ENGLISH ITEMS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 270, 14 November 1877, Page 2

ENGLISH ITEMS.

(per Cuzco at Melbourne.)

Ti veljer, the Astronomer of the National Observatory .at Paris, is dead. . Four large London firms have been invited to fender for the supply of corrugated iron for huts to contain 100,00©' Russian soldiers. The huts are to be four sizes for 25, $0, 100, and 500, men. They are to b_ delivered 4 Antwerp, and sent direct to Bucharest across the Continent by rail, and are for erection in the neighborhood of Bucharest. Orders have also been issued for eight .railway stations for a strategical railway. These are to be completed in' every way, and provided with heating apparatus. The delivery of the iron at Antwerp to commence in tea days, and the whole to be completed a fortnight afterwards.

The interest excited in the Stauntou and Alice Rhodes trial for Jthe Penge murder was intense, the approaches to Old Bailey being beset, aad the Court itself so closely

packed as to render the atmosphere absolutely poisonous. The Bench itself was packed with gorgeously dressed ladies.

The railway bridge spanning the Estuary of the Tay, two miles wide, was opened on September 25. This is the longest railway bridge in the world. In reference to the loss bf v tl_e Avalanche,^ the Coroner said the duty of the jury in giving a verdict would be extremely simple. It was clear that the two vessels were brought into collision by the way they were steered. The jury might form their own opinion as to who committed the error in judgment, but they could not make it a criminal case. Nor was there any liability attaching to the coastguard; but whether the explanation which the chief , officers had given was satisfactory or not, must be a matter for consideration. Anyone would have thought they would have availed themselves of the opportunity afforded them to give some reason why they were absent for more than an hour on the morning in question, and did not see the boats which., were discovered bf private individuals; ' Captain Lockhart had been put to the closet ordeal as to whether he was right or the Captain of the Avalanche, and he (the Coroner) ••pas glad to say there was nothing in evidence to show that there had been any personal misconduct or negligence. The jury, after finding thai the deceased were found drownedi on Chisel beach,. added a rider stating that they were much pained to '- see the w^y in which the deceased had been interred, and that had jthe least inimation* been giy enj- they would have followed the ' remains to the grave "A Correspondent states tfiafca. Ad-ianople, every day, except Fridays and Saturdays, Bulgarians are hanged by the dozen, in the public streets and on thje shop doors: In the neighboring, y^lages the same thing takes place. The;peopie thus executed are mostly peasants, with some priests and schoolmasters. 'The correspondent vouches for the fact that torture is frequently applied to i procure confessions. „-•-'-'•■■

A meeting of the clergy and laity, j 'of: Bristol and Clifton has been held^-Bishop Anderson presiding ~~ when a resolution in opposition to the practice of auricular confession was adopted, and is to be circulated for signature throughout the city. The memorial prays Her : Majesty to be gracioiisly pieased to take such means. as, may be effectual to put down the practice of auricular confession within the sphere of the Church of England.

The Rev Fredk. Willett, Vicar of All Saints, West Bromwich, appeared at Birmingham Police Court to answer an affiliation summons taken out against him by Maria White, 16 ydars old. Defendant was said to be a member of the Society of the Holy Cross, and. it was alleged that he had corrupted and seduced complainant through the confessional A Commission of Enquiry, presided over by the Bishop of ;iac_field, has been held, and has declared the allegations of complainant to be unfounded. The present proceedings are understood to be to some extent promoted by the parishioners of defendant. The cases was partly heard at the Police Court, and adjourned. A telegram from Constantinople, dated September 21st, says that there has been much talk for some days of the probability of mediation between Russia and Turkey. Although the rumor was without foundation, the Porte has been disturbed by it because it dreads a demand being made for au armistice, which it is firmly resolved to reject, but which might cause diplomatic difficulties. It is for this reason that tho Ottoman Ministers take every opportunity of indirectly giving the ambassadors to understand how little chance of success a demand of the sort would have.