A FENIAN CLUB.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 355, 19 September 1868, Page 7

A FENIAN CLUB.

Even at this season of the year, Paris offers attractions to pleasure-seekers too numerous to count. Many, however have probably become sated, and sigh despairingly for some new excitement., I strongly recommend all such to pay a visit to the Fenian Club, which stands in close proximity to one of the most frequented of the Boulevards, and opens its portals to all comers without exception. They may there make acquaintance with some really notable men—who have made a stir iu the world, and who are now reposing on the laurels they have gained, though at the same time keenly watching the progress of events. Stephens the penitent sheep, who has returned to the ibid, and Desmond, who, if his own statement be true, fired the barrel in the lane at Clerkenwell, for doing which Michael Barrett has been hanged, will probably be found occopying the posts of honour, surrounded by other less brilliant satellites, who have at no time despaired of otheir country. Nor can any of these heroes be found fault with for reticence. With easy familiarity they discuss the several affairs which came off under their superintendence, criticise the conduct of the police, and excuse the stupidity of the jury which liberated them. Desmond, who was honorably acquitted, enters into the most minute details as to the second and successful attempt that he made to light the fuse in Clerkenwell, ridiculing the idea of supposing that a mission so important would have been intrusted to an impetuous and excitable man like Michael Barrett. Desmond admits that Barrett was present, and pronounces his alibi to have been false and untenable ; but contests that, as he was innocent of the exact crime for which he was tried and convicted, his execution is murder, and, avers that it will be revenged by systematic assassinations throughout England. Fearing, possibly, that he has not been sufficiently explicit, this patriot will not hesitate to describe the ingenious and novel agencies whereby destruction is to be hurled broadcast. The greatest novelty in this line, and one in comparison with which Greek fire becomes London milk, is the " coal heaver " (burglars have their alderman and bishop.) This engine of destruction is in outward appearance an innocent lump of coal, which, mixed with others, can easily find its way into public establishments, private houses, or the holds of ships of every kind. In reality, it is a deadly torpedo, which, on coming in contact with fire, must explode with terrific violence. Another of these patriots helps to while away the hours by recounting the clever plan by which he escaped too intimate an acquaintance with Calcraft. He, too, was in the lane, and at the moment the explosion took place, passed into a house where proper disguise had been prepared. Shortly afterwards he emerged as if just risen from a sick-bed, night-cap on head, his swollen feet bandaged with flannel, and leaning heavily on the arm of a neighbour, who was searching for a cab to convey him to an hospital. He made his next appearance at» first-class hotel at the West end of London, ordered expensive apart-

ments, lived luxuriously, and paid liberally ; still, his maladies affected his temper so completely that other visitors remonstrated with the preVprietor of the hotel, and after oiie week's residence he was civilly requested to leave; a carriage was immediately ordered, in which he was Conveyed to the railway station, protesting against the indignities offered to him ; he there received scrupulous attention from the officials, and, reposing in a saldqn, was brought to Dover, and carried carefully, though evidently painfully, to the French steamer, before the pitying eyes of the surrounding detectives. Much of this may be exaggerated, but it is impossible to believe that it is not in the main true. At all events, an hour's intercourse with the Fenian element which steadily percolates through the gay city of Paris may, without hurting those who venture on it, serve as a novel excitement.— Ones a Week.

ENGLAND AND MORMONISM. "We recorded some time ago a strange piece of news, which probably attracted little attention in England, but which, if it fell into the hands of a quick American writer, might be made the basis of a very interesting work. As it is very short, we may venture to repeat it:—" Six hundred and fifty Mormon emigrants sailed for Liverpool on Satnrday for the Salt Lake by the way of New York. A large proportion of the emigrants were women." Any American bootmaker who wished to do a clever thing had only to go to Liverpool after reading this paragraph, and make inquiries about the Mormons. He would probably be referred to "Wales, and if he pursued his journey thither he would soon discover that he had hit upon the large training ground of Mormondom. He would find that "we" rear the followers of Brigham Young, and that America gets the credit of them. A thrilling picture of the frightful state of social life in Great Britain might be drawn from the presence amongst us of strange sects. "Wales is a great deal nearer to the heart of England than Salt Lake or Oneida Creek is to anything which deserves to be called "American," and an enterprising traveller, gifted with a lithe and siuewy style, might easily delude a portion of his countrymen into the belief that the Mormon nursery in "Wales can be safely taken as an example of the relations which exist between the sexes all over the country. If he did this, and did it well, he would deserve to be considered a very "smart" man,for — to use a common phrase—he would have paid us back in our own coin. We send shiploads of Mormons to America-, and then write books to prove that Mormonism ia the natural fruit of the loose principles which prevail in America.— Pall Mall Gazette.

It is arranged that Mr. Kynnersley's resignation shall take effect from the 30th of this month, and we understand it is definitely settled that no one will be appointed as his successor, but that the office of Commissioner shall after that date cease to exist. Mr. Kynnersley may be expected to arrive in Westport about the 24, inst. The usual weekly meeting of the Hospital Committee was held on "Wednesday evening, when there Were present, Messrs Tyler, (chair) Munson, Bailie, Daly, Smyth, M'Farlane, and Dr Giles. ' The plan proposed of electing sub-committees in out-districts Was reported to be impracticable, and a notice of motion was tabled by Mr Bailie, for an alteration in the ftules and Regulations in such a way as to allow the Committee to appoint sub* committees where necessary. In reference to the printed rules and regulations, it was resolved that all subserU bers should be entitled to copies gratuitously, and that they should be sold at Is each to non-subscribers. The Visiting Committee reported that there were now seven patients in the hospital* Two had been admitted during the week and four discharged Some discussion took place about compelling patients possessed of means to pay for their accommodation, but the disposal of the question was postponed till the next meeting. In reply to an enquiry from Dr Thorpe, the committee resolved that he was not called upon to supply medicine to others than those who received an order from the G-overnment, or who received the doctor's advice at the hospital. Mr Munro gave notice that he would move at the next meeting—"That out-door patients should receive gratuitous medicine and advice, upon a day and hour to be fixed by the resident surgeon. Some private letters are to hand from the Thames, which speak despairingly of the general prospects of that goldfields. Labour is as cheap

there and iii Auckland as before the rush, and there is riot work for hundreds who are eagerly seeking it at any wages, however low. The people ! are looking forward to the Waikato country being opened tip-, and if the Maoris refuse to open it to miners, or it turns cult a failure when 'the greatest 'misery and distress must ine'ntably ensile. Crowds are rushing to these diggings from all Quarters, and every steamer* is loaded. A return rush may safely be looked for in a week of two, for the payable ground is not sufficient to support a tithe of the present population. An occasional correspondent of the " LytteltOn Times after giving a very long description of affairs in British Columbia, concludes by saying':— Let me add one word Of advice to your readers, and that is, on no account to leave Australia Of New Zealand for California. Nothing is open for them in either place. When I last saw San Francisco it was estimated that over 90,00 men were lying out of work. Misery and vice were rampant. Yet hundreds more were pouring in dailvj and why ? Simply because a strong Opposition line of steamers has been put on against the Pacific S.S. Co from New York, via Panama. For several months the fares have been reduced, and now a passage can be obtained from 20 or 25 dollars steerage, and a saloon passage can be obtained for from 40 to $0 dollars. Out of this the companies have to pay 25 dollars for the fare by the train across the isthmus of Panama ; so, reaily> they are carrying passengers a voyage of three weeks for less than the bare cost of two hours and a half fun in a fail* way train. In April lastit was expected that the fares would be still further reduced. Every steamer was bringing over from NeW York, hundreds of the very worst class of the genus "loafer" of that place. Things are desperately bad there, so they t Ush at the cheap fares across to California, where they find things worse. Wages are higher but no work to be obtained, and the necessaries of life are, of course far higher than in the Eastern States. The Pacific Railway Company employs thousands of Chinamen on their works, thereby doing away with the necessity ofemploying expensive and independent labour. Looking at all these facts, and, having for ten months carefully, and in a thoroughly unprejudiced manner, examined personally the Eastern States of the Pacific from the Golden G-ate to British Columbia, I must unhesitatingly assef t that Australia and New Zealand hold forth better inducements than either of these countries in every way. If those who may now be making Up their minds to leave for California, could only have had my experience, and seen the passengers from Australia who have landed there, and the disappointments they have met withj I think many of them would be found wavering, and the ships from Sydney for San Francisco Would leave with fewer passengers any more coals. Melbourne is fertile in mechanical contrivances. One of the latest is in the shape of locomotive engine ; it comprises an oven fof baking puf poses, with a furnace underneath supplied with coke, and a steam boiler surmounted with a vessel for the f eception of the prepared article. It is six and a half feet long, two and a half feet wide, and three and a half feet high, exclusive of the chimney, which is about 3 feet feet higher. A safetyvalve prevents all danger of the boiler bursting. The machine cost £6O, and 13 strictly a colonial production. Colored lamps ornament each side, while one is suspended to the chimney, An alarm-whistle is sounded to give notice of its approach. The purpose to which this ingenious structure is devoted is the supply of potatoes and saveloys, • all hot !