ENGLAND AND AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 226, 8 January 1876, Page 10

ENGLAND AND AUSTRALIA.

(per press agency.) Hokitika. Arrived : ■ Alhambra, s.s. She left Melbourne at 2.30 on the 29th. Had light weather throughout. Passengers for Wellington—Mr. and Mrs. Jamieson, Mrs. E. Smith, Miss Murphy, Messrs. Plutford, Fraser, 7 steerage, and 59 tons cargo. She sailed for Nelson at 4.30 on the 4th. CABEE NEWS. The rumoured earlier assembling of Parliament is authoritatively contradicted. Eord Derby, in reply to a question, said the Government would not oppose any arrangement for placing the Suez Canal under the management of an international syndicate, though they would not propose it. The object of England’s action was purely defensive, and was intended to prevent the preponderance of larger foreign influence in the canal. In replying to the deputation from the antiSlavery Society, Dord Derby said he was quite prepared to advise the Khedive to abandon any scheme of annexation in Abyssinia, if such existed; but the Government was at present not informed on the subject. He said, further, the recent violation of the Zanzibar territory by Egypt, if authentic, must be due to some misunderstanding. If Zanzibar requested England’s interference, then England would endeavor to preserve good relations between Egypt and Zanzibar, and prevent injustice by either side.

The American Congress was opened on the 6th. President Grant’s message disapproved of the present recognition of the belligerent rights of the Cuban insurgents; but if pacification was not soon accomplished, the President would propose necessary measures in the present session. He recommends resumption of specie payments, free and secular education, and taxation of church properties, and the reimposition of the coffee and tea duties. At St. George’s festival at St. Petersburg, the Czar, in toasting the Empresses of Austria and Germany, referred to the close alliance of the three Empires, the sole object of which was the maintenance of peace. Bondon, December 20. In a speech, Dord Derby said he believed that the Powers were pacific, but he thought that a solution of the Eastern question was far distant, and that temporary expedients were alone possible. Military operations at Perak continue. December 25. The Powers have invited the co-signatories to the treaty of Paris to support their scheme of reform in Turkey. The Times urges the adoption of a scheme which is equivalent to rescinding the treaty, and placing Turkey under tutelage, and The Times would approve this result. Dord Carnarvon, in a despatch to General Barlcly, at the Cape, virtually withdraws the proposal for a conference, believing that the discussion it has evoked has accomplished the object. The s.s. China arrived at Galle from Australia on December 23.

The Prince of Wales has been enthusiastically received at Calcutta. The French Assembly has terminated the election of life Senators, fifty-seven of whom belong to the Deft. AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY. Melbourne, December 23. The departure of the City of Melbourne on Monday, and the Hero, from Sydney, yesterday, has left only one day’s news. The Assembly, on Thursday night, passed that portion of the Land Bill for raising the assessment on stock, leaving the other portions to be dealt with at some future time. The Bill has reached the Council, but they have postponed dealing with the second reading until to-day. The weather has been very hot, the thermometer ranging as high as 106 in the shade in some parts of the country. Two children, a boy and a girl, were drowned in a dam at the Sheep Wash Creek, near Sandhurst. They were fishing for crayfish, and fell in.

Two boys were drowned whilst bathing at Warnambool.

Several other cases of drowning have occurred whilst bathing during the hot weather. The Assembly passed Todd’s Bill for continuing the collection of tolls for six months longer, and also passed a Bill for permitting women to graduate at the University. A fire at East Collingwood this morning destroyed five wooden houses, all uninsured. The Chief Secretary, Mr. Macpherson, has left for Tasmania.

Arrived : Melbourne, December 19, Mera, from Oamaru ; Mary Bannatyne, from Timaru. 21, Star of Mersey, from Timaru. Melbourne, December 29.

The Council on Thursday evening last passed the Bill providing for increased assessment, without a division, and the Governor assented to it the same night. In the Assembly, the Chairman of Committees ruled that Tucker’s amendment in favor of a dissolution could not be received, as it did not come within the order of reference to the committee.

The Opposition threaten to bring forward another amendment to the Budget, when the House again meets on the 11th of January. On that date also attention is to be called to the fact that there are two members of the Government who do not hold seats in the House.

The cold wet weather was succeeded by a few days of extreme heat, the thermometer being as high as 106 in the shade in some parts ; but the rain has again come, and yestesday it continued the whole day, putting a stop to the progress of the intercolonial cricket match, which commenced the previous day. The Victorians went in first, and scored 136 in their first innings, Kelly with 72, and Cooper with 36, being the only double figures. New South "Wales had 6 wickets down for 87 runs, of which Bannerman has made 43, not out. The game is resumed to-day. On Boxing Day the attendance on the ground numbered about 12,000. Mr. Elliott, manager of the Bank of Australasia, has accepted the general management of the National Bank of New Zealand.

By order of the Government the body of the man Beath, who was operated upon by Beaney, for lithotomy, has been exhumed, and the .post-mortem examination corroborated all the statements made as to the maltreatment the patient received. An inquest is being held. In the meantime several letters have appeared in the papers reflecting on the previous operations of Beaney. The bodies of two newly-born infants were found floating in the river on Monday. A double murder appears to have been committed.

The mail steamer Mongolia left Galle, for Australia, on the 20th. She should reach Adelaide about the 7th January. A woman named Marion Grant is committed for trial for causing the death of an infant through neglect. Doctors McDonald and Cairns proceed by the outgoing mail to attend the Church Assembly in Edinburgh, as delegates from Victoria. COMMERCIAB. The holidays completely stopped all business. A Bondon telegram states that brandy is rising. A telegram from Mauritius states that 500 tons are loading for Dunedin and Christchurch. No alteration in prices. Sugarmaking is retarded by wet weather. "Yield not expected to exceed 100,000 tons.

Sydney, December 23. Parliament decided to adjourn to the 4th J anuary. By a telegram of the sth, the Government received advices of the, arrival of Mr. Forster at Home. He has commenced his duties. Great anxiety is felt at the non-arrival of the overdue Colima. Several Sydney residents are aboard. Mr. Parkes moved a vote of censure on the Government with reference to their immigration and railway scheme. It is not likely to be carried. Sydney, December 29. The spread of fever causes apprehension. A scarcity of water has occurred in the suburbs, and some works have been stopped in consequence. During a heavy gale the mate of the brig Perseverance was washed overboard and drowned, coming from the Clarence. A fire occurred at Mort’s freezing establishment at the head of Darling Harbor. It was insured for £IO,OOO in the New Zealand office. The loss is estimated at about £3OOO.

Mrs. Martin, hotelkeeper, has been murdered by a man named Pitt, who has been arrested.

A disturbance occurred at Newcastle during the laying of the foundation stone of the Protestant Hall between Catholics and Orangemen. The police interfered. A blackfellow has murdered his gin near Forbes.

Two children were burned to death by the explosion of a kerosene lamp at Brisbane. The mother and third child are seriously injured. Adelaide, December 29. The Backstairs cable was safely landed on Christmas Day at Kangaroo Island. The steamer Edinburgh returned to Normanvillc on Tuesday.