GENERAL SUMMARY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 211, 15 February 1872, Page 7

GENERAL SUMMARY.

The Prince of "Wales is convalescent. His recovery was retarded by a painful affection of the hip. The Archbishop of Canterbury ordered the discontinuace of the special prayers for his recovery on December 28th.

The papers publish a letter from Her Majesty Queen Victoria, in which she says she desires to express her deep sense of the touching sympathy exhibited to her family, and for her dear son, by tbe whole nation. "The feeling," says the Queen, " shown by the people during the painful and terrible days of the Prince's illness, their sympathy with herself and her beloved daughter, the Princess of "Wales, and the joy manifested at the improved health of the Prince, have made a deep and ineffaceable impression upon heart. The manifestations of the people are nothing new to her : she met with the same sympathy ten years ago, when a similar illness to that under which her son has been labouring, removed from life the best, wisest, and kindest husband that ever lived."

A letter has been published in which the writer states that he is informed, on the authority of a person well posted regarding secret societies, .that the Prince was not suffering from typhoid fever, but from an attempted poisoning by a secret agent of the International Society. That organisation is said to have resolved upon the death of the Prince, and the public assertions of some of its members are urged in corroboration of the statement. The "New York Herald" editorially declines to endorse the story.

The mail steamer from the Cape of Good Hope brings the intelligence that the treaty annexing the diamond country to Britain has been finally concluded, and that it has produced much excitement in the Territory. Mr. Brand, President of the Orange Free State, has issued a formal protest against its transfer to Great Britain. Gold has been discovered in considerable quantities in the Transvaal Republic, and the reports have attracted to the spot many adventurous diamond seekers, who have abandoned the diamond districts for the newly-discovered gold country.

Alarmed at Mr. Gladstone's Republican tendencies, tbe Conservative section, led by the Duke of Somerset and Viscount Halifax, are seeking to form a coalition with the Tories, for the purpose of electing Mr. Bouverie Speaker of the House of Commons, instead of Mr. Brand, and to compel the retirement of Mr. Gladstone.

A letter from Cario says that a report is current that Sir Samuel Baker and liis men, who are exploring Central Africa, near the head waters of the Nile, haddied of starvation. Another report says that Baker's men mutinied and shot him ; and a third that only Baker und his wife are left of the expedition.

At the installation of the Conservative Mayor of Limerick, a tumultu ous mob alternately- hissed when tbe Prince of "Wales was mentioned and gave cheers for Home Rule.

The ship Edward foundered at Falmouth, and all hands were lost.

At Glasgow," a road waggon, propelled by steam, was carrying some heavy boilers through the streets, and was surrounded and followed by a throng of children, when its boiler exploded. Five children were killed and seven seriously injured, their recovery being doubtful.

A grand demonstration has taken place in honour of Sir Charles Dilke.

The floor of the crowded court room at Kittyclaghan, County Leitrim^gave way while a trial was in progress, precipitating 300 people a distance of 40 feet. The number of killed is not 1 known, but 30 are badly injured, most of them fatally.

The Government having refused to help the Royal Geographical Society to search for Dr. Livingstone, the Society has organised an expedition for ,tbat purpose, and appeals to the people for assistance. . Great efforts are being made to enable the expedition to start this month.

On New Year's Day the ex-Emperor Napoleon is reported to have said :—: — " I will give Thiers six months' Presidency of the Republic. By that time Gambetta will be in his place, and the- change will be favourable to the Imperial cause.

France.

The income tax has been rejected by the Assembly. M. Thiera spoke strongly against it. The •circulation of the Bank of Prance has been increased by tbe Assembly to 400,000,000 francs (£16,000,000),

An attempt was made in the town of Charleville to assassinate a corporal and trumpeter of a Bavarian regiment quartered in that place. The German military authorities have commenced a searching investigation into the affair. It is reported that the repeated outrages upon the German troops in the Departments still occupied by them havo caused the issuance of orders providing for the severe punishment of all persons guilty of such offences. 100 persons have been seized by the Germans as hostages for the outrages. Summary proceedings will be taken in cases of murder. Unless the actual offenders are surrendered before tbe 27th, the hostages will be tried by Court Martial. Prince Bismarck has declared that unless these horrible outrages cease, the Army of OccupatioD will re-occupy the Provinces, and the expense and burden of its support to be paid by France will be doubled.

Despatches from Algiers report that the French troops have gained successes over the rebels, two chiefs and 150 horses being billed. The Germans are making a census of the private fortunes of the wealthier residents in the occupied Departments. Negotiations are on foot for creating a Banque des Communes, with a colossal capital. One firm has already subscribed 40,000,000f. (£1,600,000). The object of the institution is to realise the credit of the Communes for municipal purposes.

An uproarious scene took place in the Assembly on the reading of a number of petitions praying for the restoration of a monarchy. Some of the petitions wanted tbe Cointe de Chambord, and others the Cointe de Paris, as King. The presentation of the rival claims excited the partisans of both Princes to frequent demonstrations, while the Republican Radicals made a noisy opposition throughout the reading of the petitions.

The election of Victor Hugo is considered almost certain.

A Select Committee of the Assembly, appointed to consider what method should be adopted for the formation of a new constitution, made a report which rejects a plebescitum.

Germany.

An expedition to Venezuela is to be commissioned to enforce the national claims against tbe Government of that Republic The ladies of Strasburg have organised a committee to receive subscriptions towards the payment of the French indemnity.

Tucket.

Despatches from Constantinople announce that four Greek brigs were wrecked in the Black Sea, and that all on board perished,

Italt.

The Army Budget has been passed. The Minister of War declared that there was no reason for fearing aggres-

ion on the Dart of France.

The Archbishops and Bishops waited on the King at Christmas, and presented their congratulations to him at that season. The King also received t le Ministers and members of Parliament, and chief officials in the Government service.

Mazzini is seriously ill. A special ambassador was sent by the King to tender his congratulations to the Pope. The latter was unable to receive visits, so the ambassador was received by Cardinal Antonelli.

At tbe Telegraphic Conference at Rome Mr. Cyrus Field gave a banquet at which the representatives of 21 countries, and speaking 26 different languages, were present.

America.

Fisk, jun., the great railroad speculator, was shot by a man named Edward Stokes, in the vestibule of the Grand Central Hotel at New York. He received three shots, and expired next morning. Stokes was arrested close upon the commission of the outrage. It is said the Grand Jury have found an indictment against him, and a Mrs. Manfield, for attempting to levy blackmail. Fisk s funeral procession was more than a mile long. The revolution in Mexico continues. A despatch from Mier states that Trevin will move on Linares with 10,000 men to attack Matamoros. Henegosa, with 6,000 men, will co-operate. Queoroga has retired from Mier, and Cortina is going to occupy that place.

A great snow storm took place on the 'Central Pacific Railroad. The 'passengers turned out of the carriages and shovelled snow for three days. 28 locomotives were smashed in ploughing through tbe snow drifts, there being not a single plough on the Union Pacific line. One gentleman, who bad nothing to eat for several days, became sick. The charge for a cup of coffee was half a dollar, and the same for a loaf of bread. Some of the passengers were fourteen days in the train,

A despatch received in New York from London, states that tbe number of deaths from small-pox in London during 1871 was 8000,, the average being 90. In one previous year the number reached 6000. The " British Medical Journal" calls attention to this alarming increase, warns the people to adopt all possible precautions, and appeals to the Government to interpose strict sanitary regulations, to establish special hospitals, and to preserve a careful quarantine with respect to infected districts.