MAIL HEWS.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4687, 15 January 1884, Page 2

MAIL HEWS.

Lovegrove, the Waikato glazier and claimant to the Derwentwater estates, is once more en evidence. He does not intend returning to Auckland, but wants to raise money enough to carry him and his family to Queensland. A young man named Pye, who was a fellow passenger home with Lovegrove, said that the latter went aboard in Sydney with about £240, which he spent most lavishly. Pye, whose faith in Lovegrove's pretensions appears from the first to have been illimitable, was promised the lucrative post of factor or land agent on the Derwentwater estates. Amongst others, Pye applied to Captain Ashby, who offered to pay "the family's passages to Brisbane if Mrs Lovegrove's father (who is well off) would guarantee to reimburse him within a certain time. Mrs L.'s papa declared he was too poor to advance a cent,, whereupon Pye inter* viewed Sir F. D. Bell, also without success. He now talks of laying the whole case before the Baroness BurdettCoutts. Lovegrove appears to be a limp, inert, broken'backed kind of man, without an ounce of pluck in his composition. Mrs L., too, demands sympathy and cash in a " your-money-or-your«life " sort of way. "Me and. Lovegrove," she says, " allus gave freely to subscriptions in the Waikato. Many's the time we have 'elped friends, but now no one will'elp us." I fear I offended the good lady mortally by endeavoring to point out that it was to the Waikato (where they had lived and were appreciated) that they ought to look for help and assistance, and not to Londoners.—Star Correspondent. The Fenstanton arrived in dock yesterday, after a voyage of 50 . days, - from Lyttelton. She brings 8750 carcasses of mutton, which have, so far, been discharged in excellent condition, the appearance of the meat being unusually tempting. The chambers were kept at an extraordinarily low temperature ; the engineer returns his average at 6degs below zero. None of the meat has, of course, been sold yet, but it should realise an improved .price. The Fenstanton is advertised to leave again for Otago on the 21st. The London Times thinks President Arthur's message somewhat careless, and sees a tribute to the Irish vote in the language used in regard to pauper immigrants. The Press generally express disappointment that the President didn't recommend reduction in the tariff. The Standard says the most important part is that containing the recommendation to use heroic measures for the suppression of polygamy." The Telegraph denounces the President's recommendation to use heroic tneasures of the suppression of polygamy, and describes the proposal as an attempt to erect a political despotism upon the ruins of a proscribed faith. The Rev. Mr Luant ia booked to sail for Auckland per P. and O. s.s. Miraapore on January 17. The Marquis of Bute and his party, who, as I told you in my last, sailed for Melbourne by the Orient on the 26th ultimo, are expected to visit New Zealand for the purpose of seeing the Hot Lakes in February. The Marquis is acconi panied, as friend and secretary, by Mr Charles T. Gatty, brother of Alfred Scott Gatty, the populor song writer, being himself a musician of considerable pretensions. Mr Gatty is a great authority on Old China, and was for some time trustee of the famous Mayer Collection in Liverpool.

A despatch dated Khartoum, December 17, says:—A|wellknown native with Hicks Pasha's army has returned from 'U Obeid* whence he was enabled to escape because of his black color, and because he wore no uniform. He says that Hicks Pasha fought like a lion, and was the last officer to fall. The members of his staff fell in one group. After the battle 150 soldiers were found wounded. El Mahdi gave orders that none of the wounded be illtreated. The bodies of Egyptian and English officers were decapitated, and their heads hung over the gates of El Obeid. The Arabs determined to erect monuments for Hicks Pasha on account of his great bravery, but El Mahdi forbade it. El Mahdi threatened to punish 2Jar-

galls because he failed to join him. The sheik sent defiance, saying he has 15,000 warriors and seven years' provisions. We understand that in view of affairs in New Guinea it has been finally decided to make the command of the Australian Squadron a rear»admiral's command, instead of a commodore's, as at present. The schooners Harrier and Undine and the screw sloop Pelican, with some of the vessels recently commissioned at Sheerness, will proceed to strengthen the squadron cruising in Australian waters, though it is probable that this may be delayed owing to the complications in the East —European Mail. Lord Lome delivered a long lecture at Birmingham upon Canada and its products, fie particularly praised the salubrity of the climate, and said fevers, which were too common in the United States, were unknown within the boundaries of the Dominion. He lauded Canada as a field for emigration, and expatiated upon the marvellous progress made by various town 3. Lord Lome concluded by saying that the Canadian people are thoroughly devoted to their connection with the Mother Country, otherwise they would long ago have discarded an allegiance of which they are proud. With the Dominion of Canada and the Australian Colonies in close relations, England will never fear that her proud position in the world would be shaken or questioned. The New Zealand mutton sent here frozen goes off well. It has sold rery well indeed at Leadenhall Market, realising, for sides, 7| per pound. The forequarter commands 7d, and legs alone lOd per lb. Shoulders sell at B|d, and breasts as low as sd. There is now a depot at the London Bridge Jiailway Terminus, where New Zealand mutton is on sale, and where a very conspicuous legend sets forth its colonial origin. This last is a great point, as the public at large still re-> ojuires much " educating " on this head before colonial meat is likely to be truly popularised in England,

" Anglo-Australasian " writes:—" Sir John Hall is moving about among us, and seems resolved to see much in a short time. Several colonists from very oppo« site quarters tell me that they have quite recently seen the late Premier. I am glad to state that, according to my last last news, he was in excellent health."

Next week there will be a grand cricket council at Lord's. Most of the country secretaries will attend, and the prominent item on the programme of proceedings will be the formation of the " colonial card." The Australian champions are expected to arrive in May, and already the Marylebone Club has granted the use of the famous ground in St. John's Wood for three matches. It is fully understood here that the Antipodeans will arrive in prime condition, and that their effective strength will be as great as ever. Bat several old cricketers have given me to understand that this time, at all events, they will find their work is cut out for them.

A portion of the chilled cheese which came Home by the Doric has been disposed of by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company. The cheese, though in first-rate condition, is nevertheless a low class article of coarse flavor. It has been selling at 56s per 112lbs, whilst Cheshire (the English cheese it most re* sembles) fetches 60s to 64s the 112lbs. The Doric's consignment will not be vended retail as New Zealand cheese. It is most likely to be bought up by gmall tradesmen in poor neighborhoods, who will sell it simply as " ckeese " at a very low figure. Common cheese of strong flavor always commands a market.