ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 921, 31 May 1854, Page 3

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Her Majesty after opening Parliament returned to Windsor Castle on 7th February. The Queen has been pleased to appoint Lieutenant "Andrew Clarke, of the Royal Engineers, to be Surveyor-General for the colony of Victoria. ■ The directors of the Chrystal Pnlace intend to open the building in May next. - The Earl of Carlisle who has arrived in Malta, from an extended tour in the dominions of the Sultan, is expected to return to England at the end of the month. . The Hannibal, 90-gun screw steamship, was -launched on 7th February, at Deptford. She is 3000 tons burthen, and will be fitted up with engines to 500 horse-power. Several thousand pounds worth of property was destroyed by fire on Satuiday morning, January 28, at Bankside, on the Banks of the Thames. Some malicious person last week dug up the trench near Glenluce, and cut the wires of the magnetic telegraph, taking away upwards of a yard of it. At a meeting held in Carlisle on Monday, it was resolved to supend the first vacant canonry in the chapter of the cathedral church of Carlisle, and to appropriate the income thereof to the augmentation of the incumbencies of the said city, The Ipswich Express states that an explosion of gas took place at Kelvedon a few days ago. | Portions of the window shutters in front of a house were hurled twenty yards, breaking windows on the opposite side of the way ; and much other damage was done, Asiatic cholera, of a most virulent type, has broken out amongst the quarriers in the Marquis of Breadalbane's slate mines in the village of Eardle, Argyleshire. The houses composing this village are about as unlike model cottages as can well be imagined. Almost all the cottages have now two families inhabiting them, while the accommodation is far too small for one family. There was extracted the other clay, by a talented medical gentleman in Aberdeen, a small ball from the arm of Mr. M'Nichol, principal keeper to the Duke of Buckingham, and residing at Glenbucket, after it had been snugly deposited in his arm for the period of 25 years. At an early hour on Sunday Morning, Mary Markland, the wife of a broker, living in Scholes, Wigan, committed suicide by cutting her throat in a shocking manner. She had been addicted to drinking for about 14 years, and ten years ago she attempted to destroy herself in a similar manner. During the last ten days the agricultural labourers in the neighbourhood of Dorchester, feeling dissatisfied with the amount of wages paid to them (Bs. 6d.) per week, turned out in a body, refusing to work any longer unless they were paid at the rate of 12s. per week, and by threats and intimidation caused other labourers in the adjoining parishes to do the same, in some instances resorting to phybical force in- order to accomplish their object. [ Mr. Waters, a wine and vinegar merchant in Lower Whitecross- street, London, on taking stock, found a deficiency of 1570 gallons of wine during last year. He set officers to watch, and the keeper of the warehouse and his wife were detected in taking great quantities of bottles to a marine store dealer's. A state of excitement almost without parallel has been produced at the village of Pontyberem, Carmarthenshire, in consequence of the recovery of nine human bodies, which had remained as they were found for nearly two years. The deceased it will be remembered, were lost by a sudden irruption of water at the Gwedendraeth, when out of 28 at work in the pit only one escaped. The whole amount of insured property in England is £900,000,000, while the amount insurable, but not insured, is valued at £2,700,000,000.

Russian Ships of War Refitting in Englt?it Ports. — The Portsmouth correspondent of the Times, writing on the 21st, says — " The Russian corvette Navarin, 22, after a thorough refit, has got out of dock this afternoon. She is now shipping her sea stores again, and will be at sea within twenty-four hours. While the public eye has been kept upon this vessel and the frigate Aurora, another' Russian apparition on the Gosport side has hitherto escaped notice. The Russian yacht Rognida t ("well known to English writers as. once the Earl of Wilton's Circassian, a -schooner of the Royal Yacht Squadron,) now the property of Prince Nicholas LabanofF de Rostoff, sailed a few days since . from this harbour, but so quietly thatno remark has been made about her. She .sailed with pealed orders from the. Russian.- Government. This fine fast sailing schooner has been he<mlyu.> and well armed in all respects. She was bound ostensibly for the Pacific, but we believe more truly her commission is a roving one. The Prince has lately received a commission, appointing him a Lieutenant-Commandant in the Imneiial Navy. — Spectator^ Dec. 24.- ,

A Large Steamer.— The Persia, to be built by Mr. Robert Napier, of Glasgow, for the Cunard Company to ply "between Liverpool and New .York, will be" about 45 feet broad in. the beam; and ejctend in lengtfy. to 360 feet ; and v the tonnage will be 3,00.0/ The engines will' be hundred inch cylinders,' with a'ten/eet stroke. Although no part of the immense vessel has yet been set up, the framework is in rapid progress ; and it is believed that she will be readyin twelve months hence* — Glasgow Sentinel.

Mortality at Ska. — The packet-ship Con~ stellaticn had arrived at New York, from Liverpool,'.with the loss of 100 passengers from cholera. The total number of passengers on board' this vessel was 916. The Hibernia, also from Liverpool, lost 33,. out of 380 passengers.

Imports of Wool in 1852 and 1853. — An adequate supply of wool is of such vital importance to this district, that we are induced to present the following particulars for the consideration of those who are interested. The total 'importations of sheep's wool into the United Kingdom, and the countries from, whence it has been imported during the year 1853, compared with the preceding year, are as follows : —

Taking into account that an unusually large proportion of the wool has been in a bad and unwashed condition, the actual quantity of wool imported in 1853 will not be materially different from 1852. — Leeds Mercury, January lih.

Paris : the Sabbath. — Active ,-measures are baing adopted for the prevention of Sunday trading and Sunday labour in Paris. A society which had been formed for the above objects nearly a year and a half ago, has been quietly and steadily at work, and has now produced a considerable impression on the feelings of the public, particularly with those connected with trade. It enrols 3000 members, including some of the most wealthy, exalted, and influential persons of the empire, and has established several "district committees in different parts of Paris, and some important branch associations in the provinces. The mode of operation is very simple. All purchasers and employers, as well as the tradespeople are requested to agree, indeed, to sign a document that they will neither buy nor sell, work, nor give work, on the Sabbath. ,- This has proved a great encouragement and protection to the shopkeepers, and to several publiccontractors who have ceased to employ their masons and bricklayers on the Sunday. All the prioeipal shops in the Quartier St. Germain are now closed on the Sabbath. An interesting and peculiar feature in the present successful progress of this movement is, that an English gentleman and a Protestant, whose name I regret not to be at liberty to make public, is now actively engaged in assisting in this very important Christianwork, and at the express and particular request of some of the leading dignitaries -of the Roman- % Catholic Church. — Correspondent of St. James's > Chronicle. -

Parts, February Gth. — I cannot; announce any improvement in the trade of Paris. Credit,* moreover, is becoming every day more difficult' since the 'directors of the Bank of France" have raised the rate of interest and limited the amount) of their discounts. It was feared, consequently, that many of the commercial bills due on Tuesday last, the 31st of January, would have been protested in default of payment, but fortunately 1 the day passed over well. No commercial failures of any consequence have been announced. - v The manufacturers are, literally speaking, doing uothing. They live, however, in hopes' of receiving orders shortly from the United States and Australia. Many commercial houses, finding it almost impossible to effect sales in the provinces, have discontinued to send out travellers. The hopes entertained by the manufacturers of Lyons • of a revival of tradp, have not been realized ; they have fallen completely into a dull season. Some particular descriptions of satins and brocades are still in deman.], but the general trade is wretched. The accounts from the manufacturing towns in the provinces are distressing. • The manufacturers at St. Quentin fear that they must reduce the number of their hands. Cotton goods are not saleable at Rouen or Moulhouse, except at a considerable reduction in price. The apprehensions entertained in Paris of a contiasutal war, aud the consequent depreciation in

the value of public securities, have tended very much to limit the number of private balls usually given at this generally gay season. This fact is severely felt by a number of tradesmen, as dressmakers, tailors, perfumers, hairdressers, and others. The reports received from the principal corn markets throughout the departments are more favourable than for some months past. The decline in prices is general, and as the supplies are everywhere becoming abundant it is to be hoped that this is only the beginning of the reaction. These expectations are encouraged by the remarkably favourable appearance of the young wheat. It was difficult to effect sales in the Paris corn market during the last week. The highest prices quoted are from 102f. to 108f. the sack of 157 kilogrames, and fron? 97f. to . 98f. for ordinary quality, being a decline of 2f. the sack. Some persons attribute this decline to the scarcity of money, which compels the holders of stock to bring their ilour to market. This may be true, but it is equally evident that many speculators calculating on a famine price, have been completely disappointed. The reserve of flour in the Paris stores is increasing every day ; it exceeds 20,000 metrical quintals this week. Wheat has also fallen If. 50c. the hectolitre. Eye has maintained its price better than wheat: the price has varied from 34f. 50c. to 35f. 50c. the 115 kilogrames. There is nothing doing in barley ; offers were made at 25f. sOe. the 100 kilogrames, hut no buyer was found at that price. Oats have declined 50c. the sack of three hectolitres within the last eight days. The high price has tempted the farmers to thresh their own corn and send it to the market. They are now quoted at l&f. the 100 kilogrames outside Paris. The markets in Lorraine and Alcace are still more quiet than Paris. The price of wheat in Strasburg is 4f. the 100 kiiograrnes lower than it was a month since. Wheat has fallen 50 centimes the hectolitre in Bordeaux during the last week. Prices are maintained in Charente and in La Vend6e. There hud been a moderate share of business transacted et the wine market of Bercy during the last week. Prices are firm with a tendency to further rise. It is asserted that several vineyards in the Cher and in the Loire have suffered from the last frosts. Similar reports, which appear to have no foundation, gave rise to several bargains, at Orleans, in inferior wines, at from 52f. to 6 lf. the hogshead. Wines are scarce and dear in the Cher, They are quoted at from 85f. to 95. the hogshead. Both wines and brandies are neglected in the southern departments by the speculators in those articles, who have a large stock on band, and who fear to lose the enormous profits they anticipated. Spirits of wine have declined in Paris during the week from 208f. the hectolitre to 200f.

Carrying Matters very Fak. — A party of ladies and gentlemen, amounting in all to 11 persons, arrived at Berwick by the North British Railway on Saturday, whence they proceeded in three carriages to the plains of Flodden. They bad with them an infant of three or four month 3 old, and the object of their visit appeared to be to have this infant baptized with the waters flowing through the field of Flodden. They were accompanied by a clergyman, reported to belong to Glasgow. The ceremony being concluded, they returned to Berwick, and left again by railway for Edinburgh. The principals of the party were reported to be Americans, and the father of the child is said to have discovered that some o£ his ancestors were slain, with James IV. ct ibe battle of Flodden. Hence his desire to have bis child baptized at this memorable locality, and which had induced him to come from New York. At all events, he stated to some of the persons whose services were engaged that he had travelled 3,000 miles for the purpose. He had evidently bsen acquainted with the district, for he made inquiry after several of its late Inhabitants, — Edinburgh Advertiser.

Talbot's Tunnelling Machine in America has just been tried with complete success ; and it has been demonstrated that mountains cf primitive stone and the hardest rocks ia the earth can be successfully and economically tunnelled by the agency of steam applied to this new invention. The machine, moved by a steam engine, cut an excavation of 17 feet in diameter through the hardest rock at the rate of about 8 feet in two hours. The process consists in cutting and crushing the rock by means of rotating discs of steel, in successive series, which describe in their movement segments of circles 'from the centre to the circumference of the tunnel, with a gradual motion around the common centre ; while the steam engine is constantly pressing the machinery on a direct line with the axis of the tunnel. The newest and most extraordinary feature of the application of this power consists in the combination of different sets of discs, which act upon the entire surface to be excavated by a system of gradation perfectly regular and irresistible. The machine is made entirely of iroD, . and weighs about seventy-five tons, exclusive of the engine and boiler. When the machine began cutting in an oblique direction, it was observed that the discs cutting the stone moved with the same facility as those playing in the air. Only four men are required.

Finances of Russia. — If we look at the sources of Russian revenue, it is quite clear that, despite the great population of the country the receipts cannot be veiy great. In the first place they are composed of a monstrous government monopoly of spirits in the old provinces, and ot an excise on spirits in the newer additions of the empire : then there is a poll-tax on peasants and serfs ; next there is a tax on the capital of merchants and traders — these, with enormous and unprofitable customs' duties, with a salt tax and the produce of crown rniaes and lands — are sources of Russian revenue. At most, the important duties of an empire containing upwards of 60,000,000 people do not exceed £7,000,000, if indeed they reach £6,000,000. And although credit is taken for a large sum from the gold washing of the Ural Mountains, Russian gold is generally said to be bongbt too dear, and to cost more to the Treasury than it is worih. The highest estimate of the yearly revenues of Russia that we can find is £28,000,001? ; the lowest £15,836,574. Sir Archibald Alison sets them down at £20,000,000. According to M'Culloch, the revenue of Russia in the unknown year to which he refers, was 379,000,000 rouble?, or £15,847,000 ; whilst, according to Mr. M'Gregor, in the equally unknown year of which he furnishes particulars, itonly reached £lB,262,7l s. Both, however, agree in one fact — that an enor-

mous proportion of the revenue raised, whatever it may be, proceeds fiora spirituous liquors, thus giving the Russian Government a direct interest in the intoxication of its subjects. In J 853, the Russian Government raised a sum of £8,716,666 irom this frightful national vice.— -Alias. " There is a race of wild boars in Egypt, of the flesh of which, though it be insipid, the Europeans, from the perversity to which I have already alluded, are fond. 1 once saw a cage containing four little ones sent down as a present to an English lady. It was carried through the streets by two great shame-faced porters, whom a crowd of urchins and idlers followed and hooted. They were so annoyed that they dropped their burden, and began cursing Christianity, whilst the sucking boars took to flight, pursued by a shower of stones and slippers. I remember, however, that on one occasion a fine Grata ham was boiled for our use on board the boat. There were rumours among the crew whilst the cauldron was over the fire. They seemed to consider themselves almost as accomplices of a sacrilege. But when the steaming ham was fished out by a hook at the end of a pole, and deposited with respectful contempt upon the dish, the men collected round at a certain distance with expanded nostrils, sniffing in the unholy odour ; and one of them, in a moment of gastronomic conviction, exclaimed, • Wallah, by GG — «* , how nice it smells ! "What a pity it is a sia !" — Si. John's Turlis in Europe.

APolitical "Aside." — Many of our readers, perhaps, have witnessed the ceremony of bringing up bills from tbe House of Commons to the House of Lords. Tbe Commons advance with a succession of bows, the Lord Chancellor meets them bowing his wig to his knees, tbs clerks of the House ;and the Masters in Chancery bow more gravely than Mandarins, and as frequently. Upon the occasion to which we now allude, the Times of the morning had announced that the Chancellor's wife had presented him with a daughter, and it was notorious that he would have preferred a male heir. The renowned Billy Holmes represented the Commons, and he brought up a bill to enable sorae country squire to grant leases of his settled estates. Advancing with the three ceremonial bows, the great " whipper in " presented the bill, saying, in a loud tone, " My Lord, a bill to enable — ;" then dropping his voice to a whisper — " you to have only male children." The Lord Chancellor took the bill, bowed with imposing dignity, and replied, "You be d ." About five persons heard the "asides;" the rest of the spectators were much edified by the grave ceremouial. — New Quarterly Review*

1853. 1552. Sydney 51,038 50,002 Port Phillip 57,236 .... 55,1 53 Portland Bay 11 ,884 .... 6,732 HobartTown. .9,844 10,038 Launceston 8,349.... 7,958 Adelaide ....' 11,277 12, 52 New Zealand and Swan River „ "¥,534.... '3,242" 153,162 145,767 lucrease 7,325 bales.

The Australian wools are of the following classification :—: —

Germany Bales Spain Portugal Australia Cape of Good H ope ...... Russia East Indies Sundry 1853. 1852. ! 26,1*) .... 36,114 947 .... 903 10,440 7,746 153, 1R2 .... 145,767 22,718 21,011 21,758 13.687 35,207 21,109 ] 04,258 68,454 Total bales 374,619 314,791 Increase " 59,828 bales.