ENGLAND AND AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 229, 29 January 1876, Page 9

ENGLAND AND AUSTRALIA.

ARRIVAL OF THE OTAGO. Bluff, Wednesday. The Otago arrived at 11 a.m. She leit Sandridge at 2.30 p.m. on the 19th. Had fine weather to Milford Sound, where she arrived at 4 a.m. on the 24th. Left at 1 p.m. on the 25th, and had strong S.W. winds until arrival. She brings 245 tons of cargo, 52 saloon, and 40 steerage passengers for all ports. She sails at 4 p.m. for Dunedin. Passengers for Wellington—Saloon : Messrs. Nicholson, CatforJ, Cleverdon, Mrs. Cleverdon ; 2 steerage, and 28 tons of cargo. For Wanganui : Mr., Miss, and Master England. REUTER'S SPECIAL CABLE MESSAGES. London, January 13. Macalister, the Premier of Queensland, was banquetted at Glasgow, the Lord Provost in the chair. A large number of the leading merchants and several old colonists were pre sent. January 14. The Queen visits Cobury on the 10th of. April, and afterwards proceeds to Baden. The Queen will open Parliament in person, accompanied by the Princess of Wales. January 15. Money is easier. Foreign exchanges more favorable. The Coraling was wrecked in the Humber en route to Goole, with wheat as cargo, and four lives were lost. Obituary.—Major-General Hamley, ActingGovernor of South Australia from February, 1868, to February, 1869. Wheat is firmer. Paris, January 13. Dufaure, Minister for Justice, and Leon Say, Minister of Finance, have resigned. McMahon has issued a proclamation in which he states that the country requires repose, and asks for an honest trial of the present institutions until 1880. McMahon alone is entitled to propose any revisions.

January 15. The French crisis has ceased. The Ministry remains unchanged. UNPUBLISHED TELEGRAMS. London, January 18. A Cabinet Council was held on the 18th to consider the scheme of Count Andrassy. The Timxs urfje3 the complete adhesion of France sjjd Italy to the scheme. Experiments have been ordered at Woolwich to discover mechanical means of puddling Indian iron ore, using Indian coals. An English capitalist is negotiating the purchase of the Egyptian railway. The powers singly make verbal friendly representations to the Porte respecting the scheme of Count Andrassy. General Ignatieff a-nd Count Zichy have overcome the disinclinations of the Porte to listen to representations concerning reforms, although the mind of the Cabinet is unchanged. Ministers maintain their individual opinions. The mail steamer China, for Australia, returned to Galle with her engine disabled. AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY. Melbourne, January 19. Commercial markets very dull. Wheat, ss. ffd. ; flour up to £l2 17s. 6d. Fiji sugars yesterday sold at rates equal to Mauritius. Oats quite neglected. 3s. 6d. asked for fine milling. ' The Stonewall policy of the Opposition is being carried out in earnest, and although the House flits nightly, nothing is done. Party feeling just now runs very high, and in the beat of debate some very harsh things are said on both sides. On Thursday night last, Mr. Lalor, late Commissioner of Customs, struck Thomas, another member, in the lobby of the House. The matter was brought before the Speaker, and Lalor was called upon to apologise, which he did. Yesterday the Government asked for supplies, but the Opposition insisted upon a motion affirming the desirability of a dissolution being first of all discussed, but they refused to abide by the result in the event of the issue being against them. Sir James McCulloch thereupon declined any such a one-sided arrangement, And said that he would not permit » minority to tyrannise over, a majority. There will soon be no money available for the payment of the public creditors, and people are asking what is to be the result of it all. Sir G. Bowen arrived on Friday last, and was received with the customary honors. He has since made two or three public appear--3WQ.C66 The election for Yilliers and Heytesbury fcas been narrowed down to a contest between Sir John O'Shanassy and the Minister of Railways, The war steamer Dido sailed for England on Monday. Two miners were smothered by a fall of earth in the Duke and Timor mine, Maryborough. A fire took place at the Chinese Camp, Maryborough, and destroyed fifteen small buildings. A five at Horsham desti-oyed a large hotel and several adjoining buildings. The loss is estimated at about £6OOO, partially insured. The City of San Francisco left Sydney on Friday for Fiji. She afterwards proceeds to Port Chalmers. 3carlet fever continues prevalent, but the recent hot weather has been beneficial. The racehorse Dagworth, injured in the last Champion Pace, has been destroyed. Be Murska and company leave by the Omeo on the 27th for the Bluff.

The employment of Chinese labor on sugar plantations at Mackay has proved a great failure. A deliberate attempt to murder a servant named Mary Hanley was made by a fellowservant yesterday. She received several large shots in her back, but they are not likely to prove fatal. Charles Bright, the lecturer, is a passenger by the Otago. The drought in Queensland continues. Grass and water are becoming very scarce. Jacques Martin, an escaped murderer from Noumea, was discharged from custody, the French Government authorities having failed to support a claim for extradition. The Commercial B-mk at Cannon Bay has been broken into and robbed of £ISOO. The Kev. John Graham has resigned from the Congregational Church. £IO,OOO has been subscribed to send a trial shipment of frozen meat to England. Adelaide, January 19. A man named Hare was found dead with a pistol loaded beside him. He was brother to the Bev. Francis Hare, late private secretary to Governor Fergusson, and nephew of Professor Maurice. Mattets generally are very dull in Melbourne. Sydney, January 19. A letter from Wellington in Tuesday's Herald, showing the danger of a financial crisis in New Zealand, excited much interest in monetary circles. The want of confidence debate is expected to close to-night, and the Government will bare at least ten of a majority. McMullen. shot at Wagga by Boon, publican, has died. Boon is charged with wilful murder.