THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF THE CZAR.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1843, 19 January 1880, Page 3

THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF THE CZAR.

The following version of the facts by an eye-witness of the explosion was telegraphed from Moscow: —The narrative of a person who was actually in the baggage train, a part of which was destroyed by the explosion near Moscow, is published. According to this account, the train conveying the Emperor left the station at Simferopol at midnight, the time appointed for its departure. The baggage train, consisting of fourteen carriages and two locomotives, had been despatched half an hour previously, but by a fortunate ohanoe the train in which the Czar travelled overtook the luggage train, and passing it, left it some distance behind. In the luggage train were altogether fifty parsons. When it was still about two-a-half versts from the Moscow Station, a loud report was suddenly heard. The carriage in which the narrator was seated oscillated violently, and then came to a standstill with a sharp jerk. The writer immediately left the carriage, and, on looking round, perceived clear traces of an explosion. The first engine was detached from the train, and the other had left the rails, together with some of the oarriages, while the remainder of the latter were standing right across the line. The fourth luggage waggon lay with its wheels upwards. To the side of the line was visible a largo cavity several feet deep. The noise i of the explosion had attracted the police and a crowd of people, who loudly expressed their horror at the intended attempt to deetroy the life of the Emperor. The narrator hastened to the nearest telegraph station in order to forward a despatch, but found that communication was interrupted in consequence of the telegraph posts having been thrown down by the explosion. A pointsman and another railway official, who wore in the immediate vicinity, appeared to be badly injured, but all the occupants of the train escaped with nothing more serious than the fright. The perpetrators of the crime doubtless thought that the Emperor was in the second train. The Public Prosecutor and a magistrate arrived at two o'clock this morning at the scene of the catastrophe, and, led by the traces of devastation left by the explosion proceeded to the nearest house, which was empty. The magistrate discovered in the court-yard, concealed under the enow, some wires connected with a battery placed in an outhouse from which the passing trains could eßsily be seen. From inquiries made, it appeared that the house was bought in September last by a young man who stated thai he was a citizen of Samara. He had been observed digging in the cellar by the neighbors, declaring as his reason for doing so that he wished to obtain some sand. In this way a passage for the train of powder connected with the mine was hollowed out. The house itself was poorly furnished. More wires were found behind the wall papers. From the wearing apparel left in the house, it is supposed that several persons had been engaged in the work. The remnants of a supper, which had only J been partaken of recently, were also found in one of the rooms."

AN AMEEICAN VIEW OF NEW ZEALAND. Under the heading " Progress of Acclimatisation in the Britain of the South," a San Francisco paper publishes the following, which, although incorrect in some details, is worth republishing on account of the goodnatured interest shown in New Zealand's advancement : The persistent efforts of New Zealand in the work of acclimatisation deserve the utmost commendation. Half a century ago there were no domestic animals in that country, except a few head of cattle and horses introduced by the early cessionaries at the Bay of Islands, near the extreme north of the Northern Island. The celebrated discoverer, Captain Cook, had introduced sheep and swine half a century earlier, but the sheep very soon perished. The swine, however, increased rapidly, and became a nuisance to sheepfarmers after the colonization of the country, rewards being paid for their destruction, as i£ they were noxious vermin. The colony was founded in 1810, and the Natives had then barely abandoned their cannibal practices, desolating intertribal wars having lasted till within a few years of that date. Since then the progress of the country has been the most remarkable on record. It has succeeded in acclimatizing nearly all the game birds of the old and new world. Californian quail are more plentiful there than in this state; pheasants, grouse, partridge, etc., afEord excellent sport, the several provinces competing with each other in the work of acclimatizing them. The song birds of England are fully represented, and these, with the native songsters, make mountain and plain vocal the year round. Prairie chickens and mountain quail have likewise been introduced, sixteen of the latter birds out of twenty-two recently sent to Nelson by Robert J. Creighton, agent of the colony, having arrived there. These birds were forwarded from Emigrant Gap by J. R. Chirm, who took great interest in the matter. Deer stalking ia now possible in many parts of New Zealand, red and fallow deer having been introduced and increased wonderfully. The rivers are full of English and Californian trout, Eastern trout being likewise represented. In the "Post" of tho 9th instant particulars were published of a successful cross between Eastern and English trout by Mr Johnson, of Opawa, in the Canterbury province of Now Zealand, the hybrid growing larger and faster than the pure fish of either variety. Californian salmon have likewise been acclimatised, and are in almost every rner of any volume in th» islands. English salmon are established in New Zealand waters, also salmon trout. The latter fish has increased very fast, and is now purchasable in most of the marketß of the colony. But the great interior lakes of the country are comparatively without fiah ; indeed, in several of them and tributary rivers, fish life can hardly be said to exist. To remedy this defect two attempts were made to stock the lakes with white fish from Lake Michigan. These attempts failed in the colony from local causes. This year, however, another effort is being made on a much larger scale than formerly. Mr Creighton has arranged for the shipment of over two million white fiah eggs from the fish-hatching establishment of Fred. N. Clark, Northville, Michigan, by the mail steamer Australia, which sails on Monday next. The eggs will be packed in mountain ice, and carefully watched during the voyage. On their arrival at Auckland they will be transferred to a colonial steamer, preparations having been made for their reception and distribution throughout the colony. Mr Clark kindly forwarded to Mr Creighton models of his patent hatching boxes, and these are already in the colony, so that no hitch will occur in that regard. Mr Clark telegraphed from Omaha on the 15th that the eggs had been shipped in good condition, and wauld arrive in San Francisco on the 19th. Mr Clark came with the shipment from Northville to Omaha, to ensure against any damage or accident en route. The friends of acclimatisation in this State will be gratified, no doubt, at the success of this experiment. Of the Australian group of colonies, New Zealand is more closely identified with this country than any other.