GENERAL SUMMARY.

Southland Times, Issue 1554, 22 March 1872, Page 2

GENERAL SUMMARY.

London, Jan. 26. The first meeting of the new session of the Royal Colonial Institute was held on the 15th January, at the new rooms, in the Strand. The Duke of Manchester presided. There was a large attendance of representatives from every part of the empire. Mr Weatgarth read a paper on the recent proposals for the reform of our relations with the colonies. The writer argued against the principle of Imperial confederation, but in favor of giving the colonies representation in the House of Commons to the extent of five or six members at the outset. An interesting discussion followed, Colonel Byng, the Hon. Arthur Kinnaird, the Rev. Horrocks Cocks, Sir Bartle Frere, i and Messrs Labilliere, Yerdon, Edward Wilson, Baker, Frederick Young, Baintree, Sedgewiek Cowper, and Eddy taking part. Among the plans it was proposed to form a colonial council, like the Indian Council, and a colonial committee connected with the Cabinet, a confederation of states, and with colonial representatives in Parliament. Mr Verdon and others advocated letting things alone. The Tichborne case was resumed on the 15th. The Attorney-Q-eneral's speech, so far, has produced a profound impression. "Without undertaking to prove the claimant to be Arthur Orton, the evidence adduced, and cleverly piled up, clearly points to that theory. An immense array of correspondence is produced, and by some admitted facts he is shown not to be Roger Tichborne. The entries in the pocket-book found at Wagga Wagga, with the names of the ships, all connect him with the Orton family. His visits to Wapping immediately after he arrived in England, and his recognition by the friends of the family as Orton, are regarded as supporting this view, as also the history of the Brighton card case, the real relations of Roger and Miss Doughty, his disguised visit to Tichborne Park, the meeting with Lady Tichborne at Paris, and the relations of the claimant with Hopkins, Baigent, and Bouse. The Attorney-Q-eneral contended that the claimant gained most of his information from Bogle, Carter, and M'Cann. Except Lady Tichborne, nearly every member of the family failed to recognise him. A mandamus has been granted to hold an enquiry at Greenwich into the loss of the Quoen of the Thames. The disclosures made by officials regarding the business disorganisation at the Admiralty in the evidence given before the Megsera Commission, would account for any disaster. The objects of science and art collected by the Duke of Edinburgh during the cruise of the Galatea are .on exhibition at the South Kensington Museum. Captain Cargill, of the Windsor Castle, has been acquitted of blame for the late collision. The consecration of the new Bishop of Honolulu is fixed for the 2nd of Feb. The full Court has decided not to a new trial in the Firebrace case. It is mentioned that there will be an appeal to the Privy Council. The Imperial troops are to be withdrawn from the Cape of Good Hope. The great consumption of Australian meat continues. An angry feeling is manifested among investors owing to the delay in the opening of the Australian telegraph. The Prince of Wales now tak6S an occasional airing. Last Sunday the thanksgiving day for his recovery was observed. The Queen's letter produced an excellent impression. A Royal commission to inquire into the university revenues is gazetted. Lord Carew has received the riband of the Order of St. Patrick. Sir E. Landseer is created a Foreign Kuight of the Order of Merit by the German Emperor. The Government is growing unpopular. The Liberals, Radicals, and Conservatives have been addressing their constituents, including Mr Childers, Lord Harington, Mr Roebuck, Mr Vernon Harcourt, Professor Fawcett, Sir John Pakington, the Lord Advocate, and Mr Cardwell, on the subjectsof education, licensing reform, the naval disasters, the national expenditure, the Ballot Bill, and Irish disaffection. The Nonconformists threaten to revolt against the Government education scheme. The Catholic hierarchy has commenced a campaign against the national system of education. It is rumored that Mr Childers will receive the presidency of the Board of Trade shortly. Mr John Bright, in a letter to The O'Donoghue, disavows all sympathy with the Home Rule agitation. The labor market continues thoroughly disorganised. The workmen are increasing their demands. The Republican orators are comparatively quiet. The mob frustrated the Dilke meeting at Chelsea. Bradlaugh's quarrel with the International is getting stronger. t The Trades Union Congress held six days' sittings at Nottingham, Mr George Potter presiding. The congress discussed various industrial reforms moderately. The delegates were tolerably free from socialistic heresy. The cause of the miners was vigorously pleaded. The O'Donoghue and Bishop Moriarty, in recommending Mr Dease to the electors of Kerry, boldly opposed the Home Rule movement, expressing their conviction that there was no further ground for agitation. The Nationalist organs bitterly reply. Cardinal Cullen, in his address at Dublin Cathedral, demands that Catholic education should be handed over to the priesthood. An extensive seizure of forged Bank of Ireland notes has been made at Limerick. Destructive gales and hurricanes pre-

vailed during the past month, and earthquake shocks have been experienced at Sheffield. A church .was destroyed by lightning at Manchester. The Warwick Castle Restoration Fund is progressing. The damage is not bo serious as at first believed. A plea of insanity has been urged in the case of the Rev. Selby Watson, murderer of his wife, and in that of Miss Edmundson, the Brighton poisoner. Both have been respited. Mrs Steele, head nurse of the workhouse infirmary at Manchester, has been indicted for poisoning fltr Harris, senior surgeon, through a feeling of revenge. The testimonial to Baroness Burdett Coutts is likely to assume the form of a statue. Sir Francis Burdetfc's scheme to tunnel under the English channel is progressing:, and a company is forming to execute the excavations. Tbe Government has granted concessions. The Channel ferry project is also progressing. The Mark Lemon memorial fund fills slowly. An animated correspondence has taken place in the newspapers respecting the excision of all political personalities from, the pantomimes by Government censors. Dr Livingstone's son accompanies the search expedition. It is three.years since the last written tidings were received in England from Dr Livingstone. The New York Herald has published tidings received through the American explorers last year. The new social scheme is again claiming attention. Mr Scott Russell has published a programme of measures, including the removal of workmen to suburban villages, costing in the aggregate £150,000,000, the interest on which would be raised by a property-tax from the rich. The scheme includes, other , points equally Utopian. The American case of the Alabama claims has been laid before the Geneva I arbitrators. It revives Mr Charles Summer's preposterous claims, America reserving the right to claim indirect losses caused by the prolongation of the war. The wording of the treaty neither includes nor excludes such claims. England contends that the duties of neutrality were faithfully performed by her, and that Mr Adams's representations were invariably atteaded to, and suspected vessels were seized at great cost to the state, while no serious endeavors were made by America to capture the cruisers. Tbe 'Nonconformists' Education Conference at Manchester was a great success ; 2,000 delegates were present. Great earnestness and unanimity were displayed. The speeches were most oncompromising. A hot medical discussion respecting the value of alcohol has been provoked by the publication of a circular against its use signed by 250 eminent doctors. A new fish torpedo baa been devised, to be fired from guns below the waterline. The inventor has received £15,000. Obituary. — John Alexis Hankey, banker ; Dr James Dixon, Wesleyan ; the Earl of Kellie, at Cannes ; Sir Edward Gage ; Sir Charles Tyrrell, aged 96 ; General Andrew Porter ; Henry Theodore Dacreman, litterateur) Nelson Lee, writer of pantomimes ; Joseph. Gillott, pen manufacturer; Crawshay Bailey, iron-master ; Rev. ¥m. Scott, formerly of Buxton ; Matthew Greathead, of Yorkshire; the best Freemason in England ; Harry King, the Queen's huntsman ; M. Dufaure, French freetrader ; M. Dupont, French deputy ; Hon. S. C. Vernon, recorder of Lincoln ; Mr Breck— enridge de Grace ; Father Crutos ; Lady Lopez ; Bishop Grey, Roman Catholic ; Sir J. Bayley ; General Sir Alexander Lindsay ; Sir James Jackson.

WOOL REPORT.

"Wool shows great activity. The private demand for consumption is unabated. Stocks are low, and further advances are expected at the approaching sales. The Liverpool sales opened with an advance of 2d. Mr Helmuth Schwartze says it is obvious that there is a -scarcity of raw material in many quarters.

MONET MAJRKET.

Money is abundant. Bank rate, 3 per cent. There is a good discount enquiry. The stock markets are recovering after the relapse. Transactions are heavy. Consols, 92f . Foreign loans, mortgage bonds, and new miscellaneous and mining companies have been unprecedentedly numerous. All respectable undertakings are promptly subscribed. New Zealand Securities — Consolidated nves,.Tanuary-April, July-October, £103; do sixes, 1891, March-September, £113 ; do sixes, 1891, June-December, £112£. Dividends— New Zealand Trust, 10 per cent, j New Zealand Loan, 12£ per cent.