AMERICAN SUMMARY

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

AMERICAN SUMMARY

Sax Francisco, February 8. William P, Parker, who came to California six months ago from Australia, and entered into the real estate business in San Francisco, was found dead in his office, 215, Kearny - street, February sbh, from asphyxiation by gas. The “American Wool Reporter,” of Boston, February 7th, in its review of the week, says the strain of inactivity, which has not yet disappeared, keeps the market easy and in favour of the buyer. On pulled wools, prices are a shade easier, and on Territories a trifle weaker. The latter is shown by several large lines of Wyoming, Utah, and Montana, that have found their way into tho hands of eastern cassimere manufacturers, on a basis of 55 cents to 57 cents for fine, 53 cents to 55 cents tor a fine medium, and 50 to 52 cents for medium. The negroes in the Southern States favour emigration of their race to the Congo Free State, a Bill to that effect having passed Congress. A fierce and destructive storm raged throughout Western Pennsylvania on Februai’y 7th. Large buildings, including the glassworks at Blairsville, were blown down, and many persons killed. The Anarchists now in the Illinois State prison, serving sentence for offences committed in Chicago, have been granted a writ of error to the Supreme Court. New Jersey was shaken by an earthquake, February 7th. During a service in a North Carolina church at Sparta, the preacher took one of his congregation to bask for connubial infidelity. A riot ensued, in which the preacher and another man were killed with a billet of wood, and live of the congregation fatally injured. Fire broke out in the l’ebhbone mine shaft at Wilkesbarre, Mass., February sth, and it was feared nearly 100 men will be roasted to death. The Senate of the United States ratified, in secret session, February 4th, the Samoan Treaty. Some opposition to the treaty was aroused by that section relinquishing certain American rights in the harbour of Pago-Pago ;• bub on the vote being taken, only nine votes were cast against its ratification. The celebration of the centennial of the Federal Judiciary was begun in New York, February 4th. Ex-President Grover Cleveland presided, and made an opening address, logical and eloquent, in reference to tho exalted position of the judicial branch of the Government.

A movement is on foot in the Southern counties of California to segregate that portion and erect it into a separate State, expanding the area by the annexation of Lower California. The scheme meets, however, with fierce opposition. A well-arranged scheme has been exposed "between some United States Senators— Dolph, of Oregon, and Hoar, of Mass., among others and some leading newspaper men of Canada, to boom the annexation of the latter country to the American Republic. The epidemic known as “ la grippe ” has been particularly fatal in many parts of the United States. Many prominent people in San Francisco were carried oft' by it.

“ Kyle ” Terry, nephew of the late Judge Terry of California, was shot in the Galveston (Texas) Courthouse, January 21, during an investigation into a vendetta case. A tenement house was burned on Northstreet, Boston, February 2nd, and with it eleven inmates, while fourteen more were seriously, if not fatally injured. It originated by an Italian in the basement throwing a lamp at one of his room-mates, which fell into a quantity of whisky. A riotous mob in Buffalo led by women, attempted to prevent a Polish priest, Father Pawler, preaching in St. Adelburt’s Church on Sunday, February 2nd, because his predecessor, very popular with the Polish congregation, had been' deposed. The women, Polish, acted like fiends, climbing

into Pawler’s carriage, and attempting to choke the inmates. Rev. R. C. Gave, one of the most eloquent pulpit orators of the Christian Church in St. Louis, Mo., and a leading light in it (commonly called “Campbellite ”), has created a tremendous sensation by delivering a series of sermons, in which he denied the inspiration of the Scriptures and the divinity of Christ,scoffed at His miracles and those of His apostles, and generally belaboured the accepted dogmas of the Church unmercifully. His congregation is composed of leading St. Louisans, and the church is situated in an aristocratic quarter of the city. The curious feature of the case is that Dr. Cave, being cub off from the Communion for such heretical expression, nearly all his congregation followed him out of the fold, and will build him a new church where he can independently indulge in the expression of his free-thinking views.

CANADA’S LOYALTx. A resolution, introduced by Mullock, of loyalty to Queen Victoria, passed the Canadian Parliament on January 29th, without oppo ition, and little debate. Two French members, prominent annexationists, dodged the vote. In moving the adoption of the resolution, Mulloch said he introduced it more for the purpose of showing the United States and the world that Canada had been giossly misrepresented as regards her desire for a political change, either in the direction of independence or annexation, than from any belief that the Queen doubted the loyalty of her Canadian subjects. These false representations had the effect of keeping capitalists out of the country, while the emigration to Canada had practically ceased as a result of them. The United States Congress had appointed a committee to give colour to the statement made that Canada was ripe for annexation, the principal desire of the United States being to discover a strong annexation sentiment in tho dominion. He knew of no more satisfactory solution of the question than for the representatives of the Canadian people to pass the resolution. CANADA. The Catholic clergymen, by order of Archbishop Fabro, are praying in the churches for freedom from the influenza, or " la grippe.” A horrible scandal, of the same character as that recently brought bo light in London, has been shown up in the province of Ontario, where a young clergyman of the Episcopal Chimb figures as the dobaucher of more than forty youths. Sir John Thompson admits the charges have been made, and says it will, in bis opinion, insure the passage of the Purity Bill, which provides for the flogging of persons found guilty of such offences. Oarsman O’Connor left Toronto January 28bh, for Australia, via San Francisco. He will probably leave by the February boat. The Council of the Imperial Federation League of Canada met on January 30bh, when a telegram was read from the Fair Trade League of England submitting the proposal that preferential trade relations were the only basis of an imperial federation. THE PANAMA CANAL. Governor Ayeardi, of Panama, has been notified by the President of the Republic of Colombia that the Government will nob recognise, and the Governor of the Department of Panama will not permit, the transfer of lands, which under existing contracts with tho Canal Company should, under any case, be returned to "the National Government, or the transfer of any property which, at the expiration of the contract, will become national property. A METEORIC NUGGET. A meteor fell on the larger of the two Comanche Peaks near Gran bury, Texas, on Friday night, January 31sb. It struck on the overhanging boulders, and fallowed down the mountain side, narrowly missing a large dwelling-house. The weight is several hundred tons, and some of the fragments contain nuggets of gold. MEXICO. The influenza, or “ la grippe,” caused so many deaths in the city of Mexico up to February 6th that a sufficient number of hearses could not be had to promptly convey the bodies to tho various cemeteries. The President and the wealthy men of the country weie contributing largely for the relief of the suffering poor.

SHIPPING DISASTERS. The British ship Loch Moidurb, from Pisagua, went ashore at Calandsoog, Holland, January 28th. Thirty of the crew were washed" overboard, and drowned after the vessel struck. Ship Irex was wrecked off the Needles, and several of the crew lost. The survivors clung to the rigging all day Sunday, 26th, and also the following day. Steamer Yorkshire for London, from Baltimore, lost three, sailors, and sustained great damage. Ship Janet Cowan returned to Plymouth January 27th, reporting the loss of live seamen. Captain of steamer Umbria, from New York, at Queenstown, January 27th, reports the passage the roughest he ever made. Several passengers were injured by being thrown violently about. Steamship Adriatic arrived at New York, January 27th, with five seamen injured and one frozen. On the 28th, Norwegian barque Ligdal and British steamer Prince Llewellyn, collided at Buenos Ayres in a hurricane. Both were sunk. No lives lost. French brigantine Mathilda Denantes foundered off the coast of Newfoundland, January 28bh, The crew, six, was rescued by the Allan steamship Polynesian. Ship Buteshire, from Norfolk, Vffi., for Mediterranean ports, foundered at sea, January 28. Captain Darling, of the steamship Creole, of New Orleans, reports, January 30th, that in addition to picking up a lifeboat, January 9tb, bearing the name “ Erin,” he also saw a number of articles marked “ s.s. Erin,” and an oar lettered “ N.5.5.C.C.L.,” was recovered. The Erin belonged to the National Line and sailed from New York for London nearly a month preceding January 30bh. The agents express strong hopes that the vessel will soon be reported as having turned up at the Azores or the Western Islands under sail. Captain Balls, of the ship Brampton, at Baltimore, February 2nd, reports that on January 23rd he saw a steamer badly damaged by a gale, founder, supposed to be the Erin. Steamer Waesland, from Antwerp to New York, February 2nd, had two officers swept overboard in a terrible gale, and lost. The vessel lay for several hours at the mercy of the waves, owing to a derangement of her machinery.

Barque Emblem, from Mobile, at Liverpool February 2nd, lost master and mate, washed overboard and drowned.. Vessel arrived in a badly damaged condition. Steamer Godolphin, at Liverpool February 3rd, from Galveston, Texas, took fire on that date, and much damage resulted.

Steamship Washington City, from Hamburg for Philadelphia, put into Halifax, N.S., February 3rd, badly damaged by a hurricane. Chief Officer Lengelow was washed overboard, but a return wave carried him back, dashed him against an iron railing, and injured him sovoroly.

A number of life-buoys, hatches, boat fixtures, and other ship hamper came ashore on the coastot Wales, February 4th. The wreckage is taken to indicate the foundering of the British steamer Cape Clear, from Liverpool, .January 20th, for Rosario, overdue at St. Vincent, where the steamers of the line to which she belongs call.

A DREADFUL CALAMITY. The residence of the United States Sec retary of the Navy, B. F. Tracy, in Washington, D.C., was destroyed by fife on the morning of February 3rd, shortly after seven o’clock, before any of the family' had risen. Mrs Secretary Tracy, Miss Mary Tracy, her daughter, and a servant, lost their lives. The Secretary, his daughter,' Mis E. W. Wilmerding, and her little daughter, barely escaped. Just as the firemen arrived, Mrs Wilmerding appeared at the second-storey window with her child, and despite protests from below, jumped to the ground, fracturing her wrist and sustaining slight injuries. The child was also injured. Chief-Engineer Harris rushed into the house, and found the unconscious body of Secretary Tracy, whom be bore to the window, where firemen from the outside raised aladderand took him down. The chief, returning to the house, stumbled over a body, which proved to be that of Miss Mary Tracy, badly burned, and brought it out. Life was extinct- Mrs Tracy jumped from the second-storey window, and died of her injuries within an hour. The remainder of the household, . with the exception of one servant, who was suffocated, escaped. The Secretary, when borne from the house, was at first thought to be dead, lie was suffering from asphyxiation, but tbedoctorsrestored him toconsciousness after an hour’s work. When the news of the death of his wife and other members of the family was communicated to him he fell into a state of extreme mental anguish, which threatened his life. The origin of the tiro, although reported as from defective Hues, remains co many yet a mystery. The combustion was surprisingly sudden and rapid. HEAVY STORMS IN CALIFORNIA. The heavy and long-continued rains and snow in California and the Pacific Coast generally cut off, for some time, all communication botween the mountains and the seaboard, blockaded the railroads, and overwhelmed the cars with a heavy burden. Trains were locked up for weeks in immense snow-drifts, notwithstanding two immense snow-ploughs were at work till disabled, and thousands of shovellers at the sale of four dollars a day. The Central Pacific route, both the Eastern and Oregon divisions, suffered heaviest from the sno\v3 ; the Southern Pacific from slides and washouts. The passengers detained in the snow sheds of the Central underwent much hardship from cold and the scarcity of provisions; several succumbed to the misery of the time, and died without medical attendance. Mail communication was stopped for o length of time between the East and various other points, and telegraphic connection was irregular. Tlii3 led to a great prostration of business in San Francisco, and in all the principal cities of the coast. In the city named the situation was still further darkened by the fact that out-door operatives, such as masons and others, were thrown off’ work by the heavy and persistent rains. They consequently earned nothing, and without being, many of them, in actual poverty, their resources were tightly pinched. Added to the general feeling of gloom, the epidemic “ la grippe” had nearly everyone in the community by the throat, and increased the death-rate alarmingly. On Sunday, the 27th January, there were eighty funerals—something unprecedented in the mortuary annals of San Francisco. The rain and snow, after falling with bub slight intermission from the latter part of November, 1889, to the 30th January, 1890, ceased about that date, and the clouds finally rolled by, much to the satisfaction of everybody, besides giving the doctors a rest from their labours with the “grippe.” Some fear is expressed that the sunshine and warmer weather will bring floods from the melting mountain snows that will convert our valleys into lakes ; but other weather sharps, with more cheerful anticipations, think the surplus moisture will gradua'ly find its way out by the proper channels, that our farmers will have time to plough and get in a crop, and that, after all, so far as the general prosperity of the State is concerned, everything will bo yet serene. Of course - there are many cases of individual loss and bankruptcy. In the memory of the oldest inhabitant no such severe season has ever been experienced in California as the winter of 188990. STOATS AND WEASELS.

I learn that the Agent-General has given orders for the collection for transport to New Zealand of 500 more stoats and weasels. These will take some time to get together, as they can’t be caught in Lincolnshire in such large numbers as heretofore. The whole of the fens have indeed suffered tremendously of late from a rat plague, ancl the inhabitants are naturally not anxious to part with the particular enemies of “John Rodent.” Ireland and Devonshire have therefore been laid under contribution, but the latter county was d rawn almost blank. The last consignment of stoats and v/easels to New Zealand was despatched in 1888. STEAMERS FOR NEW ZEALAND. During the past fortnight two vessels built specially for the New Zealand trade have been added to the fleet of the Shaw, Saville and Albion Company. On the 14th insc. thes.s. Matatua, built by R. Stephenson and Company of Newcastle, was taken on her trial trip. She is a steel spar-decked vessel, 340 feet by 41 : j feet by 29 feet, and has been specially fitted up for the frozen meat trade. A complete system of insulation has been adopted in her, holds and ’atween decks, and there are three powerful refrigerating engines by Messrs Haslam and Company of Derby. The insulated chambers are calculated capable of holding 36,000 carcases. The propelling machinery consist of a set of triple expansions engines about 1,700 indicated horse power. The vessel attained a main speed of 11. S knots in four runs over the measured mile. The second addition, the steel s.s. Maori, was built by Messrs Swan and Hunter, Wallsend, and her official trial took place on Monday last. The dimensions of the vessel are : 334 feet by 40 feet by 25| feet. She has a long poop, bridgehouse amidships, and top-gallant forecastle; cellular double bottom throughout, and is built to Lloyd’s highest class on the three deck rule ’ under special survey. Her engines are by the Wallsend Slipway and Engineering Company, with cylinders 26 inches, 42 inches, and 69 inches by 43 inches. The trial was attended by Captain MacKiray, Mr Garrick and Captain Scotland, on behalf of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company. The mean speed on the measured mile was 124 knots. After the trial the Maori proceeded to London to load for New Zealand. PERSONAL AND PASSENGER NOTES.

Amongst the notable passengers leaving by the R.M.s. Tainui yesterday were the Earl of Ranfurly, the Right Reverend Bishop of Maitland, Mr A. G. Renshaw, Major Pakenlmm, Mr and Mrs l'earson*

Cee, Mr D. Crawford, Mr H. L. De Wolf, and Mr John 11. Proctor. The Tainui was crowded both fore and aft. She calls first at Auckland. Mr and Mrs G-. Sydney Smith are booked through to Auckland, and Mr and Mrs H. L. Rennert to Dunedin by the Iberia next week. Mr and Mrs Williams, of Aberpergwm, and Mr Ceorge Williams (likewise of the same unpronounceable locality) leave for Auckland per P. and 0. Arcadia to day. Miss Buckland, Mr and Mrs Bloomfield, Mr Greaves, Mr V. C. Hamilton, Mr and Mrs J. L. Smith, and Mr J. M. Rendal are through passengers by the same ves-el, and Archdeacon and Mrs Williams return by her to Napier. fill’ W. Courtney has taken up his quarters at 106 Leadeuhall-strcot, and is busy fixing the dates of the thirty lectures on the “Garden of New Zealand ” which he proposes to deliver before the end of May. Mr C.’s debut this time will probably bo at Dr. Barnardo’s Home next Monday, with Exeter Hall and the Y.M.C.A. to foilow. Mr Courtney has booked a return passage by the Ruapehu sailing May 30th. THE MEAT MARKET. In the meat market, Scotch, English and German mutton lias fallen during the past week, but frozen mutton remains firm at the following prices New Zealand (Canterbury), 3s to 3? Id per 81b ; New Zealand (Wellington), 2s Id to 3s per 81b ; Sydney, 2s 6d to 2s 8d per Blb ; River Plate, 2s 4d to 2s lOd per 81b. THE NEW ZEALAND LOAN AND MERCANTILE AGENCY COMPANY (LIMITED).

The following is the report presented to the shareholders at the twenty-fifth annual general meeting to be held on Friday, the 7lh clay of February, 1890. The directors in submitting to the shareholders for approval and adoption the twenty-fifth annual report of the Company, with, balance sheet and statement of accounts made up in the colonies to 30th September, and in London to 31sb December, 1889, beg to call their attention to the following results : The not profit for the year 1889, inclusive of £12,340 4s lid brought forward from the preceding year, shows, after deducting expenses, interest, commissions, income tax and property tax, writing off stationery, and providing for bad and doubtful debts, a sum of £96,752 4s, which the directors recommend should be appropriated as follows : To payment of a dividend at 10 per cent, per annum, and interest on capital paid in advance on old shares, £41,316 4s ; payment of interest at 5 per cent, per annum on capital paid in advance on sixth issue shares, £22,500 ; Reserve Fund, £20,000 ; be carried forward, £12,936. Total, £96,752 4s. On sth July last an ad interim dividend was paid at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, amounting, with interest on capital paid in advance on old and sixth issue shares, to £31,908 2s, so that there now remains for distribution the sum of £31,908 2s. The directors have much pleasure in reporting, for the information of the shareholders, the following favourable circumstances in the past year: A remarkable and continued expansion of the Company’s wool consignment business, especially in Australia. The seveie drought, which entailed heavy losses on many Australian squatters, has been broken up, and succeeded by one of the most favourable seasons on record. The recent New South Wales Land Act has given security of tenure to the occupants of Crown lands not hitherto afforded bo them, which greatly increases the value of station property in that colony. In New Zealand there has been a revival of trade, and marked expansion in the exports of the colony. All the constituents of the Company have largely benefited by the enhanced value of wool. The new Articles of Association having, however, imposed upon tho London Board entire responsibility for the Company’s affairs, the directors, in view of this responsibility, and the recent great expansion of tho Company’s business, have resolved, in conformity with the foregoing figures, to recommend ro shareholders the policy of paying only the usual dividend of 10 per cent., and of placing to the Reserve Fund £2o,ooo—an amount equivalent to that hi herto paid as bonus, thereby strengthening the position of the Company, and increasing that fund to £290,000. The directors in this policy have also had in view the additional security afforded to debenture holders, believing that the process of conversion from terminable 4t per cent, debentures to 4 per cent, stock will be hastened by the adoption of this course. The vacancy caused in the Board of Direction by the death of Mr Emanuel Boutcher has been filled by the appointment of Sir George Russell, Bart., M.l\ In accordance with the articles of Association, Sir George Russell and Sir E. W. Stafford retire from the Board of Directors, but offer themselves for re-election. The auditors, Messrs Roderick Mackay and C. I'. 'Moore, likewise retire, but being eligible for re-election, oiler their services.