SIXTEEN DAYS LATER ENGLISH NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 619, 13 October 1858, Page 5

SIXTEEN DAYS LATER ENGLISH NEWS.

By the Canterbury we have a copy of the 'Wellington Independent' of the 9th instant, from which and from Melbourne papers obtained for us in Wellington by the kindness of Capt. Bnwton, we select the following English and Foreign intelligence with dates to the 9th July, received in Melbourne by way of Mauritius, and Indian news of a few days later date, received from Calcutta.

Consols were at 95£ to-f; Bank dis., 3 per cent. Money easy. The attempt to lay down (he^ Atlantic telegraph has again failed. Her Majesty is reported to have accepted an invitation from the French Emperor to visit Cherbourg. The India bill has passed the Hou.se of Commons.

The ships charged with the Atlantic telegraph cable have arrived at Queenstown with the°new3 of another failure. Three attempts were made to lay down the cable. The squadron experienced very bad weather during their cruise. On the 13th of June a very heavy gale sprang up, during which they were separated; but they all met again at their rendezvous. On the "first attempt, about 10 miles of cable was lost; on the second, 120; and on the 28th the cable was again joined, and about 250 miles was paid out, i when communication ceased to be received, the cable having parted. The Indian Bill was read a third time in the Commons on the Bth July, and passed without opposition as a whole, but not without some protests against particular parts. Sir Erskine Perry denounced the constitution of the council and declared his conviction that the scheme would not last more than four or five years. Lord Palmerston repeated his former objections to the council, but approving the principle of the bill, he gave his cordial consent to the third reading. Mr. Roebuck vehemently condemned the machinery of the council; and Lord John Russell, while he allowed that the measure had some, redeeming qualities, expressed his conviction that, after experience, it would require revision. The ' Times 'of the 9th of July morning, states^we know not on what authority)" that no opposition isexpected.in the Lords, and that we may accordingly look to see the bill become law in a few days." The accura y of this statement may fairly be doubted; but speculation has been at fault during the agitation of this measure, that we confess even so unexpected a result as the silent acquiescence of the House of Peers would scarcelysurprise us. The composition of the first India Council ■ excites much speculation, and lists are in circulation containing the names of eight members to be nominated by government, and seven to be elected by the court of directors. Nothing, however, is yet known with certainty, except that amongst the-'- government appointments certain names may be accepted as a matter of course. The result of the enquiry into the loss of the steamer Ava has been that the certificate of the captain (Kirton) has been suspended for three months. We take the following from the ' Port Louis Commercial Gazette,' August 14 :— The Azof sailed from Aden on the 26th July, at 5 p.m.; she arrived at Seychelles on the oth August at 4 p,m.; sailed from thence on the following morning and arrived in our harbour this evening. She brings intelligence from London to 2nd July and 9th July. The intelligence brought is not important, if we except the improvement in the sugar market. There was no talk of war. The heat in London has been very great. Four persons died there from sunstroke between loth June and 3rd July. Her Majesty has approved of the design of the medal to be conferred on those engaged in the defence of Lucknow. The Swedish Government has authorised Messrs. Class and Elliott to establish a submarine telegraph from the coasts of England to Norway. The minimum Bank of England rate of discount remains at 3 per cent. The Court of Demerara propose to receive into that colony, as convicts, to be employed on public works, &c, Indian mutineers to the number of 1000. There are rumours of a proposed visit from the Sultan of Turkey to the Emperor Napoleon.

The pension of £1000 to Sir John Outram is to be continued to his son.

The Indian Bill has passed the Commons after a smart opposition. The £200,0000 for the equipment of the Leviathan cannot be raised by annuities, and the shareholders intend to apply to Government for a loan, giving the vessel as security.

At a festival recently held in London to celebrate the anniversary of American independence, Mr. Dallas, the Minister of the United States, made the very satisfactory announcement, "that visitation and search as far as regards American vessels on the high seas in time of peace, is frankly and finally ended." This announcement does not strictly accord with the statement made in the House of Lords by the Earl of Malmesbury, but both statements lead, in effect, to the same result. It is clear that the assertion of such a right in a time of peace, excellent as the motive may be with which it is put forward, could not be indiscriminately maintained without serious risks and a very grave responsibility. A little cloud appears to be darkening and enlarging in the direction of Spain. It appears that Lord Mahnesbury has given great offence by his late speech on the slave trade; and the Madrid journals tell us that the Government intend to demand explanations of the " gratui-

tous msult." We imagine that, the thunder will die out in the air before its roll reaches our shore. H will be well if the bolt do not fall upon the Cabinet which is preparing to call us to account.

The dismissal, or retirement of General hspmasse from the portfolio of home affairs, and the appointment of M. Delangle, an eminent lawyer, in his place, has given great satisfaction in France, and originated a variety of rumours as to a corresponding change of policy at home and abroad. Ifc is said, or hoped, that j the Emperor is about to inaugurate a new and more moderate system; and it is believed that his foreign diplomacy is quietiv undergoing modifications favourable to the interests of liberty and peace. Nous verrona. The Austrian Government has gently remonstrated with France on account, of the sudden visit to the Austrian port of Gravosa of two French men-of-war. The rule is that only one man-of-war is allowed to enter an Austrian port without previous notice, and that war ports are altogether closed against foreign men-of-war. The French frigate Impetueuse has arrived in i the Adriatic after a voyage of only five days i from Toulon.

Turkey has positively declared that she intends not to resort to any military a;tion in the Montenegrin affair, but to wait the decision of Europe.

There has been another fearful conflagration in some of the extensive warehou.-es of the London docks. It burst out about mid-day, on 29th June. An alarm was instantly given, and a large body of men were speedily on the spot, who, provided with buckets, endeavoured to dlay the progress of the fire. All their exertions were of no avail. The iron doors which had been closed immediately upon the discovery of the outbreak became red hot, and the flames were communicated to the adjoining warehouse before any engines could be brought to bear upon the fire. The floa-s belonging to the dock company were brou^h ro md to the spot without loss of time, and c. h -ma ned by abjut fifty men—poured an immense body of water on the flames. The combustible nature of the property contained in the warehouses caused the flames to spread with great rapidity, and before the brigade engines arrived the fire had got fast hold of the adjoining warehouse. The upper floors were chiefly filled with jute or hemp fibre, and upon the lower floors, sugars, saltpetre, cocoa nut, rice, and other valuable commodities were stored in immense quantities, the basement story being occupied with palm oil and tallow. The fire passing through the roof speedily communicated with the adjoining floor, and gradually descending, threatened the destruction of the whole range of buildings. After burning with undiminished violence for nearly an hour a sudden explosion occurred, by which the front and rear walls of the range of floors, numbered from 29 to 32, were blown outward's into the dockyard. For a long time it ; was greatly feared that lives had been sacrificed |by this explosion; but on the men being mus- | tered, none were found missing. The explosion stripped the walls within which it occurred, and

to a great extent confined tiie further ravages of the fire, which was now laid open to immense voluraesof water poured upon it from the brigade floa's upon the river on the one side, and from the dock engines on tho other. The destruction of property must have been immense—according to some accounts, upwards of £'150,000. The south dock quay for several hours presented the appearance of a river ofliquid treacle, the sugar in the various warehouses melting and running to waste under the combined effect of heat and water. The contact of the sugar with a quantity of saltpetre is supposed to have occasioned the explosion, which was quite equal in force to that of a large quantity of gunpowder, and occasioned a perfect panic in the neighbourhood.

| It is stated that unanimity at length prevails I amonst the Plenipotentiaries of the Paris Conference. They met on the 7th July, at Etoiles, the country seat of the Count de Walewski, and dined there afterwards. This social manner of doing business is looked on as a sure proof that all causes ol" difference have been removed. It has been agreed, it seems, that, although the Principalities shall be distinctly separate, they shall have a senate, or upper committee, which shall be common to both. This committee, or senate, is to be elected by the two Divans. Thus Wallachia is to have its House of Commons, and Moldavia also, but oue House of Lords is to suffice for both. The ships are to be in readiness to embark the reinforcements of the East India Company's troops from Chatham at Gravesend on the 26th instant. In the Upper House, the Duke of Somerset rnov.-'d the second reading of the"' Church-rates Abolition' Bill. The Earl of Derby moved, as an amendment, that the bill be retd a second time that day three months, which was carried by a majority of 151 —the numbers being, for the second reading 36, against it IS7. The ' Times ' says there is reason to believe that parliament will be prorogued before the end of the present month.