The English Mail.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IX, Issue 464, 25 March 1867, Page 2

The English Mail.

By the courtesy of the Editor of the Evening Post, Wellington, we are furnished with the following, which we take from an extra of that journal. Bluff, 21st March. The s.s. Rangitoto arrived at the Bluff to-day, at one o'clock, after a good passage of four days and eighteen hours. The s.s. Avoca anchored in Hobson's at half-past ten on the morning of the 16th. Her arrival was unexpected, as the branch steamer from King George's Sound to Adelaide had not arrived up to that date. It is supposed she has broken down. GENERAL SUMMARY. London, Jan. 26.

A. terrific catastrophe happened in Regent’s Park by breaking of ice, and about fifty lives were lost. The French Emperor issued a decree making several constitutional changes; the debate on the address is suppressed. Ministers will bo sent to both Chambers of Legislature to take A A d Vx, i ♦ A r* I h a a m a . f m tuc uculxtvs. jl uc puvliegd OJL putting questions to members is granA <3 linrfor rorf-om pootnAtiAne on/1 »VWM*VV4VMHJ "i ll *

jurisdiction over the press is transferred from the Executive to the Correctir.rsal TVsksinals rpKtt u i fXvUUiiiwt **iv i.' iviii/lt AiXinio* try has been reconstructed , and Fould has retired ; he was replaced by M. Rouher.

Schleswig-Holstein has been formally incorporated with the Prussian monarchy. It is stated that the Emperor of Austria has resolved to grant a separate Ministry for Hungary. It is generally believed that the Judicial Committee of the American Congress will report against the proposed impeachment of President Johnson, or leave the matter for decision of the New Congress. The bill for granting Negro Suffrage in the district of Columbia has been passed by both houses of Cong-ess over the President’s veto.

It is rumored that Government intends to throw the responsibility of dealing with the Reform Question upon the House of Commons. A committee has been formed at the Mansion House to collect subscriptions for the relief of distress in the East of London. Some riotous attacks have been made on various shops at Deptford, The money market is quiet. The price for Consols is 90| to 90| for money, and the same for account. Disasterous floods have occurred in Yorkshire.

Greece proposes to increase her army to 31,000, on the ground of the armament and threatening notes from Turkey.

London, Feb. 5. Parliament was opened to-day by the Queen in person. Her Majesty in the speech from the throne states that the present relations of Great Britain with foreign powers are satisfactory, and that Her Majesty’s Minsters had suggested to the United States a mode of amicable settlement of the questions still pending between England and America, which it was hoped would be met in a corresponding spirit of friendship by the people of the United States, aud thus remove all grounds of possible misunderstanding between the two countries. Referring to disturbances in Candia, Her Majesty says discontent was prevalent in some provinces of Turkey, and insurrection had broken out in Candia. Conjointly with Russia and France, the British Government had endeavoured to improve the relations of the Ottoman Porte with its Christian subjects as far as was consistent with the rights of the Sultan. The delegates from the British North American provinces, who recently met in England, had agreed upon a scheme of federation, by means of which the whole of those colonies might be united under one administration. Her Majesty had heard with deep sorrow of the calamity which had befallen India in the prevalence of famine which bad pressed heavily on the provinces of lower Bengal and Orissa. Imtruc* lions had been given to the Government of India to make the utmost exertions for the mitigation of distress, which still existed in those provinces. The blessing of an abundant harvest in the past autumn bad not materially improved the condition of suffering districts. The restoration of public confidence in Ireland might probably lead to a discontinuance of exceptional legislation in that portion of the empire. Attention would again be called by the Government to the representation of the people in the House of Commons, and her Majesty trusted the deliberations of Parliament would hal to the adoption of measures greatly extending the franchise without disturbing the balance of power. Several measures are announced to be brought forward in the ensuing session including a bill for improvement of the relations between landowners and tenants in Ireland, and a commission to enquire into trades’ unions. The Bank of England this day reduced the rate of discount to 3 per cent.

12th February. Mr. Disraeli announced that the Government promised in their programme of reform, to proceed by resolution in rating the basis of ft anchise ; no boroughs are to be wholly disfranchised. The Times condemns Disraeli’s speech. A Reform Demonstration toolc place yesterday, at which quietness prevailed, There are apprehensions of

riots at Chester, however, several hundreds of people, supposed to be *■'wuians, having assembled. 'Troops have been despatched to the place.

London, 13th Feb. Chester is quiet; the Fenians having left.

Sixty arrests have taken?! niece in Lublin.