ENGLISH NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 5, 8 February 1851, Page 2

ENGLISH NEWS.

Wk have received the Sydney Morning Herald up to the 7th of January, which contains the following digest of English and Foreign news up the 2(>th of September :—

Her Majesty and Prince Albert were still enjoying themselves in the seclusion of their Highland home, winch they were not expected to leave until early in October.

The vacant Chief-Justiceship in the Irish Common Pleas was filled up by the appointment of Mr. Monaghan, at the reduced salary of 4,000/. Mr. Hatckell succeeds to the office of Attorney-General, and there was little doubt that Mr. Serjeant O'Brien would be SolicitorGeneral. The promotion of Mr. Hatch ell will compel him to resign his seat for Windsor, for which he would be 'again a candidate, and as the influence of the Court is all-powerful in that borough, his re-election would, it was expected, be unopposed.

A sharp contest was likely to take place for the honour of representing the University of Cambridge. Mr. L'iftus Wigram having been brought forward in opposition to Mr. Cowling, whose "antecedents" did not appear to satisfy many members of the Senate as to the soundness of his views on certain important points, or his ability to maintain in the legislature the high character of the University.

At a Court of Directors at the East India House, Sir Win. Gmnm, X.C.8., was appointed Commander-in-Ohief of the Company's forces in India. He had previously been appointed Commander of the forces at Bombay.

It was rumoured, tlnit the Chancellor of the Exchequer had finally made up his mind as to the propriety of abolishing the paper duties, as well as the stamp duty on newspapers and the duty on advertisements—in fact, to make the press as free as it is in America.

There was reason to expect that no time would be lost in laying1 on a line of steamers from Panama lo Sydney, in connexion with the West India line. Should this he the case we have no doubt the Peninsular and Oriental Company will make strong efforts to prevent the trade of the Australasian Colonies from being diverted from their line, so that we should not be surprised to find that in 1852 we have steam communication with England by both routes. Trade was very brisk in all branches. Great preparations were being made for the reception of the numerous masses of people from all parts of the world who are expected to crowd, to the great exhibition in May. The Hon. J. S. Wortley,M.P.,hadbeen, to the surprise of the public, elected Becorder of London. Previous to the day of election he had not been named as a candidate.

Money Market.—The remarkable absence of variation in the English funds still continues. Consols remain at 95k to % for money, and at 96% to % for the account. India Stock for the opening, 265 to 267 ; India Bonds, 83s. to 86s. ; and Exchequer Bills, 635. to 665. premium.

Completion of the Britannia Bhidgi:.— Menai Straits, Sept. 13. —After some years of unremitting labour, the engineers connected with this <rreat work safely lowered the " last" of the Britannia tubes to its permanent restingplace to-day. The Caernarvonshire end of the tube was lowered 3 feet, the opposite end being joined on to the Anglesea large tube in the in" tenor of the lower on the Britannia rock, and, obedient to the law of the novel operation, the centres of both tubes, as before, were raised up several inches. The Government officer will be down on an early day to inspect the structure preparatory to its permanent opening. Nothing beyond a mere fractional deflection has been opened since March, and which has been subjected to the constant transit of heavy trains and traffic. Some curious acoustic effects have been observed. Pistol-shots, or any sonorous noises, are echoed within the tube half-a-dozen times. The cells of the top and bottom are used by the engineers as speaking- tubes, and they can carry on conversations through them in whispers ; by elevating the voice persons may converse through the length of the bridge— nearly a quarter of a mile. The fullowing^not hitherto published) is an official return of the cost of the entire structure: —Pedestals and abutmenlson Caernarvon side, 17/15!)/.-; Caernarvon tower, 28,()20Z.; Britannia lower, 58,G71/; Anglesey tower, 31,430/.; pedestals and abul-

ments on Anglesey side, 40,470/.; lions, 2,048/. 158,708/. Wrought iron used in tubes, 118,946/.; cast iron in tubes and towers, 30,(319/.; construction of tubes, 226,233£. ; pontoons, ropes capstans, painting materials, 28,096/.; raising' machinery, 9,782/.; carpentry and labour in floating, raising and completing bridge,2s,49s;.--experiments, 3,980/.-, total, 601,805/. The total weight of each of the wrought iron roadways now completed, represents 12,000 tons, supported on a total mass of masonry of a million and a half cubic feet, erected at the rate of three feet in a minute.

Accident on the Eastern Co-unties Railway—Nine Lives Lost.—An accident of the most appalling nature occurred on this railway on Thursday morning, Sept. 24, by which no fewer than nine men were instantly hurried into eternity. At eight o'clock a number of men were engaged in ballasting the line near the bridge just beyond the Brentwood station ; having just discharged a quantity of gravel between the rails, they jumped from the waggons on to the line at the moment the early train from Colchester approached the spot. Unhappily, in consequence of the dense fog at the time, and the blowing off the steam of the engine of tlie ballast trucks, the approach of the up train was not seen until it was within fifty yards of the workmen. The foreman of the gang cried out to the men, who, however, had not time to get out of the way, and the engine passed over nine of them, causing instant death in every case, and mutilating the bodies in a frightful manner. As soon as possible the train was stopped, and the bodies of the sufferers were conveyed to the shed at the station. p