THE ENGLISH DECEMBER MAILS.

North Otago Times, Volume 1, Issue 1, 25 February 1864, Page 6

THE ENGLISH DECEMBER MAILS.

The blessing which proverbially attaches I to the country whose annals are barren, has been for a long time the happy portion of England. Month after month we have been looking for important news from the mother country, but no important news comes. The current history of England is a bliink. Everything is settled down into dullness and routine, to a degree. Even the old sa f l story of the cotton famine in Lancashire, has ceased to have its monthly' record. We turn over with eager fingers the latest number of the Home JVe/vs (a strong misnomer), and find nothing — always excepting the list of bankrupts, the births, deaths, and marriages, and the eternal and unreadable Parliamentary summary. At the date of the December mail, all England was engaged in thp annual Christmas festivities. Such public business as there was on hand, was by universal practice adjourned until after the holidays. Londox, December 26. At this moment, all England is absorbed in the enjoyment of the Christinas holidays ; and the only question commanding a show of interest is a quarrel between Mr Bright and the Times, but of no political import. Her Llajesty declined the invitation of the Emperor of the French to be present at the Conference of the Crowned Heads of Europe, to devise a means of arising " without convulsion at the pacification of Europe." The appointment of Sergeant Shee to the Judgeship rendered vacant by the recent death of Judge Wightman, has given general satibfacfaetion. Lord Wodehouse has proceeded co Copenhagen to congratulate King Christian IX. on his accession to the throne. He is furnished with instructions from the British Government relating to the affairs of the Danish monarchy at the present time. Sir Eutherford Alcock, our Minister to Japan, leaves for his post on December 28. Sir William Meredyth Somerville, Baronet, formerly Chief Secretary for Ireland, is now Baron Athlumney, of Somerville and Dollardstown, County Meath, in the peerage of Ireland, the letters patent bo creating him having passed the Great Seal. Mr Arthur N. Birch of the Colonial-office, and private secretary to Mr Cluehester Fortescue, has been appointed Colonial Secretary in British Columbia. Mr Birch is brother of the Bey H. M. Birch, late tutor to H.E.H. the Prince of Wales, and was assistant private secretary to Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, when Colonial Secretary.