THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. THURSDAY, MAY 23, 1872.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 194, 23 May 1872, Page 2

THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. THURSDAY, MAY 23, 1872.

I3v the arrival of the Nebraska at Auckland yesterday afternoon ive are in receipt of news from London to April 4th. It appears it was not the Moses Taylor that broke down, but the new steamer Moonga. The steamers are to run right through for the future, which, we presume, means there will be no break at Honolulu as heretofore. The news is not of very startling interest. The probability of the dissolution of the Gladstone Ministry and its succession by the Conservatives, with Mr Disraeli at the head, is spoken of as near at hand by the “ Daily .News.” The pair of extraordinary trials—amongst the most singular of modern times—the “ Tichborne case ” and the “ Travers T'.viss case ” arc still mentioned. The claimant in the former appears to have obtained bail, which looks as if all his friends had not deserted him, and there may be some still who yet have faith in his being the veritable baronet. In the face, however, of the break down of the late trial, they must be very sanguine who stili think he may win. The glor.ous uncertainty of the law, however, is pro verbial, and it is just possible, if not very probable, that the case against the claimant for perjury may collapse, and that he may come to the front again ; but, to use a sporting phrase, the I

odds arc niucli against him. In the Travers Twiss case, the breakdown of the case set up against Lady Travers had already reached us. We have now further confirmation of iffir Travers having given up the several high legal offices which he held, and of the \ resentation of Lady Twiss at Court having been officially cancelled. > In a social point of view, therefore, Sir Travers is a ruined man, though he has ample means to live in good style on the Continent, where he and Lady Twiss have gone. In regard to further proceedings before the Geneva Hoard in reference to the Alabama claims, Lord Granville, in the House, of Lords, and Mr Gladstone, in the Commons, have officially stated that it is not compatible with the interests of the public to declare the intentions of the Government at present. We have no doubt whatever that all matters in dispute will he eventually amicably arranged. In reference to foreign affairs, the “Constitutional” positively contradicts that there is any unfriendly difference between France and Germany. If this be true, it is a most satisfactory statement, as there are rumours of an intended ultimatum from Prince Bismarck to President Thiers, demanding an immediate reduction •of the army to 225,000 men, and hinting, in the event of a refusal, at the establishment of a French Government. In Spain, the brigands are stated to be alarmingly increasing throughout the kingdom, and cries of “ Long live Charles the seventh,” “Death to the Liberals,’ reverberate through the land, and great is the excitement in consequence. In Italy a fresh crater has opened in Mount Vesuvius, and showers of ashes and lava arc being thrown up, threatening to overwhelm the neighbouring villages. The scene is described as being grand and terrible in the extreme. Six tourists are reported to liav.e been killed. The Pope has received a deputation of 2000 Roman citizens, whom he thanked for their devotion to the Holy See, and reproached the Italian Government with usurping the rights of the Church. From America the report is confirmed of the recommendation of the Postal Committee to subsidise the Australian Steam Line to the extent of five hundred thousand dollars a-year, and in Congress notice has been given of an amendment to the Appropriation Bill, offering half-a-million of dollars annually for the Australian Lino of steamers. The “ Few York Tribune” substantiates the opinion, now almost universally entertained, that no rupture between England and America will arise out of the Alabama question. The Mexican revolution has been ended, says the telegram; but so many revolutions have been “ crushed” in Mexico, and have arisen again, that nothing

remarkable can be gathered or predicted from this notice. In commercial matters, wool is reported “ quiet” pend- ' ing tho next sales. Prices however are still firm. This is satisfactory, as it affects one of the most important of New Zealand staples. The rest of the news is not important, and much of it has already appeared in telegrams previously published. In domestic matters the birth of another new daughter of Princess Alice is chronicled. Queen Victoria was about to visit the exEmperor and Empress Napoleon at Ciiisellmrst. The chief item of importance appears to be the probable change ol the Gladstone Ministry, but this report again is contradicted by one of the very latest telegrams, which states that the Cabinet will not resign. The truth may probably lie between these two contradictory statements, and that the Ministry may probably appeal to the country, in which the battle between the “Conservatives” and “Liberals” will, in the present state of affairs, be a close one, and wdl be keenly watched by politicians of all shades of opinion.