LATE ENGLISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1105, 15 April 1880, Page 2

LATE ENGLISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

[Per s.a. City of New York.] San Francisco, March 30. For the greater part of February London Was enveloped iu one of the thickest fogs ever known. Locomotion was almost impossible. Prince T.-ck was benighted in the neighborhood of St. James’s square, and spent the night in a four-wheel cab. Vanity fair mentions a curious little difference about precedence arising out of the marriage of a Colonial lady to the youngest son of an earl while on the staff in the Colonies. The lady’s taking precedence of others who had been accustomed to go in before her, says Vanity Fair, caused such offence that her husband, the Earl of Donoghmore, resolved to resign his appointment. It is stated that after the last attempt on the life pfe the Czar his terror became quite childish, and he went out of his mind for several hours, no one but the Duchess of Edinburgh having any control over him. The frequent attempts on his life,. which baffle all vigilance, have driven '.the unhappy monarch to drink. Vanity Pair says the Duchess of Edinburgh was sitting within 30ft ot the . flooring blown up at the time of the explosion. She displayed astonishing presence of mind ; in fact, but for her a perfect stampede from the palace would have occurred

Some of the finest vessels of the Pacific Steam Navigation Company have been added to the Orient Line, and will run to Australia during the next six months. The best known of them are the Cotopaxi, Potasi, and Liguria.- When floated six years ago, the Liguria was considered to be the most. superbly-fitted merchant steamship afloat.

The weather at sea both north and south of the Line, was reported to be very severe. Consequently, when tho mail left, • some, uneasiness was experienced for the .safe arrival of tho ship Mataura, which left Otago on December 29, with-£197,000 worth of gold aboard. The vessel, however, was not due at the time when the mail closed.

One of the first questions discussed after the Parliamentary recess will, it is said, be the allowance to the Prince of Wales for his Australian trip. He sails in November next in a troop ship—probably the Serapis, which will be specially fitted, and goes via Suez. The following places will be visited :—. Adelaide, Melbourne, Ballarat, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, the Hof Lakes of New Zealand, Wellington Chriatchurch, and Dunedin.

The Auckland Star’s London correspondent, writing under date London, February 25, says A question had been raised whether the Chimborazo accident was unavoidable.” The Pall Mall Gazette plainly hints that the

cause was overloading, 'and suggests the inspection of out-going steamers. The Australian cricketers coining to England this summer are likely to meet with an Unpleasnatly warm reception. The English Press is up in arms already against them. Some bitter things are said against them, and a recent issue of Life has a acrathing article headed “ Commercial Cricketers,” in which the public are warned against the ill-bred curs” who led to Ldrd Harris being mobbed j and the public are urged to look On the Eleven merely “as money grubbing strollers.” Figaro has published many paragraphs of irnich the same character.

The Star’s correspondent had an interview with the Right Hon. W. ECrladstone, and had a long conversation with him on New Zealand. Mr Gladstone asked a great many questions about the Colony, and prophesied a great future for it. “ The only fear is,” he said, “that the country will overload itselt’ with debt,” The Star’s correspondent replied that he believed the pledges given at the inauguration of that last new loan would be kept, and that there would be no more borrowing for some years. A long conversation then took place on newspapers, the Star’s correspondent remarking that in England large towns like Cheltenham were without a daily paper’, while in New Zealand every little borough seemed to have at least two, if not more, and that the tone of the Colonial Press appeared to be sounder than that of England. Mr Gladstone replied that that might easily be the case, as most of the journals in England appeared to him to be more or less serials. A letter in the Times speaks in high terms of the telegraphic money order system in New Zealand. At the opening of Parliament, the. reception given to the Queen was in marked contrast to that given to the Prince and Princess of Wales. While the latter were lustily cheered, the Queen was hissed. The event of the day was the cut direct given publicly by the Queen to the heir apparent and his wife. On all previous occasions it has been the 'custom for the Queen to address a few congratulatory words to the Prince of Wales and his Princess. Thistimethe stiffest possible hows alone were exchanged. The reason has not transpired, but it is said to be a question of etiquette at the bottom of it. As the Queen grows older she becomes more strict about slich matters.

Dr Rnisell, of Times fame, demands an inquiry into his allegations against the British troops engaged in the Zulu war, whom he has charged with being completely demoralised—mere brutes, who were perpetually plundering, and were scared in the presence of the enemy ; were constantly drunk and disorderly , and were wholly undisciplined. The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge express their determination to have his charges sifted to the bottom.

“Blower” Brown beat all previous records at the late pedestrian match in London, making 553 miles in six days. Elliott, oarsman, will start for the United States in April, to participate in several boating contests.

For remainder of news see last page,