SAN FRANCISCO MAIL NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1817, 17 December 1879, Page 3

SAN FRANCISCO MAIL NEWS.

[Via Auckland.] The French Ambassador to Germany has received full explanation from Bismarck relative to the Austro-Germanic alliance, which waa not aimed against the French. The Empress Eugenie arrived at Paris on November 22nd, vn route for Spain. She kept strictly private The Government sanctioned her presence through the representations of England. The Archduchess Marie Christine Julien, Queen of Spain, left Paris for Madrid on November 22nd, an hour before Eugenie started for that city. Three fires occurred in Algiers. In one four persons were killed and ten injured. The Conservatives in the Spanish Cortes having joined the planters' deputies to oppose the emancipation of slaves. Premier Campos intends making the Emancipation and Free Trade Bills Ministerial questions. After the festivities of the Koyal marriage were ended Campos declared that the Q-overnment were determined to stamp out the Cuban revolution, and to this end asked the authority of the Cortes to send 19,000 troops there. It is understood that Lord Penzance's order, under which Mr Maokonochio was suspended, was irregular. The Bishop of London's chaplain appeared at St. Albans, Hoiborn, on November 23rd, with a written instruction to perform service. The Perpetual Curate presented him with a document setting forth the reason why ho could not recognise Lord Penzance's Court. The Bishop's chaplain withdrew, and Mackonochie proceeded with service. This raises question of jurisdiction. A terrific explosion occurred in a tunnel on a narrow gauge railway in California, and resulted in killing over thirty Chinamen working within, and frightfully burning some fifteen or twenty more, besides two white men. The tunnel is now 2600 feet long, without ventilating shafts. Eight months ago an explosion took place in the same tunnel and killed five, wounding thirteen men, and in July last a fire was burning fiercely for a fortnight in the tunnel. These accidents are caused by an escape of petroleum from fissures caused by blasting. The range is|full of rock oil. Two explosions occurred. The first happened when the fire was lighted for a giant powder blast and the shock of which shook the mountain. The gas exploded. Twenty Chinamen rushed into the tunnel with lighted torches to reliove their countrymen. They penetrated 1500 feet from the entrance, when a second report, louder and more intense than the first, again shook the earth, and wrecked the engine-house and sheds within a hundred feet of the entrance to the tunnel. The explosion was followed by a lurid flame, consuming everything before it for a hundred yards. The engine which was supplying air for the workmen was blown out of the tunnel, and a group of white men who were congregated at the portal when the Chinamen went in were all more or less injured. Nine hundred and thirty-nine head of cattle were burned in a pen in Cincinatti. Part of the population of Montenegro are starving. Severe fighting is reported on the Turkish frontier, near Brisovitch, which place was sacked by the Albanians. Severe fighting took place in Cuba between tho emigrants, who number altogether five thousand, and the troops. The slaves are urged to escape to the mountains and join the army of liberation. Thousands have done so. The rebels propose burning the plantations, thereby compelling the hands to join them. The Spanish Government is embarking 10,000 troops, chiefly cavalry, to reinforce the Captain-General of Cuba. Great sensation has been produced in Spain by the revolt. Another provincial revolt occurred in Mexico. The Mexican Government have sanctioned laying a cable across the Gulf of Mexico to join tho American telegraph system. A new Italian Ministry was formed, with Oarioli as Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Dupres as Minister of the Interior. General Gordon, having failed to arrange satisfactory terms with the King of Abyssinia on behalf of the Khedivo, was leaving the country. Ho was recalled by the King when he reached Galle. A Capetown despatch of Novembor 4th states that Sir Garnet Wolseley has determined to storm Secocoeni's stronghold. The situation is the Transvaal was less threaten • ing. A strict blockade has been established by the Chilians at all the southorn Peruvian ports. Further casualties along the Atlantic seaboard are reported every day. The weather is unusually stormy and cold. The iron steamship Arizona, which collided with an ioeberg 500 feet by 100 feet acrosß, returned to St. John's, Newfoundland, with a large hole in her bows. Owing to the watertight compartments she had not leaked a drop. The first steamship of the Chinese line to Honolulu and Canton is taking in passengers.

HARMONIC SOCIETY. A meeting of the committee was held on Monday afternoon at the office of Messrs Acland and Campbell, Hereford itreet. Present—Rev. H. C. M. Watson, Professor Cook, Messrs Acland, Loughnan, Rowley and Bonnington. Tho conductor's recommendations respecting the disposition of the Bolos in " The Messiah " received general approval, but, as they were incomplete, a sub-committee, consisting of the president, with Messrs Loughnan and Rowley, was appointed to confer with Mr Landergnn on the Bubject. It was unanimously agreed that no solos should be allotted to any persons not members of the society, except in the case of professional singers. Tho application of the secretary of the Wellington Choral Society for tho loan of copies of "Eli" was granted, conditionally upon its not being required for the next concert of tho Ohristehurch society. Mr was appointed librarian and requested to_ bring up an inventory of bpoks and mueio in the library. The Oddfellows' Hall was engaged for TueFday. the 23rd instant, and the performance of "The Messiah" agreed upon for that date. It was resolved that 300 tickets for that concert be offered for sale to the general public and that they be distributed among tho various booksellers. Tho question of appointing a pianisle was deferred until the next meeting of the commit" ee. After passing several accounts and making arrangements to increase tho number of honorary members, the committee adjourned. Honorary members of tho society, on payment of one guinea each, are entitled to twelve tickets, and performing members receive a similar number on payment of half a guinea. The noxt rehearsal ef the society takes place at St. John's schoolroom this evening, at eight o'clock.