priests and deacons in their vestments of gold embroidery, very much resembled that witnessed in the f toman Catholic Churches. The service was conducted by M. Tirmonef, tho priest of the church, the deacon being bl. Sprzaneski, and the readers MM. Orloff and Weifoloski. Much fervour was shown by the Bussians present praying for the success of their countrymen in the contest in which they are now engaged. Towards the close the "Td Ileum" was chanted, after which the priest presented the jewelled cross to the Duchess, who stepped forward and kissed the sacred emblem, an example which was followed by the majority of the congregation, in the evening her Royal and imperial I-Jighiiti.-s honoured his Excellency Count bohouvulotf with her presence at dinner at the Russian Bmbassy, Chesham place. Jt is stated that., in the event of any unforeseen con -1 tingency arising out of the present hostilities, the Duchess of Ediubui-gU will remain in {-.ugluinh