ENGLISH NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 10, 15 March 1851, Page 2

ENGLISH NEWS.

Royal Commissions.—The commission appointed by the Government to inquire into the state, discipline, and studies of the University of Oxford, will commence its sittings in London on Monday next, the 14th inst. The commissioners are the Bishop of Norwich (Dr. Hinds), Dr. Tait, Dean of Carlisle ; Dr. Jeune, Master of Pembroke College, Oxford; Mr. Liddell, Head Master of Westminster School; Professor Powel, of Oxford; Mr. Dampier, barrister; and Mr. G. H. S. Johnson, of Oxford. Many distinguished members of the University will be examined by the commissioners ; amongst others, the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P., the Bishop of Oxford, Dr. Pusey, the Head Master of Rugby School (Dr. Goulburn), Mr. Roundell Palmer, M.P., and the Bishop of Chichester. New Chubches.—The thirtieth Annual Report of her Majesty's Commissioners for building New Churches, dated the 25th July last, states that 21 churches had been completed since their last report, providiug accommodation for 14,793 persons, including 10,114 free seats for the use of the poor. Thus, in the whole, 470 churches have now been completed, and provision has therein been made for 498,066 persons, including 291,190 free seats appropriated to the use of the poor. Thirty-two churches are now in the course of building, and plans for seventeen others have been approved of. Great Chess Match.—Arrangements are in progress for a great chess match, to be played by " amateurs of all nations," during the Exhibition of 1851. The idea originated with Mr. Staunton, the first known player in the world; and the first to respond to it was a player at Calcutta, who has forwarded a handsome subscription. It is proposed to have a number of " chess tournaments," the entries to be 51. each, and the first prize 500/. Another suggestion is, that the English chess clubs shall each send a champion player, with a moderate sum as entrance money, and the winner of the match to receive the prize, in the form of a handsome trophy, in silver. The Royal, Ageictjlturax, Society of England and the Exhibition op 1851. —In accordance with the proposal made by the council at the last annual meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, the next great show will be held in PJyde Park, contemporaneously with the Exhibition of the works of all nations. It is, however, to be exclusively confined to the show of cattle, the agricultural implement department having been undertaken by the commissioners. His Grace the Duke of Richmond, as president of the society, having submitted the proposal to the Commissioners of the Woods and Forests, it was promptly adopted. The cattle show will be held in the north-west angle of the Park, called the "Battery," extending from the boundary wall of Kensington Gardens to the Serpentine river; giving a clear space of nearly 40 acres of ground, which will be surrounded by a temporary paling, and the interior fitted up with cattle sheds. The approaches are to be from the Bayswater side of the Park, so as not to interfere with the Exhibition. The council have resolved to offer a much larger number of prizes for stock than has been customarily allotted, as an additional inducement to competition. The commissioners of the Exhibition having provided for the implement department, the sum hitherto set apart by the society for that purpose, amounting generally to about 400/., becomes available.