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(PER MAIL STEAMER AT AUCKLAND)

The collapse of Oscar Wild's case and subsequent arrest, says the correspondent of the 'New York World' on 5th April, have caused a sensation without parallel in London since the exposure and flight of the forger Pigott during the sitting of the Parnell Commission. Still, since Wilde's first day's testimony the result was foreseen. The expectation was that the jury would stop the trial and return a verdict for Lord Queensberry. Wilde's lawyers acted wisely in consenting to a verdict at the stage the suit had reached. If Lord Queensberry's witnesses had been examined the judge would have had no recourse, but must have issued a warrant for Wilde's arrest on a charge entailing as a maximum a penalty of twenty years' imprisonment, but upon the evidence already unfolded, if Wilde is convicted it can only be of a misdemeanor, for which the maximum penalty is two years' imprisonment. Wilde looked a changed man this morning as he slunk into the court buildings. His complexion was ghastly, and altogether he had the aspect of a man who had passed a wakeful and anxious night. To an interviewer Wilde stated, in a nervous tone quite unlike his flippant audacity as a witness, that he had withdrawn from the case to spare Lord Douglas the pain of testifying against his father, adding that he willingly sacrificed himself for his friend. That was the hollowest 'bluff.' The truth is that Wilde's chief lawyer, Sir Edward Clarke, decided after the close of Thursday's proceedings to withdraw from the suit. This decision was immediately communicated to Oscar, hence the restless, hopeless night he passed. Wilde's lawyers say that up to that time he had never evinced the slightest appreciation of the enormity of the accusations against him. It was only when the imminent prospect of his taking Lord Queensberry's place in the dock dawned upon him that he lost his self-command. The mass of testimony ready to be given against him, as forshadowed by Lord Queensberry's counsel, took Wilde completely back. The 'World's' correspondent hears that this testimony was tendered by the police to Lord Queensberry's lawyers, it having accumulated during their investigations. They had planned a public prosecution if the case had proceeded. It is rumored that one of the reasons why Sir Edward Clarke decided to stop the trial was that to go on would have involved the disclosure of the names of distinguished personages, but this story is discredited. If Wilde had escaped to the continent he would have been safe from arrest, as he could not have been extradicted under the charge. It was reported he had fled but he was seen in Chelsea at 1 p.m. to-day, and was arrested by 7 p.m. Mrs Wilde who is distracted with grief at the turn affairs have taken, has about L600 a year of her own. For the last three years she has received no financial help from her husband.

Ever since the Police Court proceedings the bookings for both Wilde's pieces have steadily declined. The London public will never tolerate the performance of any more of his plays. Thus his principal means of livelihood is gone, and as he lived very extravagantly he has nothing from the large income he has had for some years.

FLIGHT PROJECTED.

A later London cable says: Oscar Wilde was arrested by a detective of Scotland Yard this afternoon on charges growing out of his own evidence given in the libel suit against Lord Queensberry, which was decided against the dramatist to-day. The warrant was issued on the application of Sir George Lewis, on behalf of the Public Prosecutor. After the trial this afternoon Wilde went to the Westminster Bank, where he drew out the funds to his account, after which he was constantly shadowed. He returned to his hotel, accompanied by Lord Alfred Douglas, only remaining a few minutes, after which they drove off to Ely Place, and thence to the Cadogan Hotel where they vanished. The Scotland Yard authorities issued descriptions of Wilde, and spread them over the city, and he was captured before he could get out of the country, as was evidently his intention. He was taken to Scotland Yard and locked up; then he was taken to Bow street and placed in the dock. At the police station he stood with his hands in his pockets while the charge against him was being taken. The police inspector then read the charge aloud, and asked Wilde if he had anything to say, adding the usual warning that anything he said might be used against him. The prisoner, apparently indifferent, made no reply. He was then searched, after which he was locked in a cell. Subsequently Lord Alfred Douglas went to the police station and inquired whether Wilde would be admitted to bail. The police inspector explained that Wilde was arrested for a criminal offence, which did not allow of bail being accepted until he had been arraigned in court. Lord Alfred seemed greatly distressed by this information. Sworn informations have been lodged against several persons mentioned in the trial, some of whose names were not made public. They will be arrested.

WILDE'S EXPLANATION.

The Evening News to day received the following letter from Oscar Wilde, written upon note paper of the Holborn Hotel: "It would have been impossible for me to have proved my case without putting Lord Alfred Douglas in the witness-box against his father. He was extremely anxious to go into the witness-box but I would not let him. rather than put him in so painful a position I determined to withdraw from the case and bear upon my own shoulders whatever ignominy and shame might result from my persecution of the Marquis of Queensberry."—Oscar Wilde.

LONDON, April 5. -- The suit of Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensbury came to a sudden and unexpected termination this morning, shortly after the third day's proceedings were commenced in the Old Bailey, before Justice Collins.

Sir Edward Clark, formerly Solicitor-General, leading counsel for Oscar Wilde asked permission on behalf of his client to withdraw the suit and submit to a verdict announcing the Marquis not guilty in regard to the words "posing as a --," written by the Marquis of Queensberry on a card which was left for Wilde by the Marquis at the Albemarle Club on Feb. 18, and which was handed to the latter by a porter, Sidney Wright, on Feb. 28, and which formed the outward basis of the suit.

The jury, under instructions from Justice Collins, returned a verdict of not guilty, coupled with the statement that the justification set up as a defense by the Marquis of Queensberry was true in substance and in fact, and that the statement complained of was published for the public good.

Later in the day application was made at the Bow Street Police Court, before Sir John Bridge, for a warrant for the arrest of Oscar Wilde, which was granted.

Wilde spent several hours in company with Lord Alfred Douglas at a hotel in Holborn. Early in the afternoon Lord Alfred drove to a bank, cashed a check and returned. Soon afterwards, both Wllde and Lord Alfred drove away.

He was followed by two detectives and arrested at the Cadogan Hotel, Sloan street, whence he was taken in a cab to Scotland Yard.

Wilde wore an ulster and silk hat. He was very pale, but cool when he at arrived at Scotland Yard. At 8.10 P.M. he was arraigned at the Bow Street Police Court.

Before 10 o'clock this morning every available foot of space in the courtroom was filled with spectators, who were armed with newspapers and packages of sandwiches, and who were otherwise ready to spend the day in court in the most comfortable manner possible.

It was noticed, however, that Oscar Wilde was absent.

In resuming his argument this morning, Mr. Carson said that he hoped he had demonstrated that the Marquis was justified in bringing to a climax in the way he did the connection between his son, Lord Alfred Douglas, and Wilde.

Continuing, counsel said that he now approached a more painful duty. It would be his task to call the several young men who would tell their own tales, and who would show that the man Taylor, frequently referred to during the proceedings, was Wilde's procurer.

It was no wonder that the Marquis of Queensberry protested against the intimacy between his son and Wilde. The wonder is, counsel said, that this man has been so long tolerated in London society.

Mr Carson was continuing his terrible denunciation of Oscar Wilde when Sir Edward Clarke and others of Wilde's counsel left the court room for consultation. They soon returned, and Sir Edward asked for permission to interrupt the proceedings.

Then, amid a most impressive silence, the leading counsel for the plaintiff began to announce the withdrawal of the case on behalf of his client. The chief concern of Sit Edward Clarke, who is a prominent Conservative, and who was Solicitor-General under Lord Salisbury's last administration, from 1886, when he was knighted, to August, 1892, seemed to be his desire to justify himself in undertaking the case for Wilde.

He said that after consulting with his client, who, by the way, was in the room to which his counsel adjourned, and who left the building hurriedly when Sir Edward Clarke began his statement, he asked to withdraw the suit and on Wilde's behalf to submit a verdict of not guilty in regard to the words "Posing as a ---," which the Marquis of Queensberry had written on the card, which formed the basis of the suit.

Mr. Carson here interposed, saying that if there was to be a verdict of not guilty, it also involve a verdict of justification, as the case of his client must succeed upon that plea.

Justice Collins said, as to the Jury putting any limit on heir verdict, that the charge, "Posing as a ---," was either justified or not justified, and that if the jury consented to the course suggested they were to return a verdict of not guilty, and were also to find that the, justification set up by the defense was true in substance and in fact, and that the words complained of were published for the public benefit.

At the close of tho proceedings it became known that it was momentarily expected that a warrant for the arrest of Oscar Wilde would be issued. Counsel for the Marquis of Queensberry have written to the Public Prosecutor, inclosing copies of the statements made by all the witnesses for the defense, and also inclosing the shorthand notes taken at the trial, in order that there may be no miscarriage of justice.

Oscar Wilde has written a letter to the newspapers, in which he says:

"It was impossible to prove my case without putting Lord Alfred Douglas in the witness-box against his father. Lord Alfred was extremely anxious to go into the box, but I would not allow it. Rather than put him in such a painful position I determined to retire from the case and bear upon my own shoulders whatever shame and ignominy might result from not prosecuting the Marquis of Queensberry."