The Bee-Hive. — 1872-04-20 (London, England)

THE WEEK'S NEWS.  A number of gentlemen, recognising the services rendered by the Lord Mayor to the citizens of London, on Monday presented to the Lady Mayoress a full-length portrait of his lordship, together with a service of massive plate.  The Select Committee upon the Government Bill for the abolition of the truck system met on Monday for the first time, Mr. Gathorne Hardy in the chair. No evidence was, however, taken, the Committee having decided to consider the measure with closed doors.  This 'year's Synod of the English Presbyterian Church was opened on Monday evening in Regent-square. The Rev. Thain Davidson, of Islington, was unanimously elected Moderator for the ensuing year.  Dr. Thomas Yowler Short, who resigned the bishopric of St. Asaph about two years ago, has just died at the age of 83.  A telegram from Geneva announces that the counter cases in the Alabama arbitration were laid before the tribunal on Monday morning. Fears are expressed lest the nature of the British protest may prevent a settlement of the dispute.  Official documents have been published in Madrid, which represent that the Ministerial majority in the Spanish Parliament will be 116, without reckoning fifteen independent members.  Special telegrams from Paris announce that Marguerite Dixblane was arrested, not as originally stated in a low wine shop, but in a cold shop, and her face was blackened like that of a chimney sweep. Of the stolen property £2,400 worth has been recovered, as well as jewels and other valuables. Five persons have been arrested as accomplices, but they are likely to get off owing to the fact that the principal is to be prosecuted in England, and that the provisions of the Extradition Treaty do not apply to their case.  Mrs. Eliza Wyld, 61 years of age, was on Monday charged at Bow-street on suspieion of having caused tha,death of her husband, James Wyld, at 31, Brydges-street, Strand. The deceased was the editor and proprietor of a paper published in the interests of the licensed viotuallers, and it was alleged that his death had been caused by the violence of his wife during a quarrel. She was remanded, two surieties of £5O each being accepted for her next appearance.  Several bakers were summoned at the Lambeth Police Court on Monday for having infringed the provisions of the Smoke Act. The defendants complained that the statute bore harshly upon them, and as the magistrate expressed his wish to make a personal inspection of one of the bakeries, the proceedings were adjourned for that purpose.  A man, named Hayes was on 'Monday charged at the Southwark Police Court with having caused the death of one Patrick Carroll in a pugilistic encounter. The prisoner, who declared that the fight was a fair one, was remanded, substantial bail being required.  Reuniting in the army is now progressing very slowly, and in the Royal Artillery alone there are more than 2,000 gunners below the proper strength of the establishment.  Easter Term was opened on Monday, after the judges and Queen's counsel had been en. teamed by the Lord Chancellor, at his residence in Great George-street, 'Westminster.  A fearful tragedy was brought to light on Monday afternoon at 16,Copland-street, Maidahill. A shoemaker named. Nicholls, 46 years of age, during the temporary absence of his wife, murdered four of his children, and then committed suicide. The victims were—Eliza Nicholls, aged nine years; Itosina, five; Louisa, three; and James Henry, 14 months. There are two other children, but fortunately they were not in the house at the time. It is stated that the wretched man has shown symp-* toms of insanity for several weeks past.  A firm of foreign goods importers, carrying on business in Houndsditoh, were on Monday prosecuted by:the Great Eastern Railway Company for having sent by rail a ease of detonating compound of an inflammable- character, tinder the pretence that the box contained hardware only. The hearing, which came before the Lord Mayor at the Mansion-house, was ultimately adjourned to admit of the proof of the company's bye-laws.  A. cook, bearing the name of Abigail Thames was on the 12th brought up at the Southwark Police Court charged with having, whilst in a state of intoxication, assaulted her master, a surgeon in practice in the Jamaica-road, Bermondsey. She was sentenced to two months' imprisonment, with hard labour.  On the 12th inst. a destructive fire occurred at the extensive chemical works of Mr. W. Mather, Cornbrook, Manchester. When the Manchester fire brigade arrived they found a large range of buildings of a triangular form in flames, and some hours elapsed before the efforts of the fire brigade were successful in subduing the flames. The damage extends over a considerable portion of the premises, and the loss is estimated at between £7,000 and £B,