MAIL NEWS VIA SAN FRANCISCO.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3749, 21 July 1883, Page 4

MAIL NEWS VIA SAN FRANCISCO.

GENERAL SUMMARY,

San Francisco, June 30

A desperate attempt was made ou tho 28th of June, in ii railway carriage between Calais and Paris, to murder and rob the Rev. Mr Whitebom, an English clergyman. The would-be murderer attacked Mr Whitobom with a chisel, stabbing him five times The assailant, who is an Englishman, was captured. A largo portion of Aix la Chapelle was destroyed by fire on June 20th. The reported set-to between Mace and Lord Charles Bercsford is pronounced a hoax.

The Waitara, whiclt 1 was in collision •with tho Huruuui, sank in two minutes. The Hurumu's boats rescued sixteen persons struggling in the water. Amongst these was a lady saloon passenger, to whom a sailor, who was also saved, had given his life-belt. All tho second-class and steerage passengers were lost. The captain of the Waitara was dragged ou board theHurumu by the aid of rope's. The Hurunui struck the Wfiitara cud on, just in front of the saloon on the starboard side. The survivors state that no crash was heard, but that tho bido of tho Waitara gave way like cardboard. More of the passengers might have been saved had a barquo and a steamer, which were seen near by, heeded tho Waitnra's signals of distress. A report is current in Dublin that the Government havo offered Carey the alternivtivo of a safe conduct to New South Wales, or to run the risk of remaining in Ireland without a guard. Mr Parncll, in a speech at Monaghan, aaid that the object of his jmrty was to so improvo tho Land Act that the majority of tenants would get a reduction of 10 per cent.

A number of Irishmen met in Paris on June '23rd, and denounced the recent Dublin executions as a massacre.

Large supplies of anus and ammunition have been ordered by the Chinese fiwu the American Government.

A flutter among silk dealers has been caused by a despatch from China dated June ISth to the elfcctthat tlic silk crop in China is .short, and the Italian crop also ■will not equal expectations. Lj-nch, nlias Norman, the informer who testified against the dynamite conspirators, has been released from custody because of 3iia services to tho Government.

Tho Duke of Connaught opened the Irish Exhibition at tho Mansion House, London, on Juno 25th. He expressed the hope that the exhibition would lead to the extension of tho lace industry, and to the prosperity of Ireland.

In a violent thunderstorm that happened on tho 2uth June four soldiers, it is reported, were killed by lightning , at Chatham.

Mr Liibouchcro recently challenged Irving'Bishop, tho "thought reader," to tell the number of a bank note known only to tho challenger and Mr Firth, M.P., tho latter to hold tho note. Mr L.'ibouchcro put up .£IOOO against £100, the winner to devote tho money to charities. Bishop guessed tho number of tho note at oiine, nnd demanded the money. Tho case has has not vot been decided.

The British Government oiler £70,000 for the Ashburnham collection; £90,000 is demanded. Germany and the United States will now contend for it.

A bill passed its second reading in the House of Commons on Juno 19th providing for tho application of £200,000 of the church purnlim fund to the aid of tho Irish sea fisheries.

iiy a vote of 286 to 16, the House of Commons, on the 18th June, rejected, the motion of Mr Taylor, M.P. for Leicester, against compulsory vaccination.

A despatch from New York, dated June ICth, says that a privtito letter to a gentleman in that city, from an oilicer attached to the household of the Prince of Wales, gives some interesting facts in relation to tho condition of the Queen. They corroborate the statements already made of the morbid condition of her mind, and that she is a prey to strange fancies and superstitious fears. She appears to be in constant dread of the receipt of bad news, and insists on daily despatches as to tho health of the Crown Prince of Prussia and family. Apprehensions arc entertained that the Queen's present condition miiy result in insanity liko that of George 111.

A despatch from London, dated June 17th, flays that Her Majesty's health continues to ciui.se grave anxiety. Since she has been at Balmoral she lian dono little but make excursions to John Brown's grave. <?lio has put all the servants in deep mourning-, and spends the most of her time in a stato of tho deepest depression. Tho loss of her faithful servant lias been a more serious blow to her than was supposed to bo possible. A strenuous ofl'ort has been made to pet her to go abroad, ns her general health is beginning - to be much affected.

The London Truth of Juno 20th says that Queen Victoria for the last two months has been in a stato of mild melancholy, which in course of time, if not relieved, will probably bncome very difficult to treat. Her condition has naturally caused great luixicty because of the tendencies of her family. Her Majesty and Princess Beatrice ■will in tho autumn go to the vicinity of Florence, whore they will remain two months.