GENERAL SUMMARY.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 451, 5 March 1890, Page 4

GENERAL SUMMARY.

(Dates from Europe up to .February 7th.) An explosion occurred off Margate on the morning of February 7cb, on tiie warship Barracouta during a boiler test. Two men were killed and ten wounded. The Glasgow pig iron market collapsed on February 7th, owing to the temporary suspension of M. S. Wellis. The boxing match between Jem Mace and Charley Mitchell at Glasgow, on February 7th, was won by the latter in four rounds of two minutes each. The match was for 11500 and gate money. Mace was badly punished. Henry M. Stanley, the explorer, puts his terms at £6O per lecture. Mary Anderson, the actress, has written William Black, novelist, to put all discussion at rest, that she is engaged to be married to Antonio de Novarro, of New York, and that her stage career is ended. A lad of thirteen reported to the Exeter Police, February 6th, that his father slabbed his wife to death with a pocket-knife, while the lad stood by imploring him to spare his mother. The father then cut his own throat before his son : s eyes. Investigation confirmed the story. It was rumoured in London, January 9th, that Kinlocli Cook, editor of an. English illustrated magazine, will be nominated for Chief J ustice of the Supreme Court ol Samoa.

Her Majesty’s Theatre closed unexpectedly, January 29th. Five hundred persons engaged in the production of “ Cinderella’' were dismissed, with their salaries unpaid. Mrs Langtry, the actress, was so seriously ill in London, January 28bh, that she was unable to open St. James's Theatre with “ Rosalind,” and her American engagement has been cancelled. Later despatches reported the invalid dying from blood-poison-ing. Judge] Manisty, of the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court of Justice of Great Britain, recently paralysed while on the Bench, died January 51st. With the Queen’s approval, a special Bill will be introduced in the English Parliament to legitimise the Duke of Cambridge s eons by his morganatic wife, lately deceased. The Duke, it is reported, will resign his position as Commander -in - Chief of the British Army in October, and will be succeeded by the Duke of Connaught, the Queen’s third son. The Bank of England refuses to permit the printing of one-pound notes. Some of its directors are uniting with provincial bankers in opposing the issue of such paper money, and informed Goschen of their action. The latter says he will push the Bill in Parliament despite the bankers. John Reid and Company, the big London shipbui ding firm, failed February 3rd, with heavy liabilities. James and Pike's marble factory, London, was burned February 3rd ; loss, £50,000. Bret Harte was reported dangerously ill at Yentnor, Isle of Wight, February 3rd. A scandal similar to the London Cleve-land-street affair has been dragged from the deptiis in Belfast. Twelve youths were arraigned on February 4th, and other arrests are expected. A seerst league has been discovered in Ireland against Smith Barry, President of the Landlords’ Syndicate, and other landlords. They are to be boycotted, and systematic obstruction made to all their business. FRANCE. The Marquis de Mores, considering himself insulted by an article in the “Nation,” challenged M. Dreyfus, the editor, to fight a duel with pistols. The duel took place on Sunday, February 2nd. Mores’ seconds were Count dc Dion and M. Fuillant; those of Dreyfus, Minister LockroyandM. Piehon. The editor was wounded in the arm. The grand tombola in Paris resulted in a scandal. Employees did the drawing of the numbers.

Paris despatch, February 4th, says Baron Stoell'el reiterates the declaration that a Franco-German alliance is necessary for the preservation of the peace of Europe, and to check the ambition of the Czar of Kussia. “If this is not done,” ho says, “ Russia will one day seize the Danubian provinces and other principalities, and be triumphant in Northern Europe. A Franco-German alliance can only be effected by a patriotic, magnanimous, statesmanlike policy of conciliation on the part ol Germany, which shall include the restoration to France of Alsace and Lorraine. GREAT BRITAIN AND PORTUGAL. Advices from Lisbon, January 31st, say that Portugal has tried to make a contract with Krupp for a supply of war material, but failed for want of money. She is now negotiating with the United" States for the immediate purchase of torpedoes, gunboats and 200,000 magazine rifles. The new army list just issued, places on the retired list a number of aged generals. This is the first step in the reforms to be established in the army. The Government took an important step on February Ist, and sent a lengthy note to the European Powers appealing for the arbitration of Portugal’s differences with England, claiming the right to make such an appeal under the treaty concluded at the Berlin Conference. The situation is dangerously complicated by the obstinate and insubordinate bchaviourof the Governor of Mozambique, who continues to defy all orders from Lisbon, and refuses to deliver the territory claimed by England. If this statement be confirmed there is no doubt a British squadron will seize Delagoa Bay. The Portuguese Consul in the Transvaal published, on February 2nd, a proclamation declaring Portugal’s absolute sovereignty over north-east Mashonaland. In Lisbon, February 2nd, during a circus performance, the clowns represented Major Serpa Pinto and Castilar, and burlesqued the struggle in Makololo. The audience became infuriated, mobbed the show, and tore down the flags. They were only stopped in their destructive course by the police, who made many arrests. Major Serpa Pinto, the prime cause of the African trouble, resigned his commission in the Portuguese army on February 3rd, and joined the Republicans as a leader. Salisbury is preparing to have English troops sent immediately to occupy the Makololo territory disputed by 1 ortugal. GERMANY. Bismarck resigned as Minister of Commerce on January 31st, and Baron von Beilepsch was appointed in .Ins place. It is believed the resignation the result of

he veteran’s strained relations with the Emperor William since the incident of their misunderstanding over certain language used in the speech from the throne on the dissolution of the Reichstag, and which the Emperor refused to modify at Bismarck’s request in advance of its delivery. A terrible accident occurred on February Ist to a train on the railway from Berlin to Halle. Eight persons were killed and twelve wounded. The Emperor William was present, on February the 4th, at the dinner given by Bismarck. Nothing occurred to indicate strained relations between them. They fully discussed the industrial question, and the Emperor announced he would summon the Staatsrath to debate the question and would himself preside over its deliberations. Russia having decided to erect a new arsenal at Libau, to cost *2,000,000, Germany will build one at Dantzic, near the Russian frontier. Herr Somits, editor of the “Cologne Gazette,” was on February 4th sentenced to one month’s imprisonment in the fortress for publishing calumnies against the Empress Frederick, mother of the present Emperor! The confirmation of the Samoan treaty by the United States Senate gave great satisfaction in Berlin. Visits oi courtesy were interchanged by the United States Minister and the German officials. Murcim Mueller, who attempted to shoot Prince William of Wurfcemburg, has been adjudged a lunatic and placed in an asylum. RUSSIA. Russia has ordered two large ironclad frigates, built in England, to be provided with the largest engines and the heaviest Krupp guns. Four of the greatest firms of Europe estimated for the contract, but the Czar insisted the ships should be built in England. A FIRE-DAMP EXPLOSION. In an explosion at a colliery at Abr syehan, Monmouthshire, Februai’y 6th> three hundred miners were imprisonedRescuing parties brought nearly one liutr dred to the surface, some of whom were injured. Morgan, the mine superintendent, was rescued. The bodies were taken out in such a mangled condition that except in two or three cases identification was impossible. Most of the rescued will die. The noise of the explosion was heard a mile away; the gearing of the shaft was thrown high into the air amid a volume of fiatne and dense clouds of smoke. Ninety bodies had been recovered at last advices, but more than 130 men remained still entombed. The mine had been in a dangerous condition for some time, and the owners of the property will probably be prosecuted for criminal negligence. EMIN PASHA. In a conversation had at Zanzibar, the African explorer said the Khedive's officials sent him vagabond officers and poor men, also worthless powder. For six years he maintained his authority against Ei Mahdi and his followers, and tho treachery at Cairo. He hoped Stanley would help to make his authority over the country permanent. Emin feels his position keenly, and considers that lie was forced to retire through lack of proper support. He will probably stay in Egypt and not visit London or Berlin. He considers he has accomplished a great work, which only needed support and time to bo firm and complete ; but when the recent troubles came it looked as if the labour of eleven years had been lost. THE PARNELL LIBEL SUIT.

The libel suit of Parnell v. the London “Times” was settled on February 3rd, the paper agreeing to pay the plaintiff £5,000 damages. The withdrawal was also announced of tho action brought by Harry Campbell, Parnell’s private secretary, against the “Times” for damages lor statements affecting Campbell made by Attorney-General Miller, counsel for the “Times,” in his opening speech in the case of O’Donnell against Walter, proprietor of the paper, and for charges made against plaintiff in an editcrial published in the “Times” in 1888. The Courtroom was crowded, Parnell being among those present. Tho announcement of the result of the action caused a sensation. Referring to the Parnell case, the “ Times ” of February 4th says: “After our withdrawal of the letters it was clear we had no legal defence, and therefore no alternative was open to us but to come to terms or abide by the verdict o? a jury. As we had at the outset challenged such action, we cannot complain of being taken at our word. This result, however, in no way affects the larger question. It is most desirable that the Parliamentary Commission should report, and when its report is presented, it is equally desirable that it may be placed in the hands of the public with the least possible delay.” RUSK IN A WRECK. A London despatch, January 18th, says John Ruslan, leader of English literature, is hopelessly insane. His mind has been gradually giving way for seven or eight years. The first public suspicion of the face occurred at Oxford, 18S6, when, after delivering several lectures, he broke down during one, became incoherent, and greatly exercised tho feelings of his sympathetic audience. He lectured no more there, and the matter was hushed up. He went to France, and after spending some time at Amiens, proceeded to Florence on a visit to Miss Alexander. He then seemed to be in good health. At Venice he had an attack and broke down mentally. In November last reports reached London of his having a violent paroxysm, during which he smashed the windows of his room. Since then he has lain in bed continuously, refuses all except liquid food, and manifests no desire to get up. He is steadily growing weaker, and the probability is that if he ever leaves his bed he will never go out of the house again. SIR CHARLES DILKE’S BOOK. Dilke’s new book, “ The Problems of Great Britain,” was issued January 31st. Tho author expresses the belief that in the future the world will be divided among the Anglo-Saxon, Russian, and Chinese races. France, he says, may grow to be a great military and naval power, and Germany may also acquire a great navy as well as a great army, besides amassing tremendous wealth. But so rapid is the increase of Great Britain and America in strength and riches that before the next century is ended the French and German nations are likely to appear pygmies beside the British and Americans, or Russians. He thinks the Chinese, in expanding the limits of their population across the seas, will tend to fall under the influence of India and the British colonies, and so become a powerful factor in the great civilisation of the world, and one of the greatest of dominant cowers

SUICIDE OF A MILLIONAIRE. Pierre Rumonding, a millionaire, suicided methodically at Nice, February 6th. He purchased a coffin the week previously, ordered the preparation of a vault in the cemetery, made a will leaving £40,000 to the widows and orphans of St. Etienne, besides other charitable bequests, and then calmly took his life. The body was interred according to his written directions. He was a millionaire bachelor, and middleaged.

MISCELLANEOUS. Americans exploring in Mesopotamia, unearthed at Niffer, January 29, the ruins of a temple, and there they found a bell, tablets and cylinders bearing, inscriptions dating back to 3750 is.c. England and France are withdrawing gold coin from Buenos Ayres. Emin Pasha is sufficiently recovered to leave the hospital where he was treated, and to take exercise. A fatal disease is ravaging the district of Khoraisan, Persia. At Kior there have been one hundred deaths daily, and a total of 3,000 to date. The doctors cannot cope with the disease. Plunger “Jubilee” Benson, now in prison at Nice, has broken down completely according to a despatcli from that place, January 30. He weeps bitterly in his cell, as ho is unable to secure his release, and professes extreme penitence. The Turkish navy has been increased by five new ironclads. Murders of both Turks and Christians are reported in Crete, ancl Christians are finding refuge in the hills. Owing to the destruction of crops by bad weather, a famine prevailed in Bessarabia, and many have died of starvation.

Prof. Bokai, of the Klausenberg University, Austria, claims to have discovered a certain antidote to hydrophobia, consisting of a solution of chlorine, bromine, sulphuric acid, and permanganate of potash, with oil of eucalyptus. Steamer La Plata armed at Antwerp from Buenos Ayres, February 4bh. Specie and bonds, valued at $1,250,000, were missing, and it is supposed they were stolen during the voyage. The dispute between the United Slates and Denmark, arising from the Butterfield claim for damages for vessels lost near St. Thomas, West Indies, a year ago, arbitrated by E. J. Monson, British Minister to Greece, has been decided in favour of Denmark on all the points involved. Five hundred glass-workers on strike at Gabion, Bohemia, made an attack, January 30th, on the factory in which they had been employed, and forcing an entrance into the building, destroyed all the machinery. The police attempted to quell the disturbance, whereupon the strikers turned upon them, and in the conflict that followed, two of the rioters were killed, and many very severely wounded. Tho Chinese Government has given assent to the construction of a line of railroad from Girin, in Manchuria, on the Sungari river, a tributary of the Amoor, bo Pekin. This has created uneasiness in Russian official circles. As a set off, it is determined to increase the Russian fleet in the Pacific.

Cardinal Pecce, brother of the Roman Pontiff - , died on February 7th, of pneumonia.

Grand Duke Nicholas, of Russia, is dying slowly from cancer. He has gone to Nice seeking to prolong his life. An inspired article in the “ Novoe Vremya ” advises Europe to check England’s extensions in Africa.

The Imperial Chinese troops defeated the natives in Formosa on February stb, and destroyed their strongholds. There was heavy loss of life. Those of the natives who refused to acknowledge allegiance were killed unmercifully, often with great cruelty.