ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAIL AT BLUFF HARBOUR.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 122, 20 June 1868, Page 5

ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAIL AT BLUFF HARBOUR.

[By Electric Telegraph.] ENGLISH NEWS TO MAY 9. • . Bluff Harbour, Juno 17, 4*15 p.m. The steamer Outgo received the English mails via Suez on board at Melbourne at nine a.m. on the 11th, and sailed at two p.m. bn the I2th instant. GENERAL SUMMARY. The Queen held a drawing-room at Buckingham Palace on the 31st March. ■ The visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Ireland was most successful. The Princess, on landing, was presented with a white dove. Nothing could, exceed the enthusiasm of the people. The debate on Gladstone’s resolutions respecting the Irish Church occupied four nights , On two divisions the . majorities were respectively 69 and 56 against Government. Forty-seven speakers took part in the debate. A memorial from bankers, merchants, and others connected with Australia has been presented to the Postmaster-general in favor of a fortnightly mail to Australia via Galle. The Duke of Montrose expressed himself favorable to the scheme submitted by the colonists in October last. On the colonies agreeing on the subject among themselves, the Imperial Government would afford every facility. Bishop Selwyn has raised great trouble

at Lichfield, where Popish doctrines and practices are condemned. Two men have, been apprehended near Buckingham Palace carrying Greek fire. Their intention, it is supposed, was-to set fire to the palace. ' OBITUARY. Lord Cardigan, General Simpson, Edward Jesse, Mr. Baddely, Q.C., Hon. G.' Knatchbull, General Sir L. Wetherell, Countess of Cottenhara, Marquis of Salisbury, Alderman Copeland, Sir W. Alidy, the Bishop of Hereford, General W. Booth, Colonel T. M‘Gowan. CONTINENTAL NEWS. The last of the French troops leave Rotoe shortly. A commercial treaty between England and Austria has been signed, similar to the treaty which has been negotiated between America and Prussia. The Viceroy of Egypt is dangerously in. : : / . ■ —— ' , ; ABYSSINIA. The Abyssinian war is over, Theodorus being dead and Magdala having fallen. The effect of the fire from Sneider’s rifles was awful. The troops charged with fixed bayonets, and the enemy fled in all directions. Sir Robert Napier ordered the carnage to be stopped. Magdala was remarkably strong, but the defence was spiritless. The enemy could not train their cannon, and the fire was harmless. Theodorus could not understand our rockets, which created a superstitious dread. From that moment all was over. CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. Three expeditions have started for the gold-fields, one headed by the Australian diggers. A deputation from the Free State to the Governor asked for re-annexation to the colony. The Government of Natal offers £I,OOO for the discovery of a payable gold-field in that colony. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. The demand for discount at the Bank of England is fair. Money is more plentiful in Lombard-street market; the rate of discount is nominally 2 per cent. The income-tax has been increased from 4d. to fid., to pay the cost of the war in w , y- -■ New South Wales Five per Cents are better—from 87 to 98 ; Victorian Six per Cents, 112 to 113; New Zealand Sixes, 106£ to 107£ ; New Zealand Bank, 8& premium ; Otago at a discount; South Australia, 29 ; . Union, 49 ; Bank of New South Wales pays 12 per cent, dividend, and carries £9,000 forward. Gold deposits have been discovered at Peru, equal to California. SHIPPING. Akiuved. —Jason, St. Vincent, Lattogul, Blue Jacket, Donald M‘Kay, Lady Melville, John Lister, Colouial Empire. Sailed.- —For Otago : Elenstone. Ten vessels loading for New Zealand. LATEST TELEGRAMS. London, May 9 ; Galle, May 19. The Prince and Princess of Wales returned to London on the 27th of April, from Ireland, where they were enthusiastically received. Their Royal Highnesses visited Caernarvon on their route home. The Abyssinian war is over. A decisive battle was fought during a violent thunderstorm in Droger Valley, on Easter Monday Theodorus sent Lieutenant Prideux and a flag, with two captives, offering to release all the prisoners at once, if Sir R. Napier would assist him to consolidate his power. Sir Robert Napier demanded an unconditional surrender of all the prisoners. Theorodus refused to submit to the force of a nation ruled by a woman. The captives, 61 in number, were released at daylight. On Good Friday, fire opened on Magdala. The tropps entered with little difficulty, and upon their entrance King Theodorus shot himself through the head. The garrison welcomed the invaders waamly. The army was to commence their return journey immediately. 5,000 Abyssinians were killed, and 1,000 wounded. One English officer (Captain Roberts), and seventeen men were wounded, but. not one man killed. The cost of the expedition amounts to £5,300,000. Sir R. Napier is gazetted to the Order of the Bath. The news of the attack on Prince Alfred at Sydney occasioned a great sensation in England and India. The British Parliament adopted an address to the Queen on the subject. No debate has taken place in Parliament on Victorian affairs, pending the discussion

of Sii; R. Palmer’s motion, condemning the approval of the Darling grant by the Governor with the sanction of the Crown. . The Government was defeated on the Irish Church question, on the 2nd. On Gladstone’s notice of motion, the House refused a supply Bill till the Irish Church resolutions were settled. On the 4th Mr. Disraeli tendered his resignation, which the Queen declined to accept, and authorised a dissolution of Parliament. On the same night explanations were given in the House of Lords, and these varied from those afforded by Disraeli as to a dissolution. On 7th, these discrepancies were discussion in the House of Commons, and caused considerable excitement. Disraeli’s explanations were regarded as very unsatisfactory. 1 Large meetingsare being held throughout the country in support of the action of. Mr. Gladstone. , Disraeli raises, in retaliation, the “No Popery” cry. Lord Derby opposed Gladstone’s resolutiyns in the House of Lords in a fiery speech. On May Bth, Gladstone’s resolutions were carried in the House of Commons. Government intends to offer energetic opposition to the bill to be founded on Gladstone’s resolutions. The Fenians, Burke and Shaw, were found guilty, and sentenced to fifteen and seven years’ imprisonment. A reduction in the Prussian army is contemplated. The submarine cable from Malta to Alexandria is repaired. The capital is subscribed for the construction of a new Indian and European telegraph. The race for the Two thousand Guineas was a dead heat between Moslem and Formosa. It was proposed to divide stakes, but a protest was entered, so Moslem walked over for the deciding heat. The second reading of the Abolition Compulsory Church Rates bill was carried in the House of Lords.— Examiner.