VIA AUCKLAND.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 642, 1 March 1870, Page 3

VIA AUCKLAND.

4» The s.a. City of Melbourne arrived at Auckland on February 22, after a passage of five and a-half days from Sydney, bringing forty-six passengers. By this arrival, we learn that the B.M.S. Malta arrived at King George's Sound with the English Mail on February 10. The Malta had among her passengers the celebrated little fellow, General Tom Thumb, and his party, for Melbourne. The following are the English telegrams from the Sydney Morning Herald : — 1 GENERAL SUMMARY. London, December 31. The Australian Mails for November were punctually delivered. The Queen and Court are spending Christmas at Osborne. Prince Leopold's health has improved. The Princess of Wales has recovered ; her infant daughter is christened Maude Charlotte Mary Victoria. The Colonial Question continues to be discussed and agitated. Three more Wednesday conferences were held at Cannon street Hotel. Mr Beaumont showed, by striking statistics, how invariably trade follows the flag of England — apparently (For continua i >n of news see Fourth Pag « )

the only argument to some minds in favor of the retention of the Colonies. Ou the 15ih a deputation, introduf c \ l.y Earl Bury, visited Earl Granville ; it co » Bisted of the Duke of Manchester, Viscount Milton, the Boi. H. Kinnaird, Mr Hamilton, MrEdward Wilson, Mr Walker, Mr Carter, Dr Wray, Mr Labilliere, Mr Young, Mr Sutherland, Mr Tobin, Mr Sewell, Mr Storr, Mr Youl, Mr Goodlet, Mr Booth, Mr Lewthwaite, Mr Roache, the Rev, Mr Herring, Colonel Synge, and Dr Eldy. The ostensible object of the interview was to disavow hostile intentions towards the Colonial Office, in a circular issued last August, and to urge a modification of the preseut system of Colouial affairs. The principal speakers were : — Bury, Youl, Manchester, Sewell, Viscount Milton, and Tobin. Earl Grauville said he could not assume any blame for misconceiving the spirit of the circular, as illustrated by the tone of recent meetings, but he had not allowed this to influence, him in the despatch to Colonial Governors. His objectors had proposed a Conference of a two-fold nature, but it was not agreeable to the colonists themselves, and was not calculated, to accomplish the object sought: The first objection .was confirmed by the want of response to the circular which Lord Bury has ascribed to Earl Granville's despatch. Earl Granville thought it was stunting tho Conference while. exciting the jealousy of the larger Colonies, which would embarrass the Minister, and diminish his responsibility ; he considered the proper mode of communication was by the Secretary through the Governors to the Colonial Govi ra vents. Earl Granville disavowed ; the remarks attributed to him respecting the separation Of New Zealand; the present misunderstanding was like a matrimonial squabble which would be -aggravated by any attempt to define the relations of the colonists with the mother country; he was intensely dissatisfied with the interview. The Times and Daily News thought Earl Granville's speech would extinguish the agitation ; but ; at the last meeting a resolution was proposed to form a National, Colonial, and Emigration League ; and whether the next, mail will report a disapproval of their proceedings remains to be seen. Ah able and suggestive paper, by Sir H. Druminond, on the constitution, functions, and standing of the Colonial Council, appears in the Tines; the Spectator urges that envoys should be sent from English-speaking Colonies, so that they maybe in constant communication with the ; lmperial Government. Mr Roaa urges the speedy completion of telegraphic communication with Australia, as calculated to aid immigration by annihikting the prejudice against distance. A movement has been initiated to amalgamate the Metropolitan Emigration Societies, and Government aid is still invoked, i Mr .Taller iu an had an interview with the Emperor Na >oleon respect ng the extension of cheap Australian meat dinners to France. AChristmas-box of LI OOO was presented to •Mr Miller, of the Jerusalem Coffeehouse. An Emigrant-Colonists' Aid Co-opera-tive Society is announced, with a capital 0fL250,000. More warehouses for storing wool at reduced charges will be opened at Millwall Docks, in February. Admiral.Porter has affronted the Governor of St. Helena. iThe oftjoe of Master of the Mint has teen abolished. Mr Lingen succeeds the Hon. G. A. Hamilton as Secretary of the Treasury. Sir F. Saridford, Assistant Colonial Under Secretary, succeeds Mr Lingen at the Educational Board. ;•'.'".. The three Bishops of Exeter, Bath, and Wells, and the Falkland Islands, were consecrated on the 21st of December, at "VVestmiuster Abbey. The opposition to Dr Temple waa maintained to the last ; four formal.protests -were entered against liiui ; he declined to disavow sympathy with the Essays and Reviews. John Bull intinmtes that .his Episcopal brethren will cut him after his confirmation. On his election, Dr Wilberf orce paid a visit to the Queen^ and was invested with the Order of th.c Garter. . A. warm testimonial has been presented to \Dr Temple by his former pupils. . Asttffragan. bishop to the Primate of Canterbury has been appointed by the Government. Mr Hayman's appointment to the BeacUmastersbip of Eu_b/ School has been .severely criticised," but wa3 confirmed by the trustees. Parliament has been summoned to meet n the Bth of February. Cabinet Councils -have, been very frequent; Earl Derby waited on Mr Disraeli at Highenderi ; the leadership of the Conservatives is. still unsettled. . Mr.Forster has been commissioned to draft a measure relative to Primary Edur catioD. ■ \ ;■■.:. : Mr Childera and Mr Baxter are gea Jously at work on Admiralty reform, ; Mr'Cardwell intends to put an end to the claßhiu.g authority at the War Office by abolishing the duel, syatem, . ;i >, £he Ifniveraitieg of Oxford and Gambridge sent a deputation to Mr Gladstone, urging the abolition of th.c University teStS, ; ;:/.. The transfer of the electric telegraph to the Govc r-nme'nt is fixed for January, Lord Claud Hamiltoa is elected' for Lynn. r Mr Labouchere retired from the Southwark contest in favor of Odger ; but Waterlow and Tycett persist in their can-* didature despite the remonstrances of the Liberal Press, • ; - Judgment was given against the Rev Mr Mackonochie for kneeling before the consecrated ek mo its. Be was condemned in.costs. The Rev Mr Voyse's appeal comes on for hearing in February. ■: : . , The arbitrators declare that L 7142 is due from Edtnonds to the Crown. : ■ Dr Shoftho'ise, editor and proprietor of the porting Times, was fined L5'J; and sentenced to three months' imprisonment for libel, in imputing dishonorable tonduct in the scratching of horses by Sir J, Ilawley. . . The Times, by a suit in the ViceChancellor's Court, has compelled the Clerlcenwell News to drop the word Landau Times from the end of the title. The Monarch, with the remains of Mr Peabody, left Spithead on the 21st Dec, after detention by gales, H.M.S, Plymouth accompanied her. There has been a Fenian attack upon the Salford militia, in order to seize eight hundred stand of arms. The Wehh fasting girl died on the eighth day of ft fortnight's wfctch, in 'the

presence of nurses from Guy's Hospital. The parents refused to offor the girl any food. A verdiot of manslaughter has been returned against the father. The acquittal of the Overend and Gurney Bank directors was received with loud acclamations in Court. The verdict wvs approved by the Judge, and the decision gave great relief to all concerned. Tho sitting Judge refused costs to the ,prosecutor. A 2'imes telegram from Berlin la^t week sates that France has proposed a disar.nament at Vienna, St. Ptitersbuigh, Berlin, and Paris, and it is also supposed at London. There is no confirmation of the statement. -The, mission entrusted to Fleury, to detach Russia from the Prussian Court, signal] v failed. ■ .. ■ LordC.areiiflon sent the congratulations of the British G ivernment to M. Lesseps, who was so pleased that he communicated the 11 1 . fie En peror. . Laot Monday evening, eighteen peoil) were 0 v lud to death at Bristol, in a theatre panic, caused by a cry of fire. The pc -formance was proceeded with. The Archbialiop of Canterbury is convalescent The Bviv.'Mr Spnrgeon has experienced a relapse into" his former serious illness. There have been destructive gales on the coast, with heavy rains, great floods, and high tides. They were followed by the frost and snow of true Christmas •w-"»tiier. The iron roof of King's Collego diningroom gave way and fell in, but happily the apartment was unoccupied at the time. The disaster was occasioned by tl^e vibration from an adjoining tramway.