ARRIVAL OF THE 'FRISCO MAIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1111, 29 May 1883, Page 3

ARRIVAL OF THE 'FRISCO MAIL.

The ss. Australia with the San Francisco Mail arrived in Auckland on Sunday morning, two days in advance of contract time. The following is a summary of the news by her San Francisco, May 6. The latest news from London is to May sch. The project of a second Suez canal is rapidly taking shape, and, unless delayed for political reasons, will undoubtedly be developed at an early date. The capital would be forthcoming in London without the slightest delay. Old canal shares have fallen in price. Prince Batthnny, who fell dead on Newmarket racecourse recently, left the greater part of his property to his mistress, and his relations will contest his will.

An explosion occurred at the Government magazine at Portsmouth harbor, in Priddy Yard on May sth, which completely demolished the building, and killed six persons. The town of Labrel in Persia, has been visited by an earthquake, and many houses were destroyed, and many people killed. An explosion occurred in Peterborough, England, blowing up the sewer in the principal street. It caused great alarm, being believed to be the work of the Dynamitiat Society. The cause was found to be ignition of gas in the sewer. Siemen, the telegraph engineer, has been knighted by the Queen, Mr Gladstone, in the House of Commons, said bo did not think it in accordance with public interest to make a statement as to the negotiations with the American Government on the subject of Irish outrages. Sir Stafford Nortkcote unveiled the statue of Lord Beaconsfield in Parliament Square, London. A great assemblage of people was present. The Gambetta monument fund has reached £4OOO.

The French expedition to Tonquin has caused intense excitement in China. It has been deemed prudent to retain several ironclads of the Irench squadron at Shanghai and Hong Hong, Five cases of leprosy are reported in Chicago. The disease is also reported in New York, and medical men are of opinion that it is spreading in the United States.

The Hawaiian Government has protested against the embarkment of Chinese from Hong Kong and other ports of the Sandwick Islands, and given notice that steps will be taken to prevent their landing. The Connecticut Arms Company have received an order from China for 250,000 repeating rifles, in view of the trouble with France over Tonquin. Mrs Langtry is rep rted to have netted 230,000dol» during her 24 weeks’ American engagements. The great suspension bridge over L ist River, joining B ooklyn and New York, is finished, and the opening was set ft r the 24th May. The Irish party threatened to blow up the bridge if opened cn Quran’s Birthday, ami the Brooklyn Board of Aldermen have in consequence postponed the opening of the bridge to the 30th.

Great numbers of Irish Immigrants sent by the British Government are arriving in Hew York, known as ‘assisted Irishmen,’ The old Parliament House in Quebec was burned on the 19th April. The only loss besides the building was about 25,000 dollars on the library. Mitchell has gone into training at Saratoga for his fight with the New Zea lander, Herbert Slade, on September 11th.

Yellow fever is increasing at Buenos Ayres. There were 40 deaths on April Ist.

A desperate attempt was made by the convicts in the St. Paul’s Penitentiary to escape. The skull of the leader, Leblanc, was smashed with a padlock, and they soon secured the rest. .

The Quebec Central Railway Company lost 250,000d01s by the failure of its English agents, Cooper, Hull and Co. The Rev. Josiah Hansen, Mrs Stow’s original ■■ Uncle Tom,’ died at Dresden, Ontario, on May 5 th, aged 94, , Special despatches from Washington, under date May 2nd, says that Robert J. Creighton, Postal Commissioner from New Zealand had an interview at that date with the Postmaster-General upon the subject of the transportation of English and Australian Mails. Mr Creighton pointed out the advantages which the United States derives from the transportation of these mails across the continent from New York to San Francisco, and complained of the heavy subsidy which the Australian colonies were obliged to pay to the Pacific Mail Steamship Company for conveying them from San Francisco across the Pacific, and suggested that it would be only fair if the United States Government should bear its proportion of the expense of the service by contributing to the subsidy. The Post-master-General replied that he had no authority to take the course suggested, but would lay the matter before the Pre. sident. The officers of the Post-office Department says the present arrangement by which English and Australian mails are sent across the continent is an advantageous one for this country, chiefly on account of the facilities which it affords the United States Post-office Department in the matter of forwarding its own Australian mails. In the House of Commons on April 30th, Mr O’Donnell, Member for Dungarvon, accused Mr Clifford Lloyd, the special magistrate, of altering depositions made on oath. He asked whether Government would enable him to get at the facts. Mr Trevelyan and Mr Gladstone both refused to answer the question. Mr O’Donnell laid on the table evidence which he claimed would sustain his charges against Lloyd.

The warehouse of Sir Edward Bates, and the ship chandlery of Garrock, Bibb and Co., Liverpool, were destroyed by fire on the night of April 22nd. The loss is £150,000. The Marquis of Queensbury, brother of Lady Florence Dixie, in a letter to the London Telegraph of April 21st, appeals to the Eton gentlemen said to have been in the vicinity at the time of the alleged attempt on his sister, to come forward and make a full and direct statement. The Land League Convention met in Philadelphia on the 20th April. There were present clergymen, lawyers, physicians, journalists, and mechanics from all parts of America, and the assemblage is considered the most representative of the kind ever seen. Thirty-one clergymen were present and thirteen delegates from women’s branches of the League. On the second day 1155 delegates were present, forty of whom were women. A resolution of confidence and cheer was ordered to be cabled to Parnell. A vote of confidence to Patrick Egan was passed for his careful custody and management of the Land League funds. Mrs Parnell was asked to place a wreath on the bust of George Washington, when she made a speechThe Parnell testimonial fund had reached £I2OO on April 30th. Lady Mountmorris and Mrs Blake have been awarded £3OOO each as compensation for the murder of their husbands. The Irish Nationalist League in London are raising funds for the relief of the families of those who have fled the country or who have been arrested in connection with the murders in April. 600 families are said to be destitute. A despatch from Dublin of May 4th says Kingston, Healy and Gibney charged with conspiracy to murder Poole, were arraigned on May 4fch for examination. An informer named Lavine gave evidence confirming the existence of a violent and murder’ cTcle, to which the prisoners belonged. The prisoners were remanded for a week.