MAIL ITEMS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 111, 10 May 1880, Page 2

MAIL ITEMS.

Captain Matthew Webb has accomplished the task of keeping afloat in water for 60 hours, an achievement never before rivalled, or even approached, by any other swimmer The swim took place in the whale tank of the Royal Aquarium, around which he continued gently to paddle almost without any prolonged rest, all refreshment being handed to him while afloat. The conditions of Webb's undertaking permitted him to avail himself of the opportunity of emerging from the water for the space of half an-hour in every twenty-four. But with the exception of an absence of twenty minutes, which he indulged in after completing his fortieth hour, he never once quitted his aquatic habitat. The tank in which he had passed his sixty monotonous hours' swim was exactly 40 feet long by 20 broad. The artificial sea water was six feet in depth, and was kept at a temperature from 75degs to 80degs ail the time. The principle refreshments he partook of during his stay in the water consisted of minced steak mixed with eggs ; beef tea, coffee, and strong green tea. When the sixtieth hour arrived Webb turned two somersaults in the water, and then easily ascended the ladder placed for him by his attendants at the landing stage. He did not require assistance on landing once more on terra firma, but walked straight to bis dress-ing-room. He was perfectly fresh and well, and appeared capable of remaining in the water a considerable time longer had it been required. The competition for cups in cricket seems to have brought the noble game to something of a climax. Hitherto it has been thought that to introduce prizes into the game would be to lower the pastime to the level of some others, and not a few well known, enthusiasts have set their faces against cup 3 altogether. On the other hand the Surrey County Club, (a very important body in the cricketing world) have taken up the competitive idea with spirit, and it now remains to be seen which party will first strike their colors. The Government have under consideration the expediency of annexing the small island of Rotumab, which lies a little to the north of Fiji, and which is considered valuable because, to use a nautical expression, it stands in the eyes of the trade wind— a departure thence bringing sailing vessels easily on the on the important group of the Solomon Islands. The first report of the New Zealand Agricultural Company states that after deducing from the profits of £54,851 the expenses, &c, including a dividend of 2s 6d per share already paid, there remains an available balance of £12,942. The directors recommend that this be disposed of by placing £3000 to a reserve fund ; by paying a dividend of 2s 6d per share on £7 10s paid up, ' which, including the dividend on the vendors' shares, will amount to £7348; carrying forward the balance of £2594. The ordinary meeting of the shareholders of the Telegraph Construction and Main tenance Company (Limited), was held on March 2, Sir Daniel Gooch, Bart., M.P., in the chair. The report stated that the ac • counts for the year showed a net profit of £98,988 5s 9d., after charging the interest on the debentures. To this sum was added £59,353 3s 6d., brought forward from last year, making a total of £158,341 9a 3d. From

this amount was deducted the interim dividend of 5 per cent paid July 23, 1879, amounting to £22,410, leaving £135,931 9s 3d to be dealt with. Of this sum the directors propose to distribute a dividend of 15 per cent., or £67,230, being at the rate of £1 16s per share, and making, with the amount already paid, a total dividend for the year of £2 8s per share. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, aaid that during the past year they had manufactured 6917 miles of cable. . The controversy between Dr Russell and Sir Garnet Wolseley anent the behaviour of the British troops in South Africa has now assumed such important dimensions that, nothing short of a full and complete inquiry into the truth or the falsity of the charges brought against the soldiers by the wellknown correspondent who wrote of the " thin red line h of Balaclava, and chronicled the suppression of the terrible Indian Mutiny, and whose name is now a household word throughout the whole of South Africa, will satisfy the British public. Sir Garnet's report, in answer to the charges, ia in military circles considered by no means complete. He admits that " poultry yards were cleared out, but not traced to soldiers." " Canleens were broken into, but not reported ; also one of the stores, not reported nor traced. The church clock was stolen, but not traced." In his rejoinder the Doctor retires not one jot from the position he has taken up, but repeats the charges already given, and looks upon Sir Garnet Wolseley's reply as " delusive and defective." The Daily Telegraph firmly believes that only a moiety of the re velations to be made has yet seen the light, and that this evil of indiscipline — which it was Dr. Kussell's duty to expose, and their 3 to publish — is a real and wide spread evil, incidental to the imperfect working out of a new system, and calling imperatively for remedy. Lord Lytton recently made a speech in the Legislative Council of India, in which he reviewed the financial policy of the Government. He showed that while there had been practically no increase in the expenditure, except for the relief of the famine-stricken districts, the average net revenue exceeded that of ten years ago by more than six and a half millions sterling. The Viceroy strongly opposed the proposal to throw any portion of the Afghan war charges upon England, and in this he was supported by every member of the Council. A part of the ill-fated train which went down with the Tay Bridge in December last, has, Jit seems, turned up at Norway. While some fishermen were engaged last month in hauling up the nets an extraordinary object met their eyes. The superstitious fears of sea monsters which have been written a good deal about lately held them back for some time, but their curiosity made them approach the supposed sea monster, and, to their great surprise, they found that it was something like a building. As the sea was calm they immediately commenced to tow it ashore, where it was hauled up on the beach, and was then found to be a damaged railway waggon. The wheels were off, the windows smashed, and one door hanging on its hinges. By the name on i*, '' Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway," it was at once surmised that it must have been one of the waggons separated from the train which met with t he disaster on the Tay Bridge. In the carriage was a portmanteau containing garments, some of them marked "P. 8." The waggon was sent on to HaDgesund, to be forwarded thence to Bergen. The gold-mining revival is very evidently making progress, as new companies continue to be floated for working gold mines in Southern India, and also in Africa. But the interest in mining is not confined to gold. There has been revival " along the whole line." There are signs of an important development of metalliferous mining in all departments—but especially in copper, load, and tin. Thanks to the great economy iv combustion which difficulties aud apprehensiveness regarding coal and coal miners have brought about, it is possible now to work effectively at much less cost tban formerly, and all over England are evident signs of the beneficent effects that have followed, j Iv Devonshire and Cornwall, in particular, there is activity such as has not been witnessed or heard of for many long years ; and great ironworks that bad grown grass-covered, and long lain silent and motionless, are now in the full swing of work There is evidently a very extensive liking for preserved meats as they are now presented to the public, and fresh novelties in the supply are almost continually being brought forward. Besides beef and mutton in almost endless variety, with tongues and soups m every imaginable form, to suit persons of all ranks and degrees, there are preserved rabbits, turkeys, and chicken, bo that the preatest perplexity besetting consumers now may be said to be, not an assortment to select from, but what is the best article to choose. Independently of the meat in tins, there have again been liberal arrivals of fresh meat during the past month, and all has gone into consumption without delay, placing it beyond a doubt that in this and many other similar cases the supply first creates the demand, and then the want that is thus clearly left leads to a redoubling of the efforts to meet it.