SAN FRANCISCO MAIL NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 2666, 7 April 1885, Page 2

SAN FRANCISCO MAIL NEWS.

Among the latest items of war news is the vote of March 6, by the Commons, of £350,000 for extra naval expenditure in Egypt, and for the construction of ironclads. The supplementary estimates provide for an increase of 30,000 men for military service, and show the expenses of the Soudan campaign to the end of March 3rd to be £3,330,000. The London Times states that war rates are paid on British vessela en route to San Francisco and other distant ports, and on those en route from ihe Black Sea and Baltic ports have been raised. The Gordon memorial, it is decided, will take the form of a great hospital and sanitorium to be erected at Port Said, and open to people of all nations. For the first time since the Crimean W^ar an inspection of naval and military pensioners at Portsmouth dockyard has been ordered. A tremendous fight occurred between soldiers and civilians at Waterford on March 7th. A detachment of Royal Irish, numbering 100, were waiting to embark for Portsmouth en route for India, and were allowed by their officers to break ranks and enjoy themselves. They did so by getting drunk and insulting all residents and kissing all the women they met on the streets. All business was suspended, and the police aided by the citizens attacked the soldiers, who beat off the charge with their fists and the buckles of their belts, which they used like sling-shots. Many were seriously wounded, A gang of rowdies took part with the soldiers against the police, and the latter were stoned, kicked and clubbed until they were forced to take refuge in the Cus-tom-house. The breach of promise suit, Lady Claude Scott against Captain Spiller, of the Life Guards, was settled for £33,000. A despatch from London of March 8, says the North Pacific and Australian fleets will be reinforced as a result of a conference of agents for the colonies at the War Office. Government will rely upon receiving contingents from Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The Prince of Wales visited the London Stock Exchange on March 2, and was received with great enthusiasm. The members sang “God Save the Queen,” and “ God Bless the Prince of Wales.”