ITEMS BY THE MAIL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 50, 6 January 1872, Page 9

ITEMS BY THE MAIL.

We take the following items of news additional to those already published from the telegrams of the Melbourne “ Argus” : Assistants belonging to the Royal Engineers are leaving for the branch mint at Melbourne on board the Somersetshire. The University of Cambridge is presenting copies of the Pitt press books to the University of Melbourne. An Italian describes in the “ Times” the deplorable back wardn ess and disorder reigning at the port of Brindisi He considers the Italian Government has grossly neglected its duty to Europe and the Eastern world. The new army regulations come into force on the Ist of November. The Duke of Edinburgh has gone north. Prince Arthur is visiting his sister at Inverary. There have been hunting festivities and illuminations throughout the week. The Prince of Wales is on a visit to Scarborough. The Civil Companionship of the Bath has been conferred on Mr Law, the assistant-secretary to the Treasury, and Mr J. W. Parker, antiquarian. Dr Church is installed Dean of St Paul’s, Dr Liddel is re-elected Vice-Chancellor of Oxford, the Rev Alfred Wills is appointed Bishop of Honolulu, and Dr Miller Canon of Worcester. Mr Alston is appointed Queen’s Advocate at Sierra Leone. The statute of the late Earl of Derby is to be erected near the Houses of Parliament. A memorial of Charles Dickens has been determined on at Portsmouth, his native town. The Corporation of London has resolved to invite Baroness Coutts to a

banquet, on the occasion of the transfer of the Columbia market. Despite the the taunts of the Tory press Mr Gladstone met his constituents of Greenwich. One thousand five hundred persons were present. Notwithstanding attempts at disorder the proceedings passed off quietly. His speech of two hours’ duration was mainly a retrospective vindication. 107 reporters were present. The whole speech was cabled to America the same night. After a passing reference to Mr Goschen’s plans for Greenwich Hospital, he justified the course of the Government during last session, and made an elaborate defence of its general policy. He replied to the charge of economy as purchased at the expense of efficiency. Despite its shortcomings the Education Act was a great step of real progress. The question of rates for denominational schools was admitedly difficult, but the experience of the Stockport School Board indicated the true solution. He believed the principle of the ballot was nearing its final triumph. He believed that the Ministers proposal to deal with the Contagious Diseases Acts would be generally approved. He intimated that nonpolitical legislation would form a eon-' siderable part of the business of next session. He deprecated hasty and vio- 1 lent action in dealing with the constitution of the House of Lords, and regarding the new Social Alliance he warned them against committing themselves to vast changes based on new principles. A vote of thanks was carried bv an overwhelming majority, and amid tremendous cheering. The London School Board has been discussing the principles of further action. The compulsory principle is adopted, and the payment of fees is to be compromised. Each case is to be judged on its own merits. The Nonconformists are assuming a threatening attitude against the Government on the practical working of the Education Act as regards denominational schools. The Roman Catholic heirarcby, by wav of complicating matters, issued a definite manifesto, demanding Catholic education in the Irish schools. The Irish members of Parliament are formally required to oppose mixed or secular education The Church Congress has held its sittings at Nottingham. The attendance was large, aud the discussion animated. At the autumnal meeting of the Congregational body at Swansea, 70) delegates were present. The annual United Kingdom Alliance meeting at Manchester resolved to raise a guarantee fund of £IOO,OOO. M. Leon Say, the new prefect of the Seine, and M. Vautrein, president of the municipal council, have been sent as an express deputation to convey the thanks of Paris to the citizens of London for their sympathy and succour. They were entertained at Guildhall, to a banquet by the Lord Mayor, when good speeches were made. The Legion of Honour was conferred on Mr George Moore, Colonel Stuart Wortley, and Mr Alfred Rothschild. Afterwards, the prefect was interviewed with reference to the abolition of passports. The Hampshire military manoeuvres were followed by the siege and storm of Chatham, after regular approaches by batteries and mines. The Emperor Napoleon and the Prince Imperial have visited Plymouth and several of the western towns, returning to Camden House. They were interviewed in American fashion at Bath, Exeter, and Chiselhurst, and the result as published in the papers appeared as monologue. A fireman named Ford was killed at a fire in Gray’s Inn road, while engaged rescuing six persons. He received a public funeral, and the Board of Works has provided for his widow and two children. A public fund is also being raised. The agitation in the labor market is extending daily. The nine hours’ principle is conceded generally. The men are gaining a victory, and the foreigners brought to England are returning home. Formidable trade disputes had arisen in Blackburn, Sheffield, Forest Dean, Lincoln, Wolverhampton, Hartlepool, Leicester, and Leeds, but have been

The movements of the International Society are attracting attention. Graphic letters have appeared in the “ Times” and “ Standard,” describing its origin, history, and mutations. It is displaying immense activity now. The Central Committee sits in London, and is making efforts to introduce its organisation into Ireland. Revolutionary principles are avowed. Mr Scott Russell has been attempting to negotiate an alliance of the representatives of the workmen and the Conservative statesmen, with a view to certain social reforms. Some points of the arrangement have been disclosed prematurely. The new Social Alliance is disavowed by the leaders on both sides. The matter is creating a sensation, and Mr Scott Russell’s explanation is anxiously looked for. Lady Movdaunt is pronounced to be sane. Further proceedings are probable. A boy, aged sixteen, has been convicted of obtaining money from members of the English nobility, using the name of the Empress Eugenie. RUSSIA. The Czar of Russia has been holding a levee. The Crimean levee was attended by the Princes of Servia, Roumania, and the King of Greece. CAPE COLONY. Bazuto Land is annexed to the Cape colony. The diamond fever is extending. CEYLON. November 29. The result of the official inquiry into the loss of the Rangoon throws the responsibility entirely on the pilot. The captain and officers are acquitted, as it is thought that beaching her might have cost lives. Captain Skottowe is going home, and a Board of Trade inquiry will probably take place. The company’s signals are strongly condemned. The home papers are puzzled to account for the accident, and Galle Harbor is blamed. Since the 18th inst the recovery of a portion of the mails, slightly damaged, has been effected ; 27 bags, two boxes, and one box. of baggage have been got up. It is now hoped that all may be recovered, as the weather is fine and the strong current has abated. An engineer has estimated the cost of docks and breakwater at Galle at a third of a million sterling, and at Colombo they would cost double. The deepening and improvement of the Paumben Channel would cost a million and a half, . It is rumored that Sir Hercules Robinson, who is appointed Governor of New South Wales, and Mr Gregory, M.P, appointed Governor of Ceylon, will exchange governments. The first message by the new cable between Java and Port Darwin left Galle last evening for the “ Argus,” Melbourne, addressed to the care of the telegraph master, Java, to forward thence. CALCUTTA. November 15. A steamer is advertised to carry passengers, via the Canal, from Bombay to England for £15., It is expected that the postage of letters between Europe and India will be further increased. The Chambers of Commerce in India deprecate the introduction of a decimal currency. There are serious indications of approaching famine in India, from the scarcity of rainfall. A fresh mutiny has broken out among the Portugese troops at Goa. The murderer of Chief Justice Norman has been hung and his body burned. The Hon R. Bourke, M.P., brother of the Viceroy, is visiting the Maharajah of Cashmere, and had a grand reception. The native rajahs are holding industrial exhibitions in India. Twenty-six European vagrants have been shipped from Bombay to Mauritius, en route to the diamond fields at the Cape. Model farms are increasing in Madras Presidency. The ship Edwin Lewis has been wrecked off Calcutta; part of the crew are missing.

The ship Belviderahas been wrecked at Madras. Business is good; rates of money have risen ; freights are dull, but there is no fall in rates. Exchange—Bank bills, Is to Is lid 15-16ths; sovereigns, lOr 11a. BOMBAY. November 18. Exchange on London, Is lid 1516ths. In coal little is doing. Australian, JBr to arrive. In freights nothing is doing; rates are high. CHINA AND JAPAN. Floods have occurred in North China, creating a famine. Two millions of people will suffer. The well known clipper ship Taeping has been lost off Cape James; part of the crew are missing. Western ideas are penetrating Japan rapidly. Travelling in the interior is now unrestricted. Railways in the streets and to the country are projected. The Buddhist religion has been disestablished, and the monastries have been confiscated. The export of native rice is permitted, and a large trade is expected. LATE TELEGRAMS. London, Nov 26. The “ Times” on the occasion of the execution of the murder of Chief Justice Norman in Calcutta, deprecates excessive sensitiveness respecting the Maliomedan movement in India, urging calm but rigorous application of the law's. The German Reichstag has adopted a bill for the formation of a military treasury and the introduction of gold coining. The steamer Meera has left Lisbon with a new Governor and reinforcements of troops for Goa. A laboratory at Coblentz has exploded, and three lives were lost and many persons wounded. The Second Chamber at Amsterdam voted the abolition of the Dutch legation at the Papal Court. Half a million sterling was paid into the Bank of England on November 13. Oriental Bank shares, £42 10s on 18th November. On November 22 negotiations for the modifications of the Anglo-French treaty were suspended, because England refused to consent to an increased duty on cotton yarns, as required by the French Government. The returns of the Bank of France (November 24) show that the circulation of notes has diminished by ten millions. The “Times” states that the German indemnity bills are falling due on London to the amount of ten millions and a quarter. Prince Bismarck was unwell on November 25. The popular manifestations at Brussels against the Ministerial and Catholic party were becoming serious on November 25, and troops were arriving.