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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 1058, 3 July 1871, Page 2

Advertisements about race lotteries, which have been frequent in India in past years, with reference generally to the English Derby, have been forbidden in Calcutta.

The London International Exhibition. was opened on the Ist May, and will continue open until September 30. The Germans have begun \o pull down the fortifications of Strasburg. The old fortifications are to be razed and replaced by a girdle of detached forts somewhat similar to those round Paris. The line of forts will be very extensive, and will include Kehl, on the right bank of the Rhine. It is stated that the soldiers at Versailles have been asked, man by man, whether they objected to fight against Paris. These who objected were promised that they should be sent to do duty in the south. A mere sprinkling of the army answered "No"; about four per cent. They are released from duty before Paris, and the re mainder it is believed may be depended on. The noblemen and gentlemen charged to convey to Rome the expressions of sympathy, and the pecuniary offerings of Catholic England to the Pope, arrived at Rome on April 1, from Floiv ence, escorted by Monsignore Sfconor, who had gone to meet them in that city. The deputation had the honor of accompanying the Pope in his daily promenade round the gardens, and we are informed that he even caused some excellent cirgars to be presented to them. The Pope himself only smokes the little Spanish paglietta cigars. The amount of money presented by the British deputation is variously calculated at from £14,000 to £48,000. A new " Wellingtonia gigantea," or ".big tree," forty feet and four inches in diameter, has been discovered lately near Visalia, in Southern California. This is thicker by seven feet than any other that has yet been found. A sec tion of one of the ' : big trees " is nowexhibited in Cincinnati, which is 7G feet in circumference and fourteen feet high ; and, standing on the floor of the hall, if gives one a perfectly clear idea of the enormous size of the tree from which io was taken. The section was cut last year in the Mariposa grove, about 250 miles south-east of San Francisco, and far up the western slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It was divided and hauled 140 miles to Stockton, on three waggons, by seventeen yoke of cattle.

On April 18, at the Thames Police Court, James M'Combie, a man about; 20 years of age, was brought up on remand for the third time, before Mr Lushington, charged with making q, daring attempt to murder Mr James; Geddies, late vault keeper at the London and Continental Steam Wharf, in Wapping. The prisoner was formerly employed at the London and Continental Steam "Wharf, and was reported for misconduct by Mr Geddes, This led to the prisoner's discharge, and he vowed revenge against Mr Geddes, which he made an attempt to put into practice three weeks ago. He suddenly attacked him, while he was engaged on a floor of the wharf, over an immense vat, which then contained 1,500 gallons of wine, and endeavored to force him into it, and drown him in the win?. He nearly succeeded in his murderous attempt, but Mr Geddes tell over the entrance of the vat, breaking three of his ribs, and receiving other severe injuries. He then entered into a violent struggle for bis life with the prisoner, who again attempted to force him into the vat. A tierce conflict ensued between them, and the prisoner, who is a powerful young man, seriously ill-used Geddes, whose frantic cries for assistance brought people to his aid, and he was saved, barely with life. He has since been under medical treatment at his own home, and is in a very critical state, Mr Young stated liiat he must ask for another remand. The prosecutor was unable to leave his bed, and he was afraid his recovery was doubtful, Jt was a very sad cape indeed. Mr Lushington remanded the prisoner. The European Mail, April 21, says : —Til the centre of the great conservatory of the Royal Horticultural Society there stands what is probably the most magnificent floral object that has ever been beheld in Europe. This consists of a plant, or we should rather call it a tree, for it is upward* of 20 feet high, of the rhododendron arboreum, which is now covered with innumerable trusses, of deep blood-red flowers, realising all that the late Dr Wallich ever wrote of the glorious effect produced on the northern slopes of the Himalaya, where vast tracts are entirety coveied with them. The specimen in the conservatory is now in its highest beauty. A hapless New York infant is loaded clown with the names of " WashingtonUnser- Fritz-Wilhelm-Carl-Bismarck-Molrke - ManteufFel - Grant - Sherman - Sheridan Tomhins."

By the arrival of the last mail steamer we (Euiopean Mail, April 21) learn that the finds of diamonds at the Cape of Good Hope were as numerous and valuable as ever. Some persons, however,, just out from England, had returned after having stayed only a day or two. The Governor had arrived at the diamond fields. The President of the Free State had proclaimed the Pniel side of the Vaal a district of that State, and had appointed a landrost or magistrate. Mr Campbell, the British magistrate, had been cautioned by the Free State Government not to meddle with the subjects or territory of that country. A diamond of 101 carat«, valued at £I OO,OOO, had been found, The Villa Mills at Rome has, it is said, been sold bv the ex-Emperor of the French for the""sum of £24,000, A fearful Hood occurred at Victoria West, Cape of Good Hope, on 27th February caused by a waterspout. The rush of water commenced at 9 p.m., and lasted till 3 the next morning, More than thirty houses were washed away; others were falling. Great losses in merchandise and every other moveable property. Fifty four corpses of drowned persons had been buried, and. forty five more persons, mostly blacks, were still missing. The German Parliament has passed and the Imperial sanction has been given to, the Bill uniting Alsace and and Lorraine with Germany. The German Imperial constitution will come into force on January 1, 1874. Until that time the administration of the provinces shall be carried on by the Emperor, with the co-operation of the Federal Council. The provinces will have no parliament of their own; the legislation, which in other States is reserved to local governments, is entrusted exclusively to the Federal Council.

The Eoyal Society has decided to apply the "sum of £1,500 recently bequeathed by Benjamin Oliveira to the purchase of a large astronomical telescope. That which lias been decided 4 on has a 15-inch object glass, and it will be given to Dr Hnggins, who proposes to pursue systematically and vigorously his spectroscopic researches .upon the stars and nebulse.