New-York tribune., 1884-02-03
TOPICS IN LEADING CITIES.
SAN FRANCISCO.
CROP PRQS?ECTS-CHINESE FESrlViliho-
THE QUEEN OF TAHITI
fey TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

| fry TELEGRAPH TO THE rRfBUSEi
| Sax FRAyoIsco. Feb 2-The heavy rains which
have fallen during week have put an emu 70
Of drv YEAR In some the largo wheat valleys tho
rain fall for the storm has been five inches "hiie
few counties have had less than one inch. Inc lat
ter snfiices for ploughing and sowing ana insuro'
| grain yet young fair start. The acreage 'hiSJ
| In wheat will be q third larger than last. while
every year sees several thousand in fruit and
vines come into bearing in the southern counties.
Several new irrigation colonies hayo been started
ON land which year ago was q barren desert In
this city the rain gave great impetus to trade which
| languished after the holidays
The Chinese Now-Year was ushered in at mid
night on Saturday by fire-crackers and Mongolian
music. Despite the heavy rain all the Chinese
spent three days in visiting and reyelry. IL was
noticeable that the festival this year was more
generally observed than in previous seasons and
the entertainment was more lavish. Several CHI
nese merchants explained this by the fact that their
countrymen had had good year, the Restriction
act having raised the wages of all classes OF Chl-
nese servants. The streets of the Chinese quarter
were hung with gayly edIanerns,and the pave
ment was red with the covers of exploded fire.
crackers Americans received hospitabe welcome
at all Chinese stores but the hoodlum' who used
to range through the quarter In gangs, and feed on
Oriental sweetmeats, was not admitted. Tho CHI
nese also put up red curtains at their glass doors TO
prevent curious outsiders from watching their
ceremonies.
Anew feature of the Sharon-Hill case is tho at
tack br Judge Tyler Miss Hills counsel, upon tho
Grand Jury which indicted his client. Tyler de-
manded that the foreman of the jury should answer
in court how tho vote was taken on the indictment,
as he claimed it taken illegally and that there
fore the indictment was void. The counsel for the
iuryman held that he could not be compelled to re-
veal the secrets of the jury room So this question,
like several others in this legal tangle went to tho
Supreme Court, which decided III favor OF the jury
| man.
| Queen Maura Of Tahiti left this city carly in
the week for the East. She saw one reporter dnr-
ing her stay. and to him deca cd that she did not
like the climate customs of the California people.
Civilized dress CALLED her. and she sought soace in
| her own room ia native dress, which is n near
| approach in shape to the Mother Hubbard coak.
| She is tall largo and dark bearing strong resern-
| blance to Mexican women and speaks English fu-
emily She travels incOgnito, and has holy h0r-
| rOr of interyiewers.
The English Herdic coaches which are about to
| be introduced into Philadelphia have been seen
here for several weeks. They are hideousy ugly
and so heavy for ono horse as not to be adapted to
hilly streets. For cheap fare and for short dis
tancos, however, they have proved success.
| case which has fingered in court seventeen
| wears was decided this week. The title of the
Alyarado family to the San Pablo Rancho, tract
| Of Is 900 acres in Contra Costa County near this
| city, is affirmed. The land originally granted
to Francisco Castro. who, at his death in 1881
divided the rancne between his widow and children
| In 1851 the widows share was devised to tho wife
| of ex-Governor Alyarado This share amounted to
'529 Of the entire rancho. Many of tho Castro
heirs sold out TO Americans and an amicabe partl-
! ton was made; but somo who had bought from the
Alvarado heirs rejected this compromise and began
suit In 1867 to their land, which the Castro
| heirs had seized The latter numbered over 300
and made stubborn fight. the case was decided
| in favor of the Alvarado claimants five years ago.
but an appeal to the Supreme Court has consumed
all these years. The is one Of tho most mpor-
| tant in Mexican land grant litigation.
| Denis Kearney, conspicuous among the liquor
sellers in the shanty suburb al Ocean Beach demol-
| jshed by tho Park Commissioners this week, will
| seek redress in the court.