AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1984, 14 September 1869, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Among the enclosures from the AgentGeneral of Victoria is one embodying a proposal for the construction of a submarine telegraph, on very economical principles ; and another is a description of a process of meat preserving, not the least recommendatory feature of which is that it insists upon turning the whole animal to account, on the principle that economy is indispensable to successful competition—that the preserved meat from this country must be offered at half if not less than half the price of the freshly killed article, if it is to command a remunerative! sale. Among other important matters Mr Verdon mentions a communication from Mr J. P. Leonard, an English gentleman long resident in Paris, and familiar with the social and mercantile life of France. Mr Leonard suggests that, in view of the opening of the Suez canal, it would be worth the while of Victorian mercantile men—notably of Victorian wool growers—to have direct commercial intercourse —comity, so to speak—established between Melbourne and Marseilles. It seems to us that the idea is well worthy of being entertained, and if members of the Chamber of Commerce be really worthy of their work they will look to it at once, for it is their affair, not that of the Government.

The Attorney-General has received a communication from our Colonial Ageht-General, acknowledging the receipt of the preliminary instructions in the Privilege case. Pending the receipt of the documentary data—then on their way—the Crown Solicitors of the Colony in London write that Sir Roundell Palmer and Mr J. D. Wood had been retained on behalf of the Legislative Assembly. We are glad to learn that the Melbourne Meat Preserving Company have received advices of the most satisfactory character by the mail. A telegram in the Times of the 17th July announces that the company were then preparing to establish branch factories, as had been indicated in one of the city articles of that journal : —“The directors have authorised us to place at par, in this country, 3000 shares, L 5 each, of their unallotted capital, and are prepared to enlarge the company should English capital be forthcoming for the purpose.” Mr H. A. Churchill, C.8., her Majesty’s consul and political agent at Zanzibar, has just arrived in this country on medical certificate. We are happy to hear that Mr Churchill speaks with confidence as to the safety of Dr Livingstone, from whom he has had some letters of a date more recent than that of his reported murder. It is Mr Churchill’s opinion that Dr Livingstone, having heard of the discovery of the northern portion of Lake Albert Nyassa, by Sir S. Baker, has directed his route in search of the southern boundary of the lake, and that in the course of a few months it is probable that further news will be heard from Livingstone himself. It is generally believed that Prince Rung has officially intimated to Sir R. Alcock that the Duke of Edinburgh will not be received by the royal family of China on a footing of equality. Sir Rutherford Alcock has endorsed all Mr Gibson’s Formosa acts, including the taking of Amping. The tea market opened at Foo Chow Foo on the 29th June. Several clippers have sailed for London. Departures for Melbourne, three ; for Sydney, six ; for Adelaide, one. Total exports ot tea to Australia since June 1, 2,648,052 lb ; eleven ships are on the berth for Australia.

Mr Reverdy Johnson has declared that he strictly obeyed instructions when in England. The British Minister at Washington has received official intimation that a recommendation will be made to the House of Representatives to renew trade relations with Canada, and negotiations towards a reciprocity treaty are progressing. Th«re is no prospect of the termination of the American Indian war. Troops have been distributed along the Pacific Railway to defend it from interruption.