OUR NEWS LETTER.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 274, 23 November 1894, Page 6

OUR NEWS LETTER.

FOREIGN. The Chinese Defeat—Captain ITannekin has been appointed to the command of the Chinese fleet. General Wei, of the Chinese forces, has been beheaded on a charge of cowardice* The attempt to bring about a peace between China and Japan has failed for the pres ent. It seems that more blood and money must flow before common sense can he brought to hear. Storms in England— During a hurricane on November 14th the (steel ship Culmore, 1,720 lons, was wrecked off Spurn Head, Humber, and

-1 of the crew drowned A trawler, while endeavouring to rescue the crew, was caught by ; heavy sea and hurled with terrible force against the ship, the captain and his wife being killed. Only four on board the Culmore were saved . .rhe Ani nmn rains have caused severe floods in the south-west of England. A thousand people have been rendered homeless in the vicinity of Bath, and the country around Gloucester is a huge lake. The Thames Valley is inundated from Windsor to Oxford. The town of Maidenhead is partially submerged. Huntley and Palmer’s biscuit factory at Reading is flooded, depriving 2,000 hands of work. European Troubles-- M. Hanotaux, Minister for -Foreign Affairs, asked for a credit of £2,600, 000 for the despatch of an expedition of 15.000 men to Madagascar, which it was intended to make a I rench'colony. The army would march straight on the capital, and there was no prospect ot foreign interference This statement was received with applause. General Duchesne would have command. .England and Germany —The Standard’s V lenna Correspondent says that England’s ctitvoge ot -front regarding the Triple Alliance and increasing friendship with Russia, are attraciirg close attention, and appear to be regal ded with regret. The new departure is attributed to the belief that Germany baffled her efforts to bring about peace between China and Japan, and has checked her progress in Africa. This action is sup posed to have forced England to abandon her friendship with Germany. ° bavERE Earthquake;. —Eighty persons were killed by the eartnquake in Sicily* and Southern Italy. During the earthquake sixty persons fled in terror t ; pray, in a church and procopis in Calabria. The building, however, was destroyed, and the rcxugees were buried under the ruins. The Czar’s Funeral —Fifty thousand people waited through tne whole night in order to visit the corpse of the late Czar, before it was consigned to its final resting place. The concluding ceremony, which took place today, was an imposing function, conducted on an enormous scale. The Imperial insignia and regalia alone requited v X'ecu coache; to carry 7 them. Among j the royal personages present were the Kings <5 Denmark, Greece, and Sorvia, tne Princes of Wales, Naples, Monteneg-o, and Henry of Prussia, and Dukes of York and Coburg. Colonial Butter, —Glasgow butter merchant s state they would be able to obtain better prices th ii. are given in London if shipments were made direct at regular intervals. West Australia’s .Lawless Blacks. A desperate encounter willi the natives West Kimberly lias taken place. Constable Richardson and two stockmen have been killed. A. large meeting was held at Derby on Saturday morning, and resolutions were carried to the effeet. that the Government should be asked to outlaw the tribes in the districts in question. The natives seized about 1,000 rounds of ammunition, several rifles and revolvers and a load of provisions belonging 'to Burke and Gibbs. The Premier has promised that an expedition shall be despatched at once to deal wi}h tire natives. Turkish Atrocities.— Atrocities have been committed in Arnenia owing to the refusal of the people to pay taxes. The Turkish troops fired on the people, killing thousands and destroying 25 villages. The details of the atrocities arc appalling, and it is alleged that the Turkish Government directly instigated the violence. Fiom six to ten thousand were slaughtered, regardless of age and sex, Niue thousand women, after being- outraged, wese hacked to pieces, Tne Amenian press declare that seme of the most attractive women ‘were offered their lives if they abjured their faith, but declilied, and were killed. NEW ZEALAND, An infant name I James Henry Gardener, aged eighteen months, met his death at Wakal'imo, Marlborough, under peculiar circumstances. The child was left asleep in a.cot. and on his mother returning in a few minutes she found him hanging by the chin with the back of his head between the handrail and the side of the cot Tie was quite dead. It is surmised that the deceased awoke during his mother’s absence, and, falling backwards, became jammed in the position in which ho was found, and being unable to extricate himself was strangled. AUCKLAND, The Auckland Agricultural Society’s Annual Show was held on Friday and Saturday last, and was most successful. Potter’s paddock’ Epsom, was filled with the finest specimens of homes, eat tie, sheep, pigs, poultry etc., that the neighbourhood possessed, and produce of ihe finest quality was there in abundance, Auckland merchants and tradesmen showed their wares and implements of interest to agriculture, and altogether the show was of high educational worth. The attendance was very good, and Epsom was never so country like before. The half holiday question seems to be as far from amicable settlement as ever. The grocers of this city met to discuss the question and decide upon the most suitable day. Twenty-five persons were present anct after some talk a vote was taken when 8 voted for Saturday, 7 for Wednesday and ten did not vote all all. The half holiday is enacted for the benefit of employees but in considering the question many tradesmen view it only 7 from the business point tnd cannot consent to give up the Saturday right trade before being certain of not losing thereby. If the question were left to a vote of smploye.es for settlement Saturday would give m immense majority and this tradesmen well mow. Telegraph to North Gape.—The Chamber of Commerce are urging upon the Government the lecessity of connecting the Cape Maria Man Diemen lighthouse with the telegraph lines of ;lie colony. A deputation is to wait upon the Ton. J. G Ward to urge the importance of the iort)> has strongly urged the same upon Ministers Married Women as Teachers—Messrs Lamhe

and Muir of the Education Board are of the opinion that women who have husbands able to support them should not be employed as teachers by the Board. They, however, were the only two members who voted in support of Mr Muir’s motion in that direction. Mayoral Elections—Mr J. J. Holland has been leturned as Mayor of Auoklank for a second term, unopposed, Mr G-. Kissling-, Mayor of lan ell, and Mr F. G- Clayton, Mayor of Newmarket, and Mr Allison, Mayor of Devonport. all unopposed. Mr Richard Warnock is returned Mayor of .Newton, also unopposed. Onkhokga Matoeaity. — Mrs Yates is not to bo re-elected for a second term in this position without strong opposition. Mr Donald Tutk.aland has been proposed for the office by no less than eight different people. Mrs Yates was nominated by General Ttoddart and Mr J. Lord Glasgow has forwarded the Mayor of Auckland a cheque for £25 towards the Wail'ar.ipa Relief Fund. An application having been made for some work for the unemployed at Auckland, the Premier intends to send a few of the men to the works in the North