ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 144, 8 October 1853, Page 6

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

A public meeting of intending emigrants to New Zealand was held on the 16th June, at the premises of the New Zealand Association, 9, Adelphi-terrace, when several gentlemen returned from the colony gave an account of the resources and opportunities afforded by the six different settlements.

At the beginning of June, the public were admitted on board the gigantic steam-yacht, the North Star, belonging to Mr. Vanderbilt, an American gentleman, which is now lying in Southampton Dock. The saloons and furniture appeared magnificent in the extreme. Everything on board the North Star is American, and it is very evident that in many of the useful and ornamental arts the Americans are our equals in point of taste and skill. She made one of the quickest passages across the Atlantic on record, and consumed only 50 tons of coals a-day, while the ordinary consumption, in such steamers, is from seventy to one hundred tons daily. She had been enabled to traverse the ocean with such speed, at such little expense, by her being driven, by what is called a beam engine, an American invention, which has never been used in a steamer to cross the Atlantic. The fortune of Mr. Vauderbilt is estimated in America at nine millions of dollars, or very nearly two millions sterling. He has risen from the ranks.

The Earl of Derby was installed as Chancellor of the University of Oxford, on the Bth of June. .

Lord John, Russell, in speaking on matters connected with the Boman Catholic Church in Ireland, made some strictures which were considered offensive by some Irish members.— Amongst other things he said : —" That if the Boman Catholic Clergy of Ireland had increased powers given to them—that if they, as ecclesiastics, could exercise greater control and a greater political influence than they now exercise, that power and that influence would not be exercised in accordance with the general freedom which prevails in this country (cheers), hut that neither in respect to political circumstances nor in respect to political subjects,would they favour that general freedom of discussion, that energy and that activity of the human mind which belongs to the spirit of the Constitution. (Hear, hear)." Messrs. Keo»h and Sadlier, the former Solicitor-General for Ireland, and the latter one of the Secretaries of the Treasury, threatened to resign their connection with Government, in consequence of these remarks, but, it appears, suffered themselves afterwards to be easily prevailed upon not to do so.

In the division on the Ballot in the House of Commons, there were, ayes, 172 ; noes, 232; leaving only a majority against it of 60. Several members of the Government voted for the Ballot.

The Government have abandoned all further proceedings against Mr. Hale, the proprietor of the war rocket factory at Rotherhithe, and have intimated their intention of re-imbursing him for the property seized. The seizure in this case was the ground of the accusation made'by.the Times and members of the Government againstKossuth.

Sir Charles Wood had introduced a Bill for the future government of India. It was not likely to pass, as a strong party of liberal members were opposed to legislation without further enquiry, and an amendment to this effect, of which notice was given by Lord Stanley, was expected to be carried.

In the House of Lords, on the 17th June, Lord Redesdale asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the reason of the delay which had occurred in the appointment of a successor to the late Bishop of Sydney, who had died in England the 20th of February last- The Duke of Newcastle said that some alteration, had been contemplated in the present divisioa of the colonial see, and until that was determined, he had not thought it his duty to recommend her Majesty to1-fill up the vacancy caused by the death of the late bishop. A highly interesting project has been brought forward by Sir Roderick Murchison, at the Royal Geographicol Society. Sir Roderick was the eminent geologist who years since asserted the existence of gold in Australia, & he now proposses a new exploring expedition through the interior part of that country, to proceed from Perth to Shark Bay, and thence take the course of the Gascoyne River. The supposed Central Plateau would- be examined, a descent would then be made down the northern shores to the Fitzroy River, and at Cambridge Gulf a vessel would be met with provisions. Mules and Camels are proposed to be employed in the expedition. Mr. Nong, a Hungarian, is to be the leader of it.

The Australian Agricultural Company have sent out 70 Welsh miners to their coal fields at Port Stephen. They are accompanied by two superintendents.

The adjourned meeting of the Australian Royal Mail Steam Company had taken place, when a report was presented, containing a further correspondence with the Government ":orf the question of the contract, and the preliminary recommendations of the Board for taking the sense of the proprietors respecting an arrangement with the-General Screw Company. The Government, it was intimated, adhere to their determination of withdrawing the contract, but abstain from enforcing a penalty. The question, of amalgamating with the Geueral Screw Company was entertained, but not with much favour.

We find contradictory reports on the subject of emigration to Australia. Accounts from Liverpool state, that whilst emigration continues as rapid as ever to America, there has been a decided falling off in the Australian trade. On. the other hand we find it announced in one statement, that every vessel capable of making the voyage was laid on for the gold regions, and the number of emigrants for' Australia, from the end of March to the end of April, is estimated at 22,800. •

A London paper says—" The emigration to Australia still continues as brisk as ever, and the price of the passage is kept up by the scarcity of shipping. The vessels that have arrived during the present year have almost all been discharged and reloaded agaiu in about six weeks."

Dr. Lang and the Morning Advertiser have had a difference of opinion on the subject of negro slavery, the latter maintaining that an active agitation is the most effectual means of causing it to be abolished, whilst the Doctor maintains that to grow cotton at Moreton BaJ would be more effectual.

The rumours of the intention of the French Government to call out 100.000 men, and to reinforce the navy by 12,000 or 15,000 seamen, are again revived. Admiral Baudin is spoken of as likely to take the command of the French fleet at the Dardanelles.

The tit-rests in Paris have continued, ami amount to several hundred persons. This time a real conspiracy is said to have been discovered, in which many of the pardoned exiles were implicated. A telegraphic despatch from Milan announces that symptoms of a fresh insurrection existed, and that numerous arrests were effected : iv consequence of which a concentration of th-e Austrian troops near the Swiss frontier had taken place,-