SAN FRANCISCO MAIL NEWS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1218, 3 July 1885, Page 3

SAN FRANCISCO MAIL NEWS.

Mr Dion Boucioault, D, G. Boucioault. Mina Boucicault, and a select company of players, leave by steamer for Sydney. They will make a tour of the Colonies and give New Zealand a round of Biucioault's wellknown Irish dramas, and also produce a brand new play called “ The Jilt,” the last contribution of Boucioault to dramatic literature.

Hanlon, the rower, who arrived here by the Zeaiandia on May 21, reports that, not* withstanding his defeat in the Colonies, he made three thousand dollars as his share of the gate money. As he naturally would say for his own sake, Beach is, in his opinion the most wonderful oarsman he has met.

The United States Minister, Mr Phillips, was banq netted by the Lord Mayor of Loudon on June 3. In responding to the toast of the President of the United States, Mr Phillips assured his hearers of the pleasure with which Americans viewed a settlement of the issue between England and Russia. A London special of Juno 3 says the desperate condition of the Scotch laud market is shown by the surprising number of estates now offered for sale in Scotland. One auctioneer alone advertised to sell on June 2 estates valued at L 2,500,009. Many Americans are in the market looking for Scotch property.

Lord Garmoyle, now Earl C urns, has as Burned his place in the House of Lords.

The German despatch boat Pomerania seized a Yarmouth lighter on June 5 in the North Sea, and towed the vessel into Wilhelm Haven, where she is detained on (the pretence that the lighter was fishing in prohibited waters.

The London police were informed on June 15 that two dynamiters had arrived in England from the United States. An active watch for the parties was instituted. Letters on all conceivable subjects lately published in the English papers, and bearing John Ruskin’a signature, are by his solicitors declared to be forgeries. The motive fur forgery appears to bo ouo of pure mischief.

A fire broke out in the Margaret pit of the I’hila lolphia colliery, near Durham, at noon ou-June 3, caused by an explosion, by which 22 men and boys were killed outright. The explosion was followed by a rush of water in immense volumes, and the whole mine waa floode I nothwithstanding the most strenuous efforts to prevent it. The British Missionary Society of London favo a breakfast to the explorer Stanley on _ lay 29. Stanley is making his campaign in Europe on behalf of Congo State very

vigorously. Despatches from London of May 3 say the most encouraging feature of the agricultural outlook is the favourable change in the weather which has come at a most opportune time, when warmth and sunshine will produce the best results, especially as it had been preceded by copious rain. The backward condition of the crops and the discolouration of wheat has been a source of complaint ■ but it is now admitted that no lasting injury was done, and if the present line weather continues a rapid improvement in harvest prospects is expected. It is said that the Budget increase of duty on beer and spirits has been a blessing in disguise tjo many enterprising dealers, who have made fortunes by the exercise of a little forethought. Mr Gladstone, replying to an inquiry made by the Home Rule member for Wicklow, said it was not the intention of the Government to establish regular diplomatic relations with tho Vatican. Mr John Bright has written a public letter approving of Parliament granting L 31.000 a year to the Princess Beatrice as dowry. Mr Bright says he is astonished to see Liberals object to so small a grant while silent concerning the extravagance of the Government over unjust wars. It is said Cunningham, thedynamitard, has shown signs of insanity since his confinement in Chatham prison. Later desoatehes say that official reports concerning the Indian wheat crop indicate that if the present anticipations be realised there will bo a smaller European demand in England tor American wheat this year than last year. An inspection of the boiler and engines of the Arctic steamer Alert, returned by United States Government to the English Admiralty, found them all salted up and in a generally rusty condition. The fact is severely commented on by the Press. Lieut. John Loonies Stook, assistant naval constructor to the navy, who was on special duty at the Royal College, Greenwich, in England, committed suicide at Blackheath by shooting. The cause was disappointment in love. The British steamer Waverley, with a cargo of spelter, was seized by the French in Chinese waters on the ground of her cargo being contraband of war. The committee of the Cnamher of Com merce, London, forwarded to the Government a resolution in favour of diverting emigration to British colonies, especially Australia, where the consumption of British goods exceeds L 8 per head, instead of America, where the consumption is only 10s a head.

Tho new Chinese opium convention is concluded, and the import duty to be collected directly by the Imperial Customservice. The London Press approves of the arrangement of this new convention. It assumes the form of an additional article to the Chicago treaty, aud abolishes all barriers heretofore existing against tho free diffusion of opium throughout the Chinese Empi-e. A report has been published in London to tho effect that Alfred Aylward, notorious in connection with the B .er rebellion, was one of the leading spirits in fomenting the half breed rebellion, of which iiicl was only the figure-head. The Anglo-German Fiji Commission has agreed that Germany will not establish a penal settlement in the Southern Pacific. Some difficulties have occurred between some French and Ita'ians. One of tlio latter slapped the face of a lieutenant of chasseurs as he was coming out of the theatre. The Italian was arrested and condemned to six days’ imprisonment. The French general thought the punishment inadequate, an 1 issue tan order commanding all officers in futur ■, on the least provocation from Jaws and Italians, to draw their swords He also decided to punish ths orderly officer whose face ha 1 been slapped for not running hj 3 assailant through.