Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 1869. THE NEWS FROM HOME.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 644, 4 January 1869, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 1869. THE NEWS FROM HOME.

There is one item of special importance in the news brought by the latest mails from Europe, and that is the partial recovery in the value of wool. All accounts agree in stating that an improved feeling exists, and some go so far as to quote the said improvement as much as one per pound. It is perhaps premature to build expectations on the permanency of this rise ; but so far the news is of a cheering character, and we may hope for the best,

Via Panama we learn that extensive preparations were being made for the forthcoming election, by the new and enlarged constituencies — one principal question being made the touchstone of party politics; so that the war-cry of the Tory party was " The Irish Church," and that of the Liberals, "Disestablishment." The later telegrams via Marseilles show that the elections are progressing, and that so far as they had gone [the Liberals were gaining ground. This we believe to be partly owing I to the action of the United Kingdom Alliance, which has brought the subject of the Liquor laws prominently before the public, and made the principle of their Permissive Dill to over-ride all others. We believe that the Liberal candidates as a rule have expressed themselves more favorable to legislation in that direction than the Tories, and hence have gained the support of a very large section of the community. We notice that the names of several of the most prominent of the supporters of the liquor traffic as it is are to be found amongst the rejected candidates. The question of the disestablishment of the Irish Church may be regarded as virtually settled by the result of the elections so far.

Another item of news of considerable importance to E'ew Zealand is that of the re-organization of the P.,N.Z., & A.R.M. Company. This Company had, it will be remembered, fallen into difficulties of a character so serious as to threaten the discontinuance of the branch of the mail service carried on by it. In fact, such discontinuance had been actually announced ; but at almost the last moment arrangements were effected for its continuance under a differ ent management. Should it be able to weather the storm of present commercial depression, there can be little doubt of its permanent stability. We do not gather that the rebellion in this Colony had excited much attention, the worst features of it not having had time to reach the public ear. What was known, however, was certainly bad enough, but its interest was swallowed up in that of the general election then in progress.