San Francisco Mail News.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2292, 11 May 1886, Page 2

San Francisco Mail News.

SUICIDE OF AN EARL, The Earl of Shaftesbury killed himself in a cab whilo driving through Regentstreet, London, on April 13th, discharging the contents of a rovolver into his person. He fired-the first shot at his right temple, but missed his aim, The cabman then descended from his seat, and refused to proceed further,, as he feared ho would be shot. Lord Shaftesbury tried to persuade him to continue to drive, and offorod liini '£s, but the man was immovable. By this time a police,man, who had heard the shot fired, approached thecal), aiid at this moment the Earl lirod again, the ball taking effect in his temple.. The policeman tried to seize his arm to prevent him firing, but failod. Death ensued in ton minutes after the second shot. Lord Shaftesbury was 54 yearß of age, He succeeded, on October Ist, 1885, to tho title, on the death of his father, the eminent philanthropist. He leaves a widow, Harriet, daughter of the i- third Marquis of Donegal, a son, and fivo daughters. The Earl has latterly .been | unwell, and complained of mental depression.

Cambridge v Oxford.—Exciting Race. Cambridge won the University boat race on the Thames on April 3, The sky was cloudy, the weather mild, and tho wind strong. At the start, and during the race the water was Jumpy, Betting was in favor of Cambridge. The tivev banks were crowded with people, jhousands making holiday. The beats started oven, and kept so by as fine a.contest' as ever was seon on tho course for a mile, when the Cambridge boat pulled a few feut ahead. In the second stage uf tho race, the Cambridge made several desperate spurts to get away from their opponents, but the latter responded instantly and successfully, When Hammersmith Bridge was reached, the Cambridge bow to but a quarter length ahead. One mile mid a half had now been pulled, and the contest continued stubborn, It was fairlyjovon, and very exciting up to the two and a half miles' point, opposite Chiswick Church. Here Oxford spurted, and the boat responded by shooting alone; until tho bow got oven with . Cambridge, and then passed it by a few feet. The contest was urged on by cheers, which were loud and inspiring, Cambridge then gradually sent their boat up even with Oxford, and both were kept even until Barnes Bridge was pnssed. Hero neither had any visible advantages, and both were straining their utmost, The people along the banks and in boats following were almost wild with excitement, and cries of "Dead heat" were head"; but near the finish the Cambridge men were able to add one mow spurt in their long-sustained pull, and it moved their craft at the rato of forty-two strokes to the minute-almost half a length in advance, winning one of the grandest races ever rowed over the course. The oxcitemont at the close was thrillinp. At no point during the entire race had it been possible for eilier crews to get more than half a length ahead of the other,

Mil Chamberlain and Mr Gladstone. Despatches of April 11th from' London say that Mr Chamberlain's speech in the House of Commons was tho sensation of Friday evening. It passed into a personal quarrel between him and Mr Gladstone. He began by explaining his reasons for joining and quitting the Cabinet, saying it was at Mr, Gladstone's strong request it joined it. A letter he had written to Mr Gladstone lie read to the Houso. He then proceeded to explain, further, how he learned of the Government's scheme, and that it contained (he said with delicate intonation) a very proposal, involving the issue of £20,000,000 of Consols. Tho last word had hardly passed his lips before Mr Gladstone sprang to Ins feet. That, he said in effect, was an explanation tho right hon. gentleman had no right to make. A painful scene followed, out of which it was impossible for the spectators to separate the rinht !™ on S; Mr Chamberlain claimed he held Mr GMdstono's permission to read certain letters, especially one of March 15th. This one Mr Gladstone could not recollect. My Chamberlain, however insisted that permission had been given and repeated it was ijiven tho first time in unequivocal tonus. Matters were evidently at a deadlock, Mr Chamberlain, pointing his finger at the Primo Minister, said in a low-voice, "I be? to ask my right hon. friend whether he wishes to withdraw that permission now." But Mr Gladstone could not recollect ihat the

letter was. "The letter," the Tories, sneered aloud. The quarrel was serious enough by this time, the passion was. steadily rising in Mr Chamberlain's voice. : " low can I explain," he cried,, " with my hands tied behind me." His speeoh ivaa a weighty indictment of the Government scheme, The climax of a blow at the Prime Minister's'position in 1861. " Sir," said he, " I remember that time," when, in its greatest crisis—when >it was in the most terrible moment of its fate—my right lion, friend counselled tho disintegration of the United States." Mr Glad-

stone said, ,"1 did not council it." Mr Ohamborlain said, " My right lion, friend says he did not counsel it, but lie gave I the weight of his great name to the statement that the JSiorth and South have become separate naciona. "Idate Bay," continued Mr Chamberlain, "My right hon. friend himself would admit that in the view of the situation he made a mistake." " Hear," said Mr Gladstone. '• Ah I" said Mr Chamberlain, .syllable by syllable, his finder levelled at the Prime Ministers bowed head, " Are you certain ho is not making a mistako again 1" It was a tremendous blow. The Tories of course yelled like madmen, and from the | Liberal benches arose several cries of " shame," directed at Mr Chamberlain,

The latter, however had .one more shot to deliver. Levelling his finger again towards the front bench, almost inarticulate with passion he demanded " What should have been said of him if, like some servile partisan who disgraced political life, he had remained on that bench, pretending to serve his country with a lie in his mouth. This.was'aimed at Sir William Harcourt, and produced a tremendous sensation. -