THE NEW ZEALAND MAILS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1866, 16 February 1880, Page 2

THE NEW ZEALAND MAILS.

An English paper recently published states that it was announced at the London Post-office that the despatch of mails for Australia and New Zealand, via Southampton and Suez, will cease in January. The last direct mail for Melbourne by that route will be made up on the morning of the Bth, and the last mail for Brisbane, via Torres Straits on the morning of the 22nd January. Thenceforth the mails via Suez will bo forwarded solely by way of Brindisi; and commencing with Friday, the 13th of February, mails will be made up and despatched on the evening of every alternate Friday throughout the year. On and from the Ist of February next the following rates of postage will bo charged on correspondence for Australia or New Zealand forwarded via Suez :—Letters, 7d per J>z.; newspapers (not exceeding 4cz ) lid each; book packets and patterns or samples, lid p ; r 2oz. The postage must in all oases be prepaid. The privileged letters of soldiers aud seamen will be charged 2d each, and unless that rate be paid upon them, they will be forwarded by private ships, as opportunity offers. The rates of postage now levied on letters, Ac., forwarded to Australia or New Zealand, via San Francisco, remain in force, and letters, intended to be conveyed by private ship will also continue to be charged as at present.

THE DISTRESS IN IRELAND. As to the reality of the distress In Ireland, at a meeting held in the Mansion Douse, Dublin, late in Deoem her, Sir Arthur Guinness said he could speak for the west of Ireland, from which he had returned a few days ago. He cculd say that every subscription and every amount that could be obtained would be very inadequate to afford the relief required. There were hundreds of families whose supply of potatoes had been very nearly exhausted ; their credit was gone, and unless the hand of charity was put forth to assist them they could not foretell what would be the result, Mr Brooks, M.P., said Sir Arthur Guinness had spoken of distress in the west of Ireland. He himself knew that there was very great distress in the city of Dublin. Within the lass few hours a deputation of labourers had waited on him on him and announced their intention of holding a meeting of their body on Harold’a-cross-green. Ha had advised them that this meeting would probably tend to alleviate the distress.