NEWS BY THE ENGLISH MAIL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2483, 5 March 1881, Page 2

NEWS BY THE ENGLISH MAIL.

DOOM OP THE TAM O’SHANTER Extravagance in feminine dress has risen to such a pitch that the Princess of Wales has determined to set the fashion of simplicity in order to put a stop to the outlay and bad taste, and amongst the first things to be abolished are long, uncurled forehead fringes,Tam O’Shanter caps and jerseys. The Princess, it will be remembered was the introducer of the Jersey bodice, but then she wore it in its proper place, on board the royal yacht, where its color (navy blue) and pliability of texture, rendered the garment particularly suitable, whereas now our fashionables introduce the style into every toilet, whether for promenading, dancing, or home wear, and in every colour, white, black, blue, or red, without regard to appriateness. No one will regret the tabooing of the Tam O'Shanter caps, which are certainly the most perfect arrangements worn for some considerable time for rendering pretty faces plain and plain ones more so. But few of the monstrosities have been seen in our streets, and the effect upon the wearer was. so far from pleasing that it is not to be wondered at that the numbers continue to remain small.

CAUGHT IN THEIR OWN TRAP

A correspondent, writing to the “Times” on the subject of the war in South Africa, says that the Boers have a special and not unreasonable dislike to Commandant Raaf because he is a Boer himself, and is regarded by them as a traitor to the cause of the the people of the Transvaal. He belongs to a family at present settled in the Orange Free State, and has made himself conspicuous by his support of the policy of annexation ; but I do not think it probable the Boers will shoot him in cold blood for all that. Major Clarke, R.A., his companion in misfortune and captivity, is a most gallant and able soldier, and has seen much service in India and South Africa, and by a curious stroke of fortune he, low a prisoner in the hands of the Dutch, was the officer who hauled' down the flag of the South African Republic at Fort Weeber, and received the surrender of place from the commandant of the Leydenburg Volunteers.

The insolvency of Mr Mills, iron merchant of Wellington, will be a great blow, to the kauri city, as he is a large employer ol labor. His embarrassments are attributed to the pressure of an English firm.

Mr Bichard Pheney, for many years editor and proprietor of the “ Taranaki News,” died at 2 o’clock yesterday morning, aged seventy years. He was one of the early settlers of the place, and in his younger days was an associate of Shelley, Keats, and Leigh Hunt.

A stack and a half of wheat, the property of Mr McCarter, farmer, Kingsdowu estate, were burnt last night under exceedingly suspicious circumstances. The police are investigating the matter. Mr Dobson, Waterworks Bnginee l *, recently picked up in the bed of the Pareora river, near Mount Horrible, a big fish or rather the remains of one, the birds having made sad Lavoc wit h it, which is conjectured so far as can be judged to be a salmon. The fish from its appearance is believed to be a full brother to th it recently dissected by Dr Chilton.

f 'News from New Caledonia reports tha* the schooner Energy arrived with eightyfive Native laborers from the Islands. The frigate Loire hns left for France with 1500 time expired soldiers and a large number of passengers, the total living freight being 1200 souls. The Government have reduced the payment for the destruction of locusts from 5d to 2d per pound. The Dives, transport, struck on an unknown reef, and goes to Sydney to be docked. The Wellington Correspondent of the “ Lyttelton Times ” telegraphs yesterday as follows :—The Asylum enquiry is proceeding slowly. The evidence for the defence so far, consists entirely of a point blank denial of the alleged acts of cruelty sworn to by the previous witnesses. Mr Gairdner Blackmore, formerly a civil servant, and a noted amateur pugilist, who gave evidence as to having witnessed, from a hill overlooking the Asylum grounds, a brutal assault upon a patient, has published a letter reflecting upon the manner in which Mr Edwards, the counsel for Mr Whiteluw, treated him.

A Gaelic Society for the preservation and perpetuation of the Highland tongue has been established in Dunedin. The following are its objects : —The name of the Society shall be the New Zealand Gaelic Society. The objects of the Society shall be to foster and perpetuate the Gaelic language, to encourage the cultivation of Gaelic literature and music, to establish branch societies throughout the Colony of Mew Zealand, and generally to take cogni ancc of all matters which may be considered of special interest to Highlanders,” Candidates for admission as members of the Society must be proposed and seconded by members of the Society at an ordinary or annual meeting, and on an affirmative resolution of a majority of the members present, and on payment of the yearly subscription, the candidate shall be admitted.”

We are glad to see that the press of this colony generally condemns the Boer war. To-day’s “ Press ” concludes an able article on the subject thus :—“ Now, after losing a great number of officers, and about the strength of one whole regiment of men, the Imperial Government are sending out a powerful army to conquer a country which they have no more right to than they have to France.” Public opinion says:—“When the Tories, led on by Beaconsfield, commenced their policy of subjugation in Afghanistan and in youth Africa, they were then tarnishing Britain’s honour; for any victories of conquests that have not justice on their side cannot redound to the honour of a nation. We believe in justice first and glory afterwards, and until it can be shown us that the annexation of the Transvaal is necessary to the peace and well-being of the Empire, we must join with the advanced Liberal Press of England and the colonies in condemning those who have been instrumental in embroiling us in a struggle which can bring us no honour, no matter how it may terminate.” Says the “ Lyttelton Times” :—Bees and big fish ought to engage the attention of the Acclimatisation Society before long. The big fish are of two kinds—big trout and big salmon. The former have been stigmatised by a trio of great authorities, marshalled by Dr. Chilton, of Timaru, as cannibals, which are no better than poachers. Now poachers are the especial aversion of the Acclimatisation Society which has hitherto confined its efforts to seeking for the unprincipled transgressors on the banks of streams. They ought to consider the advisability of devising some preventive scheme that will reach water itself. No doubt it is awkward to be told, after all these years of acclimatising progress, that the Society has really been nursing ser. pents in its bosom. Dr Chilton reports the discovery of a salmon in the Opihi, whether Californian or European he cannot undertake to say, his specimen having got too far into the land of the majority to be fully identified. While indulging in visions of an immense trade in smoked fish, the doctor advises that steps be taken to capture some other specimens for investigation. We shall then know whether at present we have anything more than the smoke without the fish. Mr G. Chater Miles, invites tenders for cutting, stooking, carting and stacking oats. Mr Thomas Machin, architect, invites lenders for the erection of coachhouse and stable*for Mr D. McGuinness. For continuation of News see fourth page.