LATEST MAIL ITEMS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 14, 29 April 1871, Page 4

LATEST MAIL ITEMS.

The body of another murdered child has been found among “lost luggage” al Paddington. This time the child was a girl, and the box in which it was found, after being sent all over the line in the hope of finding an owner, was labelled, “ T. L. Eley, passenger.” Mr Hepworth Dixon has given notice of the following motion to come before the London School Board : —“ That means shall be provided for physical training, exercise, and drill in every public elementary school established under the authority of this board.” The grand Mount St Bernard dog, Tell, noted as the leading representative of the rough-haired breed, and the winner of all the principle prizes at the English shows in the past six or seven years, is dead. He is the chief figure in the a recent Alpine picture by Mr Earl, the short-haired dog Monarque being his companion. Tell was the property of the Rev John Cumming Macdona, to whose excellent kennel the monks of St Bernard look for his .replenishment of their stock in case of any such disaster as that of the avalanche. by which, some years ago, many dogs were destroyed. An explosion took place on February 7 in the large cartridge manufactory at Dunkerque, utterly destroying the buildings. From 200 to. 250 hands were employed, mostlyyoung girls and women, who here in the building at the time, and the result was a fearful loss of life, but the exact number killed has not beenjascertained. We understand that his lordship, Lord Redesdale, when recently walking over his estate, near Moreton-le-Marsh, was severally bitten by a dog in the calf of the leg, and, unmindful of the distance, returned on foot to his residence at Batsford Park. Serious symtoms ensued, but according to the last reports Lord Redesdale is recovering from his serious illness, and all probability will shortly be able to attend to his Parliamentary duties. A notorious poacher, named Boxall, residing in the neighborhood of Midhurst, met a shocking death on February 12. It appears that on the previous Friday evening, already equipped for a night’s adventure, he spent the evening at a public-house, kept by one Venus, at Henley Hill. About ten o’clock, on leaving, lie struck his pocket, which contained his gun, already loaded and cocked, against the .door post. The whole contents were at once discharged into his hand. The unfortunate man lingered in the greatest agor.v about thirty-six hours, when he expired. On February 4, one of the most destructive fires known in the annals of Manchester occurred at the extensive cotton mill in the occupation of Messrs Shaw, Jardine & Co, Elizabeth street, Oldham road. Although the whole of the fire brigades of Manchester and Salford were on the scene of the fire very shortly after it was discovered, they were unable to master the flames, which spread with awful rapidity. After the fire had burnt ten hdurs the mill was completely destroyed. A large quantity of valuable machinery and an immense stock of material were in the mill when the fire occurred, The damage is

estimated at £50,000, and is only partially covered by insurance. Upwards of 500 hands will be thrown out of work. The cause of the fire is unknown.

It has been notified that under a commission from the Argentine Government, Messrs. Waring Brothers are sending out a staff of engineers to survey a railway route of about 1,200 miles from Buenos Ayres across the Andes, to join the Chilian Railway system from Santiago to Valparaiso, thus connecting in the southern hemisphere the Atlantic and the Pacific. We are informed, with reference to recent statements which have appeared regarding onr future route to India, that the Hon. Frederick Walpole, M.P., for North Norfolk, is now at Constantinople conducting negotiations with the Turkish Government in behalf of Mr. W. P. Andrew, the well-known advocate of the Euphrates route to India, and those who are associated with him, with the view of obtaining a concession for a railway from a port in the Mediterranean Sea to Bussorah, at the head of the Persian Gulf, with the object of ultimately extending the line to Constantinople. By recent advices it would appear that Mr. Walpole was sanguine of success.

The wool sales, which were down to commence on February 2, were postponed till February 3, owing to a dense fog which prevailed. The arrivals in time for these sales amounted to 76,811 bales. There was a large attendance of the home trade, and, if we exempt France, the Continent was well represented. There was a good deal of anxiety apparent as to the effect the attendance would have upon the opening rates, and this anxiety increased when the presiding broker took his place in the rostrum. As, however, lot after lot was disposed of with a dispatch almost equal to the velocity of a 24pounder, it. was seen that November rates, at least, would be maintained; and before the sale closed it was generally agreed that an advance of from to Id on combing fleece and scoured had been established. Clothing fleeces from all parts showed about the same average result as in November. Combing flocks from Victoria and New Zealand have been in demand by Bradford consumers. Fine Sydney and Queensland flocks, owing to a slack demand for fine goods, and the supply being in excess of present wants, are said to have receded in value Id per lb. Good New England flocks sell at from Is 3d to Is per lb. Adelaides show better condition and growth than last year, and realise better prices. From what we can learn, grease wool may be quoted at about November rates, save for exceptional parcels, which some say rule £d higher. The auctions, as at present arranged, are to last till Feb. 27. The next sales are expected to commence on the 12th or 13th of April with about 150,000 bales.

The revictualling of Paris has' given a decided impetus to the Australian meat trade. Some parcels of tinnedbeefs were sold immediately after the armistice at B£d per lb. Since then, however, the price has receded, but remain sufficiently high to leave a profit. Mr Tallerman is now in Paris ministering to the wants of the embryo Republic pretty much in the same energetic fashion that characterised his proceedings with the Emperor a few months ago. The newly-arrived agent for the Victoria Meat Preserving Company, has parted with the whole of the shipments to hand, and has sold others to arrive. The small cases in which the meat is now packed, and the evident care bestowed, not only on the preserving of the meat, but on the rendering of the fat also, has had the very best effect upon the money value of “ meats packed in tallow.” Should the process of preserving in vacuo, patented by Mr Irons here, and now in process of working by Mr E. W. Perry, of Melbourne, prove as successful in the colony as here, Australian tinned meat will take its place among the most approved viands of the world. On February 8, Sir Morgan Crofton, of Box, Wilts, was sentenced by the Bath magistrates to seven days’ imprisonment, without the option of paying a fine, for being drunk and disorderly. It is reported that the Board of Works has entered into an agreement for the purchase of the area of Leicester Square for ft sum of £SO,QQQ,

A blacksmith, named Kirkland, has died at Bulwell, near Nottingham, through excessive drinking. He was in in the habit of drinking ale at the rate of a quart per minute for the amusement of those who would pay for it. Craycombe House, a portion of the property which adjoins the hunting seat of the Due d’Aumale in Worcestershire, and which was a short time ago added to that estate at great cost, that it might become a shooting box for the Comte de Paris, is announced to be let.

The Danube has overflowed its hanks owing to an accumulation of ice in the river, and all the streets adjoining it are under water. Upwards of three thousand persons in Vienna arewithouta roof over their heads, and still a greater number have been thrown out of work in consequence of this calamity. Great apprehensions are expressed for the safety of the railway bridges over the river.

Mr Macfie, M.P., has given notice that on March 3 he will call attention to the relations existing between the United Kingdom and the colonies, and ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies if her Majesty’s Government intend to propose the appointment of a commission or select committee to consider whether any and, if any, what amelioration may be made in their relations, with a view to the permanent maintenance of the most cordial relations between all parts of the

empire. Australian preserved meat has been more in demand of late. The meat is nicely picked, and the tins certainly look very inviting. There has been a great demand of late for Paris, and a large quantity of the meat has been used in succouring the starving garrison. Mr Tallerman is now in France, and if he should succeed in inducing the authorities to use this article in the French navy he will have done a good thing for his constituents. The Royal Coal Commission met on Tuesday, the 7th, in their committeeroom, House of Lords. We learn that the great question of the duration of our coal receives a satisfactory solution. In a few weeks the report of this Commission will be presented to Parliament.