NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 420, 26 December 1874, Page 5

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

The Suez Mail arrived at Adelaide on Dec. 10th. The following is the general summary of news :—: — - London, October 31st. The cession of the, Fiji Islands is generally approved of by the Press. The sudden death of Mr, Eddy on the platform of the Glasgow Bailway station, while attending the Social Science Congress, produced a profound and painful sensation amongst Colonists. „ The cause of death was chronic heart disease. A true bill for libel has been returned against Dr. Kenealy, the prosecutrix being Mrs. Pittendreich, a witness against tbe Claimant on the late trial. 2262 emigrants were forwarded to New Zealand during September. The Liverpool returns for the quarter ending September 30th., show a decrease ef 9515 emigrants compared with last year. Bishop Selwyn, on his visit io Canada, was warmly received. A fatal collision occurred between ■two Australian ships, the Candabar and Kingsbridge, ou the 15th October, off the Lizard. The latter vessel sank in three minutes, carrying down the captain, his wife and daughter and eight seamen. The remainder managed to board the Candabar. This vessel having a watertight fore compartment, was preserved from sinking. It is estimated that the value of the Kingsbridge was £30,000. The Express of Russia, by rapid travelling arrived six hours after her daughter's confinement. Disraeli received from the Provincial Orange Lodges of tbe north-eastern districts a resolution condemning Eitualism, and commending his action against it. The Premier expressed himself honored by the terms of the motion. In Exeter tbe feeling against Ritualism is very strong.' Stanley has arrived in good health at Zanzibar. * A deputation from the London Missionary Society of Madagascar report that 1000 churches have been formed, and that 30,000 persons have abandoned idolatry. November 7th Value of British exports for October, £21,700,000; imports, £27,750,000 Lord Derby was elected Hector of tbe Edinburgh University. He polled 770 against 580 polled by Dr. Playfair. Disraeli is elected Bector of the Glasgow University, Private Sm.ith who confessed to the murder of Captain Bird, has* been executed. . . Garibaldi was elected for Rome. The recruiting in the army is larger FOREIGN NEWS. " There is. great defection and mutinies have occurred in the Garlist ranks. Carlist atrocities are unabated, and the rumour of Germany interfering is revived but not credited. The arrest of Count, ilrnim is generally condemned in political circles. A painful sensation was caused in Vienna by tbe publication of a pastoral charging Germany with endeavouring to extirpate Christianity. Garibaldi, at the of-the Komans, stood to represent thenv^He exhorted the electors to vote for p*erjSons now political prisoners. Three expeditions have been despatched byßussia against the Turcomans. There have been extensive arrests of internationalists with arms and war. munitions at Florence. Lady Dilke's body was conveyed from London to Dresden, and there burned, on the 10th October. Besides relatives of deceased, numerous scientific men were present at the cremation. Seventy-five minutes after the introduction of the body, all that remained of it was Gibs of 'dust. Princess Alice, has written a novel called Life Paths, illustrative of life amongst the upper ten thousand, which will shortly be published. In Exeter, the war over the dominical tax waxes fiercer every day. The feeling against the Kitualastic party is very strong. A fund is formed for the defence of those who are resisting the tax. Parliament will be appealed to for the suppression of the tax. The clergy are in antagonism on the subject. About a fortnight ago, a tremendous gale swept over these Islands, inflicting an enormous amount of devastation and loss, particularly on the northwest coast of Scotland. The Minch is so strewed with wreckage as to impede

navigation. Hundreds of'coas • -•- fishing smacks perished. The stes Chusan was driven upon the Cll.l ' Bock outside the harbour of An.'lrosBun, and parh*-l amidshi <-•. l-> ,-ersons periahing. Tne iron s!)i|> iVicju, bound for Eangoon, disappeared, .vifh all hands. Similar disasters are daily reported. A testimonial of silver plate, votod by the Province of Otago to Captain Jacquemart, for having rescued some shipwrecked emigrants off the Hew Zealand coast, was presented by Dr Featherston to Marshal MacMihon, in the presence of the French Ministers, on the Captain's behalf, who is on foreign service. The railway world has been astounded by an announcement of the Midland Company that after the Ist January they will abolish second-class carriages, reduce first-class fares to one half-penny per mile, and discontinue return tickets. This resolution has provoked much adverse criticism in the interest of the exclusive classes, but the bulk of 'the people rejoice at the resolution. Some of the great lines had previously threatened to Jadvance third class fares by fast trains, by way of reprisals for the passenger duty. Cook the English champion, has been beaten at billiards at New York by Rudolphe. After an exhaustive inquiry into the cause of the Regent's Park explosion the jury found that the explosion was caused by the ignition of vapour of petroleum by a fire alight in a cabin of the Tilbury ; that in the stowage and transit of the dangerous cargoes the Grand Junction Canal Company omitted proper precautions and were guilty of gross negligence, and that the statutory laws are totally inadequate for the public safety in the transit of explosives. By means of a miniature model of the barge, the cause of tbe explosion was illustrated. The flash of the benzoline vapour occurred several seconds before tbe gunpowder exploded, and the men on the bargo thought it was lightning, which had been frequent during the night. Ouly three men perished, although some lives w.ere sacrificed through fright." During the discussion some startling facts have been disclosed as to hourly risks we run of similar catastrophes. G-unpowder, petroleum, and other perilous stuff are either stored whera an accident might destroy half London, or they are- continually passing along ouiTstreets, canals, or railways, and there is no law to prevent this. The intervention of Government is earnestly invoked. Meanwhile, subscriptions are being collected towards a fund for the relief of the poor sufferers by the explosion. The total damage is estimated at £100,000, The non-escape ofhhe beasts and reptiles of the Zoological Gardens is universally acknowledged as a distinct mercy. INDIA AND THE EAST. Extensive frauds on the Oriental Bank, Galle, have been discovered. The investigation re Naua Sahib is proceeding at Cawnpore. The evidence is conflicting. By a Cyclone at Calcutta thirty lives were lost. There have been floods in Southern Indial with loss of life and property. By an earthquake at Cabul 7000 lives were lost.

We recommend the following hints extracted from the "Southland News" to our Good Templar friends in the Tuapeka district. — When G-ood Templars, perhaps with more zeal than discretion, denouce the habit of young or old frequenting billiard saloons, and the usually adjacent "bar", in the evenings, they are not unfrequently met with the taunt, " Why don't you provide something better." The reply has all the more force from tbe generally known fact that by the nature of their organization they are in a much better position to offer a counter at- ' traction than almost any other body, and that they might with ease accomplish what would be a matter of difficulty to a few private individuals. The G-.T.'s are apparently wakening up to their position in this social question, and an effort is about being made to remove the reproach. Obviously, an easy way of doingso is by having at intervals, concerts which would be open to the public. Such meetings are not new in the Order here, but hitherto they have been little more than for the benefit of the initiated. It is now resolved, however,- to abandon this exclusiveness, and the first of a proposed series was given in the Temperance Hall on Tuesday evening, and proved a success so far that the place was crowded. Thus encouraged many of the leading men in both Lodges are of opinion that they should go a step further by engaging a larger place of i meeting; and inviting the public generally to assist them. The project seems feasible enough. The chief item of outlay*wmild be the cost of the hall, and it is calculated that the very small charge of twopence or threepence would cover that. As to material for keeping up a series of, say, Saturday evening entertainments, it is believed that withm the ranks of. tbe Order <Kiere is a 'sufficient amount of ability, assisted as might reasonably be expected, by well-wishers* outside of it. The project, which is as yet is an embryo state, is a worthy ene, and. it is to be hoped, will ripen to maturity soon. " iEgles " in the " Australasian '* says : — "As a pendant to the viceregal story about the conde rimed British, uud in illustration of the prevalence of emphasis of a certain kind, here i 3 .something: An Irish emigrant justlanded in Dunedinaaid to his fellow-countryman who had prceesded him a year or two, ' And so there are no snakes in New Zealand V *No snakes r * said the friend, ' but too many infernal Scotchmen!'" ;