AMERICAN SUMMARY San Francisco, June 7.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 57, 5 July 1884, Page 3

AMERICAN SUMMARY San Francisco, June 7.

Tho total earnings of the Pacific Mail Company last year were — passengers, 1,319,367d015. ; freight, 3,083,682d01a. Of this, the Australian branch of the service contributed — passengors, 234,509d015. ; freight, 134,778d015. It is proposed to hold a World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1892 to commemorate the four hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America by Columbus. L. M. Bay leas, lessee of the Gaiety Theatre, Sydney, has commenced a suit in San Francisco against Nat 0. Goodwin for non-fulfilment of contract. Goodw in is now playing at the Baldwin, in San Francisco The steamship America arrived at New York on June oth from Liverpool in the short time of 6 days, 15 hours, and 40 minutes. Bank pi'esidents and cashiers have been skipping out with depositors' money at an alarming rate during the month. The last one to leave with 150,00()dols. was President Sheldon o( the Hornellsville (N.Y.) bank. On June 4th, the enraged depositors po&ted the following on the bank door: — "If George Sheldon comes back, we will shoot him dead." Suicides are also increasing in various parts of the country, San Francisco having; an unenviable pre-eminence. San Jo? 6, Sacramento, and Centre ville, California towns, each contributed a caso of selfmurder on June 4th.

Shocking Baby-Farming Scandal. Hammonton, New Jersey, was excited on June 4th, over the discovery of the bodies of 21 children, buried in a small plot on the outskirts of tho town at tho Mission Home, a sanitarium opened several years ago by a Miss Nevi.«on, a middle-aged woman, for the purpose of taking young children to raise out of charity. It is stated that improper food and deficient care caused the death of 21 out of 23 inmates. The New York "Commercial," of May 26th, says a number of prominent morning journals have combined to buy and print — simultaneously — original social stories, each paying its share of the cost. Among the stories is one by Bret Harte. Decoration Day— adorning the graves of Union soldiers with flowers — was observed throughout the country on May 30th, with more attention than usual. By the giving way of a scaffolding in' a tunnel on the Pennsylvania railroad, near Ligonier, Pa., on the 29th May, nine men, principally Italians, were killed. The bribery of Massachusetts legislators this session, on the subject of gas bills, has been so general and flagrant that an investigation, urged by the force of public opinion, has been undertaken, much against the wishes of the members of the, House. The Corruption Fund is said to haVe been tho largest over raised. _ The recent explosions in London are bringing grist to 0 Donovan Rosea's dynamite mill in New York. Contributions to what is called the " Resources of Civilization Fund " are pouring in on him from all quarters, and numberless letters of approval are received. A faction fight prevailed on March 26th in New Iberia, Louisiana, between the partizans of Judge Fontellieu and Judgo Yates. Both sides had assembled in force, each determining that the other's leader should not preside in court. The state militia had been called out, but a conflict was avoided. A religious delusion among the negroes in several Georgia counties is rapidly spreading. They believe that Christ has ro-ap-peared in the person of one of their own race. The impostor has impressed the negroes with the belief that the "Great Prophet " has appeared. He has boldly declared himself to be the Messiah, and his deluded followers speak of him as the Veri- ' table Son of God.

The "Courrier dcs Etats-Unis, of New York, says the Bartholdi gigantic statue of Liberty is regarded as a bore from a truly American standpoint. Preparations are making to erect it on one of the Islands in New York harbour. It is understood Bartholdi pays the greater part of the expense of this work out of his own pocket.

Interesting Ocean Race. Three great ocean steamships — Austral, of the Anchor line ; Arizona, of the Guion line ; and the New Cunarder Anzania — arrived at New York on May 26th, after an exciting ocean race. They happened to sight each other, and each put on steam for a trial of strength and speed. The race was a close one, and the passengers on board took a lively interest in the struggle for supremacy, betting largely on the finish. The Cunarder beat both her rivals, coming in ahead of the Austral by six hours. The Arizona was second, beating the Austral by one hour and twenty-six minutes. The Queen's Birthday was celebrated with more than usual enthusiasm by the British colony in San Francisco, and also in the neighbouring Canadian province of British Columbia. Astor country, Washington territory, was cycloned on May 24th. Trees, fences, and houses were levelled in a large area of county, but no loss of life reported. Barnum has offered £500 for a poem on his white elephant, and hnndreds have been handed in ; but none, in his opinion, worthy of the subject. The probable gross yield in wheat and barley in California for the current year is stated at :— Wheat, 57,310,400 bushels ; barley, 24,577,900 bushels. It is estimated thero will be 1,500,000 tons for export. Benjamin F. Butler accepted the nomination of the anti-monopoly organisation for President of the United States. Butler is generally conceded an important element in the LJnion fight, especially by younger Democrats. Governor Stanford, of California, purchased recently, while in England, sixteen of the choicest thoroughbred mares he could find. These have foals at foot by the most famous sires, such as Ironomy and Hermit. It is Stanford's intention to enter into rivalry with horses reared in the blue-grass region of Kentucky, his stock being reared in California. Counsel was consulted in Philadelphia on May 24th with the view of arresting Robert G. lngersoll for blasphemy under a recent act. lngersoll's lectures teem with ribald jests of religion and the doctrine of the immortality ot the soul. Mormon families are mustering courage to sue the estate of Brigham Youug for property gobbled up by the prophet during his lifetime. The heirs and children of the late James W. Cummings commenced a suit on June Ist for land worth an enormous amount of monoy, which Brigham wheedled out of the old man by church influence and the consideration of one dollar. Several waterspouts, or cloud-bursts as th^-y are called, have wrecked large sections of the country in different parts of tho Pacific coast.

Sabbath Observance in the States. An effort is about to be mado by committees of Conservative citizens to prevent open theatres on Sunday, as well as processions, base-ball matches, and horse- races on that day, in San Francisco, St. Louis, New Orleans, Cincinnati, and Chicago. Sunday desecrations of this kind are not allowed in Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore; Charleston, and New York. A political celebrity, known in Washington as Sam Ward, died at Segni. Italy, on May 18th. He was considered in his time the prince of lobbyists, and the best entertainer in America. A serious trouble has grown up in Atlanta, Georgia, on account of turning out the free labourers at the Rising Fawn furnaces, and supplying their place with convicts. The proprietor of the works is United States Senator Brown. Col. George W. Totten, who built the Panama railroad, died in New York on May 17, aged 77. Cyrus U. McCormick, patentee of the well-known reaper, died in Chicago, on May 13. The President of the Knights of Labour, an important industrial organisation, intends to make a tour from Maine 'to California on foot, starting on July 3rd. He will deliver lectures in every town on the route again&t monopoly, in favour oi labour, and of Butler for President. Alaska has been granted a quasi Territorial Government. No representation is allowed in Congress. Candidates for official position aro so numerous as to be embarassing.

The Presidency. The Republican National Convention met in Chicago on June 2nd to make nominations for the next Presidential term from the ranks of the party. The present incumbent of the White House had a strong party among the delegates, and General Sherman, Postmaster - General Gresham, Senators Logan and Edmunds, had also their friends, who tried to boom them ; but their efforts failed before the general and enthusiastic demand for James G. Elaine, of Maine, exSecretary of State, and noted, while in that position, for his aggres&ive policy toward the South American Republics. He was nominated on the fourth ballot, and although there is a good deal of hurrah over the re3ult among those who share his political views, conseivative men of both parties shake their heads and utter the hope that, should he be elected to the high position for which he is named, its responsibilities will repress the belligerent ardour he has heretofore shown. The Democratic Convention will meet in Chicago on July 9th. Samuel J. Tilden is the general choice of the party, and will accept a nomination if made by ac-i clamation. Judge Field, of California, expects to be selected, but his calling is not sure in the first place, nor his election in the second. Senator Bayard, of Delaware, would be favoured, on account of his native purity of character and stainless political record, but his State has too small a representation in the electoral collego to make him an available candidate. Senator Thurman, of Ohio, is mentioned approvingly by many on account of his political ability, and his known opposition to corporations, syndicates, and monopolies generally. From tho features of the political situation just now, it would appear that there will be a third party in the field headed by ex- Governor Ben Butler, of Massachusetts, as the exponent of the greenback element, and of the anti-monopoly feeling of the country. And it is by no means certain that this element has net votes enough to throw the election into the House. Then the fun will begin. The news of Mr Blame's nomination, received on the morning of June 6th, created a good deal of excitement in San Francisco, where he is very popular. Tho official vote stands : Arthur, 207 ; Blame, 544 ; Edmunds, 41 : Logan, 7 ; Hawley, 15 ; Lincoln, 2, The vote was made unanimous tor Blame on the motion of Burleigh, of New York. Logan is nominated for Vice* President.

Australian Mail Service. This important subject is exciting the attention of our mercantile community, and has been brought before Congress. On May 20th, Senator Miller presented a memorial

from the directors of the Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco, praying that necessary action be taken to maintain the service between the United States and Australia and New Zealand, and it is now understood that the Post Office Committee of the House of Representatives, acting on the recommendation of Postmaster Gresham, have prepared a measure providing for the continuation of the subsidy of £40,000 per annum. A. H. Hull, of New York, formerly connected with the San Francisco and Australian line of steamships, said, on being interviewed, that assistance for the Australian mail service was expected from the United States Government. ' There was no possibility of the service being carried on by an English line. The , service was to-day held by American ship owners, who would continue to hold it, and that American trade, sinco the mail service first opened in 1870, had increased tenfold. It is certain that the most strenuous efforts will be made not only to retain the service, but to increase its efficiency. The route to Europe from the colonies via San Francisco appears to be growing more popular every year. The monthly steamers now arrive crowded with passengers.