HOME AND FOREIGN ITEMS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 31, 4 January 1884, Page 2

HOME AND FOREIGN ITEMS.

(Home News, Nov. 8). Sir William Taylour Thomson, K.C.M.G., who died last week at Caerlee by Innerleithen, has left £30,000 to the St. Andrew’s University to be found bursaries for students of both sexes in equal numbers, and in the case of females to assist as far as practicable in qualifying them to enter the medical profession. The Midland Railway Company have purchased all the Pullman cars running on their line between the Metropolis and Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool, and Manchester, it is probable they will be used as first-class carriages without extra charge. The Princess Louise has presented the painting now on exhibition at Boston, which she regards as one of her best efforts, to the Canadian National Art Gallery, asa momento of her residence in Canada, and as a tribute of regard for its people. Mr. IL C. Woodville has, by command of Her Majesty, engaged to execute a large picture representing the battle of Tel-el-Kebir as seen from the position in the rear where the Duke of Connaught was with his brigade of the Guards. Mr. Woodville expects to have the picture ready for next year’s Academy. Earl Granvile has recently invented, for his own private use, a somewhat novel vehicle, after the style of a phajton, and similar in lightness to the American buggy. The whole framework is particularly light. The wheels are high and bound with indiarubber tyres,

the seat being elevated from the centre, and sufficient to accommodate two persons. The late Earl of Mountcashell, who died last week at the advanced ago of ninety, was married to a Miss Anna Maria Wyss, of Berne, the federal capital of Switzerland. Hereby hangs a romantic tale, Lord Kilworth (his courtesy title) was making the grand tour, when he fell ill at an hotel, and was nursed through his illness by the daughter of his host. He swore he would marry her. and kept his promise, notwithstanding the opposition of his family, Tne house, No, 2, Brick-court, Temple, is still spared, and it is this house which is generally associated with the memory of Goldsmith, because he died there. But poor “ Goldie ” lived for a much longer period and wrote his most famous works at No. 8, Garden-court, which is only a hundred yards distant, This house and the next to It are about to be pulled down. They have been shored up for some time past. A handsome gold bracelet has recently been presented to Lady Napier of Magdala by the ladies of Gibraltar, as a token of their “ regard and affection,” and in recognition of the hoepital reception universally accorded by Lord and Lady Napier of Magdala to all who entered the doors of “the Convent." The bracelet consists of a massive gold band, with Lady Napier’s monogram and coronet in brilliants and pearls. Mr, F, W. Chesson, secretary to the Abortgines’ Protection Society, has forwarded to the Earl of Derby a long letter from the four Maori members of the House of Representatives in New Zealand. Mr. Chesson points out that the Maori members “ express the dissatisfaction with which their countrymen regard the Native Lands Courts, and ask that the powers now exercised by those courts should be transferred to an elective body of natives.”

There is no foundation for the unfavorable rumors respecting the health of the Bishop of Salisbury which have been current for the last fortnight. Dr. Morberly is in excellent health, considering his advanced age, and is this week away from home on a confirmation tour in Dorsetshire. The latest bulletin with regard to the condition of the Bishop of Peterborough was as follows: —“ Dr. Mageeremainsmore free from pain, but there are indications that matter is forming in the situation of the former abscess, although the urgent symptoms are alleviated by remedies.” A French inventor, who has patented & machine for the use of concentrated solar rays as a motive power, has set up three of his machines in Algeria for the French Government. He is now carrying on experiments at the island of Porquerolles, near Hyfires, in France, where he is thrashing Indian com and raising water by the action of the sun’s rays. The Mexicans think they have got the man to meet and conquer Hanlan. He has done two miles in fourteen minutes fifty-two seconds, He is a very tall lad, remarkably strong, and can hit like the Hungarian giant, who drives the “ try your strength” instrument’s hand all round the circle till it wants to go farther. The young Mexican has never been in a race. Query, will he be in one when he rows against Hanlan ? The Emperor of Russia has ordered a winter cloak, the description of which sounds like one of 44 Ouida ” imaginings. It is said to be of sable fur, trimmed with gold, and enriched with precious stones. The whole will cost £B6OO.

The Sultan recently gave audience to the Grand Rabbi, whom he received with great cordiality, and assured of his interest in the Israelite community. His Majesty conferred upon him the Osmanleh Order ef the First Olass. The Sultan having requested Lady Dufferin to form a committee of ladies for the relief of the sufferers by the earthquake at Antolia, her ladyship has invited Countess Rascon and Baroness Calice to organise a concert, the proceeds of which will be applied for the benefit of the destitute inhabitants. The wives of the other members of the Diplomatic Body have now joined the committee. The concert will be given on Nov. 15, and will be followed by a bazaar on Dec. 15.

On the evening of Oct. 25, a number of surviving officers who had taken part in the memorial charge at Balaclava celebrated the anniversary by dining together at Willis’s Rooms, King Street, St. James’s. Gen. the Earl of Lucan, G.C.8., presided, supported by Gens. Sir E. O. Hodge, K. 0.8., Clarke, C. 8., Sir T. M'Mahon, Bart., C. 8., Goodman, Lieut-Gen. Sir C. P. Beauchamp Walker, K.C.8., Lieut,-Gen. Shuter, C. 8., Lord Tredegar, Lord Bmgham, and a large number of military men of high rank.

The Sportsman has published the complete batting and bowling averages of the last cricket season. Mr. W. W. Read, ot Surrey, has the best average of the bastmen, while another Surrey man (Barratt) has taken more wickets than any other bowler. The foremost cricketer of the year was, however, Mr. C. T. Studd, who in batting was only excelled by Mr. Read, who took 112 wickets at a cots of seventeen rune each. Dr. W. G, Grace kept well up in the front rank, in spite of increasing years and bulk, and Ulyett, Lord Harris, and Mr. A. P. Lucas all did well. Hall had the best batting average of any professional; Watson the best bowling analysis. The ex-Khedive of Egypt—lsmail Pasha—is making a series of visits to the “ stately homes of England ” before he settles down in the mansion preparing for him in Belgravia. He has been on a visit to Earl Delaware, to whom his Highness paid many civilities when the English peer was yachting in Levantine waters some years ago. His Highness also accepted the invitation of the Duke of {Sutherland to come to Dunrobin Castle, and be a witness of the almost feudal splendour of that charming Highland residence.

As some statements have appeared in the newspapers that the Primate was seriously indisposed, we are informed that there is no reason for any apprehension in regard to his Grace’s condition. The Archbishop has been suffering for the past three weeks from the effects of a small abscess, which left a sinus in a painful position. On October 20 the sinus was incised, his Grace at the time being under the iniluence of nitrous oxido gas. In the afternoon the Primate was fairly comfortable, and he only requires complete rest and a recumbent position for a few days to completely recover. The operation was performed by Dr. Alfred Carpenter, his Grace’s physician. The latest bulletin concerning his Grace states that he is going on quite satisfactorily. There is no pain, and no cause for the slightest apprehension. A stained-glass window has just been placed in the south aisle of Winchester Cathedral by the officers and men of the 60th Rifies, in memory of their comrades who lost theirJives in the Zulu, Afghan, Transvaal, and Egyptian campaigns. On the departure of the Ist Royal Dragoons from Dublin to Newbridge, his Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland presented the sergeants of the regiment with a large steel engraving, beautifully mounted and framed, containing portraits of himself and Lady Spencer in hunting costume “ going to covert,” in recognition of the servioes rendered by them while escorting his Excellency almost daily during his Viceroyalty. His Excellency made a similar present to the rank-and-file.