NEWS BY THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

Kumara Times, Issue 721, 21 January 1879, Page 2

NEWS BY THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

[NEW ZEALAND PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

EUROPEAN NEWS. London, December 22

The Daily News says ; Nolhwithstaii Holt lira' the Bank of England has raised the rates ol interest virtu -11 y to seven per cent,, which, is the. largest figure for advances, and that tin's gives her the gold she needs, she stdl cannot keep up hei reset ye to the ■figur.a which financial men c-nisider saf’. \s'fist as gold ns received nid note.- issued lh- re n. according to ti e tei ms of the Chaster, the latter «rv d<uw:i out by ih. County

and London joint stock hanks and bill brokers, in order to sati-fy the demands of customers, and to strengthen themselves. The result is that a general distrust of all forms of credit other than legal tender notes of the bank itself has been created. This is causing a universal demand for the circulating notes of the Bank, and should any further hank failures take place will necessarily be itensified. Sir T. M'Glure, Liberal, Was elected to the House of Commons for County Londonderry, defeating Mr Alexander, Conservative, by a majority of dll. Makean, Tibet *urg and Co., merchants, of Bradford, have called a meet*ing of their creditors. Their liabilities are .£86,000.

The employers in the iron trade in the North of England claim before the arbitrators 5 p>»r cent reduction, in consequence of the depression of business. The men claim that the price of labour is lower than it has been for the last 20 years.

The newspapers continue to publish accounts of die distress throughout the country—-which the authorities and private citizens are endeavouring to relieve, Constantinople, December 20. The British steamer Rinaldo, which was in collision with the Byti intine, h is arrived. The captain reports the saving of 90 persons from the ByK mtine. Paris, December 20. The Grassinch Co. have received a telegram announcing that nearly all the Byzantine’s jmssengers were saved. Russia. London, December 20. Trouble continues between the (4overnn eut and the students at St. Petersburg. On the llth December several hundred students assembled before the Czarewitch’s palace to present a petition to the Czarewitch, Bei"g at Srovaso-ie, Silo (Prefect of the Police) hastened to the palace, »eceived the petition, and ordered the crowd to disperse, saying that ir. was illegal to present a petition in ■ such-a manner. On the 14th, the Agence Rn-'se announc’d that in cons*'queue* of an illegal demonstration i<y students of schools, tiie medical authorities had adopted Certain measures for securing public order.

A St. Petersliing despatch sajs: On December 16th a meeting was held to protest again-t the violence of Soldiery, in regard to the occurrences against which the students had protested. The Prefect of Police hail promised to firing an answer to the petition calling attention to the oppression of the students, and requesting the liberation of their colleagues arrested at Charkoff Instead of any reply being given, the St. Petersburg colleges were surrounded by 2000 gendai mes and Cossacks, and 200 arrests were made. The Cossacks used whips, arid several students were injured. Tin drawbridge over the Neva was removed, to pi event thousands of students crossing to the south side. The lecture hall has been closed. Fresh disturbances are expected. Meetings within universities will be held, as outside, ones are forbidden. The Police have hern ordered to act with severity, and, if necessary, to issue a proclamation, conspicuously posted, forbidding the carrying of arms in the St. Petersburg district, except by authorisation. December 22. A Berlin correspondent says he is informed on trustworthy authority that Russia has been making inquiries concerning a loan in Berlin. A Vienna despatch says that Russian Government apprehend a Nihilist demonstration on December 31. A number of arre-ts were made last week. It is rumoured that a temporary closing of the Russian Universities is seriously contemplated. These international troubles are consideied to be the cause of Russia’s concilliatory foreign policy.

AMERICA. Halifax, December 22. A heavy south-east gale tliis morning caused great damage to the shipping in harbour. Montreal, December 22. The heaviest snow storm for years occnried last night. Near the railway three feet of snow covers the ground. All trains due are several hours late. Quebec, December 22. About three fe-t oi snow fell last night. Some streets were almost im-pass-i ble, FO RKIG N M ISC ELEA N Y. Pi ir.oes (jortschakotl' and Orloll have tendered the r resignation. Count Chambord thinks (hat if God '-trains wisdom to France she will pro- | cbdni him ICing and restore the anc ent i glory to the realm. j The Tuikomans are fighting the Russian Cer end Lomakiue, who is slowly ! ashing to Ilemborli. In Decembei j he Was reported to bo within tell

marches of Herat. It lias since bewl learner! that he calls for reinforcements. War between ' jhina and Russia is probable Sir T. F. \Va<lo, British Ambassador in China. left London f»r Perkin on November 2fi, with instnic* tions to consult the Viceroy of Italia en route regarding the attitude he sKonld assume towards the relations of Russia, (.hina, and the Kashgir qnes* tion. The Russules manifest a disposL tion to conquer Kashgar, while the Chinese General having defeated the Mohammedan dynasty, and broktsm tbp‘ Kashgtlrian army declares that he wi|l permanently occupy that conntrv. Fo-eien merchants have been expelled. The Kashgar question has an important hearing on the Central Asian difficulty, and may involve tndia with Russia at another point bpisides Afghanistan. The Bnlg u'ian \ .-sem b| v, composed of the bishops, functionaries, and no* tables, was Convened on Dec. 27, to prepare to organise laws, The Province ■Wi'l elect a prince in April. Tho balance of the 4 pm 1 Cent Canadian loan of .£3,000,000 has been all >ted in London at a minimum price of 96J. Mr .1. B. Ruckstone, tbfe actor ami dramatist, ia in gre.t nistress in his old age. The Whl'Clilll Review has opened a subscription in r -lief.

Fifteen thousand Cottdn operatives are on strike in Olrlliam.

The G‘-eafc Trenton Company close r.heir mines till binding improves. During a fdg on the iVtursey on Nov, 26, a fei‘ry boat tan into a vessel at anchor, A panic ensiled, and several leaped Overhoai'd and were drowned.

Che Kaffir war is excitin'* interest. Vigorous measures have to he taken for the suppression of the rebellion in the Transvaal. The mail steamers of the Cane line h ive been hired to transport reinforcements, which sail early in December.

O’Connor, the Fenian prisoner on of living outside the Queen’s dominions, and sailed for America. Distress prevails in South Staffordshire. Works are closing and wa-es beinir ml need t

The Kentish hopgmwers declare that the generd depression has linen caused by til fr e trade fra ffi.; ad in itt in '/foreign pr-niucts in competition with British, and tvc'C'inimend the imposition of hi»h d nth'S;

Tile Canadian ladies are displeased at (he order of vice-regal rec-ptions by the Pri iC-as Louise. It L requested that they present themselves in’, low* bodied dresses, or come armed with si doctor’s certificate. The lad : es declare that the climate is too rigorous to bare the shoulders, and 'moreover that they had been unaccustomed to such a cos* tome, and that they will absent them* selves from the Vice regal <lourc if the order is p rsi-ted in, WRECK OF THE POMERANIA. LOSS OF FORTY-EIGHT LIVES. The Wreck of the Pomerania, steamship, belonging to the Hamburg Line, bv C'dll ion off Folkestone on the night of Deo. 25, caused great excitement. From various details gleaned, it appears that the Pomerania, Captain Schwensten, left New York for Hamburg oil Nov. H, and arrived at Plymouth at midnight on Nov. 21. She landed all her English passengers, and sailed on her voyage up the Channel at midnight on Nov. 34. There was a dense fog as D ungen ess. About three .miles off shore the Pomerania collided with the Welsh barque Norleileen, of Oarvarvon, from Rotherham to .Cardiff, The steamer sunk in twenty minutes after the collision. The barque anchored off Folkestone with her bow stove in ami Iter forward compartments full of water. The Pomerania was struck on the starboard side amidships. Distress signal were given and responded'to by the steamer Glengarry, which was going down the Channel towards the scene of the disaster, and arrived in time to rescue 172 passengets. There were nine boats on the Pomerania, four of which were crushed by the collision. The obiter five were cut off, but one was over-crowded with passehyers and sank. All the boats pulled away from the doomed ship, having the captain, who refused to quit the ship until the last moment. The last boat 'to leave was under the charge of the ehief officer, who did all in his power to persuade the captain to leave. After pulling tor half an hour the survivors were picked up by the Glengarry. One gentleman was taken trom the water in an unconscious state, and restored. The Glengarry stayed near i hi* scene till day break, when tile Pomerania was seen with her ma,-.t al ove water. garry then proceeded to Dover with those saved, and landed them at 9 o’clock. 3 hey were taken to- the Sailors’ Home, and tn a ted with every kindness. The greatest possible order under the circumstances was maintained by the officers and crew.