THE ENGLISH MAIL

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 13, Issue 653, 4 February 1869, Page 3

THE ENGLISH MAIL

Thes.s. Storm Bird, Captain Doile, arrived in port from Wellington at 10 o'clock on Tuesday night, with the English Mails via Suez and Panama, We compile the following summary of news from the papers to hand. ~' ■■ I

GENERAL SUMMARY. (Special Telegraphic Despatch to the Panama Star and Herald.)

New York, Dec. 9. The British Ministry resigned on the 2nd inst.

Gladstone has been appointed Premier in place of Disraeli. It is reported that the government at Paris dispersed a crowd assembled on the 3rd at the grave of Baudin, and several arrests were made.

Espartero lias been tendered the dictatorship of Spain. Lord Clarendon and John Bright will be in the new British Cabiuet.

The steamship Hibernia was lost on the Irish Coast—Bl passengers are supposed to have been lost.

Later intelligence from Cuba says the revolution there is assuming formidable proportions.

Two battles have been fought with reported heavy loss to the insurgents. Accounts from the revolutionists, however, claim a complete victory over the government forces.

The Lord Mayor of Dublin has refused to call a meeting to petition for an amnesty for the political prisoners.

Mr Goodwin Smith's first lecture students at Lowell University was enthusiastically received. Captain Calcroft, the new member for Wharehama, has died since his election.

Mr Gladstone has published a pamphlet entitled "A chapter of Autobiography" vindicating his change of opinion as to the Irish Church. Archdeacon Wordsworth is the new Bishop of Lincolu.

The Prince and Princess of Prussia are visiting the Queen.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are at Copenhagen. The second son of the Viceroy of Egypt is expected in London, where he intends remaining for several years to pursue his English studies.

A representative from the Sultan of Zanzibar has been accredited to her Majesty. He has arrived in London.

! The coffin containing the remains of the Prince Consort has been removed from its temporary tomb to the granite sarcophagus in the permanent monument. No ceremony took place. Sir Roderick Murchison reports having received a letter from Dr Livingstone, dated Dec, 1867. His return is expected shortly. Arrangements for the purchase of the telegraphs by the English Government ai'e in active progress. The Accountant-Ge-neral has nearly completed an investigation into the net profits of the various companies.

On the 2nd inst., at a Cabinet meeting, Mr Disraeli tendered the resignation of the Ministry, such a step having been rendered necessary by the result of the recent election.

Mr Sullivan, who was struck from the commission of f he peace for alleged sympathy with Fenianism, has been elected Mayor of Cork.

The London Tines comments with severity on Disraeli's resignation. It denounces what it terms his retreat as cowardly; and says it is unprecedented, except in the case of the resignation of the Earl of Bipon, who had become Premier, however, only during a recess. The Post, Telegraph, News, and Standard, applaud the prompt action taken by the Premier as calculated to save the Queen from embarassment, and his party from needless mortification.

The lion. Beverdy Johnson was entertained at a banquet given by the Chamber of Commerce at Birmingham on the 21st. He spoke, defending his own course in England. Mr Bright followed in a speech in defenco and praise of America in her relations with England during and since the war.

It is reported, however, that John Bright has peremptorily declined the offer of Secretaryship of State for India, and insisted on the appointment of the Earl of Kimberly as Foreign Secretary in the place on the Earl of Clarendon. It is believed that his wish in this connection will be acceded to.

Greorge Peabody, the American philanthropist, has made another donation of £IOO,OOO to the poor of London. The steamship Hibcrnia which sailed from New York, 14th November, for Glasgow, sunk on the 25th, when 700 miles to the westward of the Irish coast. The passengers and crew all took to the boats, live in number. Two of these boats have been picked up. One is known to have been lost, with all on board. The fate of the two remaining boats is yet unknown. It is certain that 52 persons including the Captain of the Hibcrnia are saved. A very heavy- gale prevailed throughout England on Sunday night and Monday morning. Many disasters have occurred ; the shipping in the harbor suffered much, and houses were blown down. The damage is very great. Small-pox is rapidly developing itself at Panama, and there seems to be no proper hospital for the patients or adequate means of checking the spread of the disease existing in that city.

I Much regret is expressed that Lord Chief Justice Cockburn has not been appointed Lord High Chancellor. We learn that the., premises of the P., N.Z., and A.P.M. Company at Panama were taken possession of by some merchants of that city, as a means of recovering payment of some protested " bills, amounting to about £15,000, j.urchased from the agent, and returned from England. Funds, however, were expected from England to take the bills up. The Irish Times says that a rakishlooking craft at Queensland on the 4th of November, from Labrador, with the unusual appellation of the " Devil," and had for a figure head a full sized representation of his Satanic Majesty. When entering the harbor an exciting contest took place between her and the Cunard mail tender Jackal, resulting in the defeat of the Devil

The new Parliament of the United Kingdom was opened on tho 10th. The usual speecli from the Throne was omited. The House of Commons re-elected the Right Honorable John Evelyn Denison, Speaker. George Francis Train has been set at liberty; the plaintiffs in the case against him having withdrawn their suits. Train has issued writs against the Lord-Lieuten-ant of SIOO,OOO damages for false imprisonment.

[ One of the missing boats of the steamer Hibernia has arrived off Donegal, Ireland. It contained the second officer of the Hibernia and two other persons. Twentyeight embarked, but twenty fire were drowned by the capsizing of the boat.

William E. Baxter, member of the House of Commons for Montrose borough, has been appointed Secretary to the Admiralty.

TERPJBLE DISASTER.—GREAT LOSS OE LIFE.

A most terrible disaster took place on the Ohio River on the night of the 4th inst. —the collision of the steamers United States and America. The special telegram to the press from Madison, Ind. 3 dated sth inst. is as follows : A terrible accident occurred on the Ohio river last night, about half-past eleven o'clock. The magnificent steamers United States (descending) and the America (ascending) collided at Ray's Landing, about two miles from Warsaw on thelndianaside The United States had a quantity of petroleum on. her dock. The America struck the United States on the right hand side, forward of the steps cutting into her a considerable distance and sinking her to her main deck in about two minutes. A fire communicated in some way to the petroleum, and nssoon as the boats collided they were iu flames.

It is said that sopje mistake was made in the signals of the America. She blew her whistle twice, which the pilot on the United States apparently did not hear. The America again signalled by two blasts oi the whistle, which tho United States answered ; but it was too late. The excitement was terrible, and it is supposed that 75 or 80 people were lost. Several citizens, three of whom are Steele Bright, Lewis Vance, and O. B. Sappington, of Madison, are pmong the missing The receiving clerk, James Johns, of the United States, i 3 also missing. It is estimated that thirty three women, who were passengers on tho United States were lost.

The destruction of these fine and costly steamers, resulting in such a tenible loss of life, and the fears for tho fate of those who are missing, have cast a gloom over tho entire community. Later accounts represent the loss of life as much greater than given above.

DREADFUL COLLIERY EXPLOSION.—6I LIVES LOST. A dreadful colliery explosion occurred at Hindley, near Wigan, on tho morning of Thursday, Nov. 28, by which no fewer than 61 unfortunate beings instantaneously lost their lives.

WOOL SALES. The fourth series of Colonial wool sales for tho present year commenced on the 23rd November with the following catalogue :—Cape, 1827 bales; Sydney, 1451 bales ; Port Philip, 875 bales : New Zsalancl, 427 bales ; Adelaide, 70 bales ; and German, 10 bales, Total, 466 J bales. There was a full attendance of both home and foreign buyers, and fair spirit in the biddings. Prices generally may be quoted firm at the closing rates of the last series, with a slight improvement on Australian fleeces.