ENGLAND AND AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4248, 31 October 1874, Page 2

ENGLAND AND AUSTRALIA.

THE MACGREGOR AT AUCKLAND. THE ALHAMBBA AT HOKITIKA. BURNING OF THE CUTTER LAPWING, AND MASSACRE OF THE CBEW. THE MELBOURNE CUP-LATEST INTELLIGENCE. MB. VOGEL AND THE ROSARIO. DESTRUCTIVE STORM IN THE EAST. NANA SAHIB CAPTURED. [Press Telegraph Agency.] Auckland, Friday night. The s.s. Macgregor, Captain Grainger, with the New South Wales mails for San Francisco, was signalled at half-past two o’clock p.m., and reached the harbor about four o’clock. She sailed from Sydney on the 21th inst., and goes to sea again at midnight with the New Zealand mails, via Honolulu. Mr. Thomas Russell and twenty-seven others were passengers by the Macgregor for this port, and seventeen for San Francisco. Mr. Russell has arranged, on behalf of the New Zealand Government, with the New South Wales authorities for the re-establish-ment of the mail service. The vessels are to call at Auckland both on the outward and inward voyage, for the purpose of lauding passengers and mails. The two Governments are prosecuting the sureties in order to recover the penalties incurred under their bond, for a breach of contract, and they have agreed to unite in re-establishing the service originally agreed upon, immediately on Messrs. Hall and Forbes making a breach of the permanent contract. The Mikado will take out the November, and the Cyphrenes the December mail. The Macgregor brings the following intelligence : London, October 22. The balance of the Victorian loan has been entirely withdrawn from the market. The American Govermnent has ordered the war-steamship Tuscarora to the Navigator Islands. Singapore, October 22. Very severe hurricanes have been experienced in the East, causing disasters to railways, telegraphs, and shipping., The German war-frigate Ancona has forcibly levied an indemnity on the Navigator Islands, for an outrage committed on the German settlers. Calcutta, October 22. Nana Sahib, who was so notoriously prominent in the Indian mutiny, and gave the dreadful order for the massacre of upwards of three hundred European women and children at Cawnpore, has been captured in Gwalior by a Maharajah. There is no doubt about his identity, as he has confessed to the political agent. He is imprisoned in the Maharajah’s palace, under a European guard. Hokitika, Friday night. The Alhambra, Captain Sinclair, arrived off the port in the afternoon, and was tendered. She left Melbourne on the 24th , instant, and brings the following passengers for Wellington :—Messrs. Dunnett, Ehrmann, Blundell, McDowall, and Mr. and Mrs. Standrin and family, and three in the steerage. She has also 195 tons of cargo for Wellington. Madame Goddard and Signora Coy are also passengers. The Alhambra brings the following Australian intelligence : Melbourne, October 24. The Legislative Council has passed the Customs’ Duties Bill through all its stages, in a short sitting. The partial failure of the loan on the Loudon market has given rise to discussions in the Assembly. The Treasurer explained that the minimum of £9O was recommended by the banks and the Agent-General, but that he himself thought more should be obtained. He added that five of the Associated Banks had arranged to take up the unsubscribed amount at the Govermnent minimum. Sir James McCulloch and Mr. Langton expressed an opinion that £9O was not fair value for Victorian securities, and condemned the arrangement. The “Sunday freedom” question has been much discussed in and out of Parliament. The debate in the Assembly on the opening of the public museums on Sundays is expected to terminate on Tuesday, with a vote in the negative. The Speaker’s dinner to members of the Assembly, in honor of the Governor, and of Mr. Erancis, prior to their departure for Europe, has been fixed for the 11th of November. The French war-steamer Coetlogan, after a stay of a week in the harbor, sailed yesterday. H.M.S. Barracoota is expected to join the Australian squadron shortly. H.M. troop ship Adventure, with supernumeraries for the ships on the station, has arrived at Sydney. The body of Mias Pettitt, the young lady who so mysteriously disappeared from a school in East Melbourne five months ago, has been found in the river Yax-ra. No further light was thrown on the matter by the inquiry before the coroner, and the jury returned an open verdict. A petition has been presented to the Govei'ument for the release of Gerald Supple, who is undergoing imprisonment for life for causing the death of an ex-detective while endeavoring to shoot Mr. G. P. Smith, a barrister. It is represented that, if liberated, Supple would go to New Zealand, where he would reside with his sisters. The prayer of the petitioners is not likely to bo acceded to. The final payments for the Melbourne Oup have been made. They show twenty-six horses left in for the race. This is regarded as a good field. The list includes Lurline and Papapa. The entries for the other events are very numerous. The Rifle Association’s matches have been concluded. Captain King won Sargood’s cup, for the best shooting at the thousand yards range. The Scotch team won the International match, the Australians being second, and the Irish third. Blondin has at last found a site on which to erect his apparatus, and his performances com: mence on. the 4th of November. The men of Fulton’s Foundry Company are on strike against a reduction of wages.

A i-ecent telegram from London announced that the Admiralty had given the Rosario to the South Australian Govermnent as a training ship. Mr. Vogel at once telegraphed to the Agent-General, requesting him to inquire into the matter, seeing that New Zealand had asked for the Rosario, and had been informed that she could not be spared. The Agent-General has replied that the offer to South Australia was made by oversight in the Colonial Office, but that he hopes to obtain a better vessel for New Zealand. New Zealand Shipping. —Sydney: Arrived on 20th, Amherst, from Napier. Sailed— Joliba, for Lyttelton; Easby, for Dunedin. Newcastle ; Arrived—2oth, Vivid, from Auckland ; 22nd, Montana, from Auckland. Sailed —l7th, Wave, for the Bluff. . Commercial. —Mr. Moton Moss has called a meeting of his creditors. The deficiency in his estate is £15,000, The creditors agreed to accept Bs. in the £. Breadstuffs are very firm. Wheat has been sold at up to 6s. 24d.; flour, £l3. Oats are very scarce and wanted, at ss. Bd. to ss. 6d. Dried fruits continue in demand, and a slight advance has taken place. Tohaccoes are firm, oxving to a report of a short crop. Kerosene is very low. Fijian sugar has been placed at 20s. 3d. to 245. Latest Sporting Intelligence, The final acceptances for the Melbourne Cup are the following : Diver, After Dark, Friendless, Mountaineer, The Hook, Break-o’-Day, King of the Ring, Protos, Fugleman, Harricot, Fitz Yattendon, Speculation, Lurline, Papapa, Kettledrum, Dagworth, Horatio, Cleolite, Lapidist, Gloom, Goldsbrough, The Arrow, Goshawk, Blue Peter, King Tom, and Menindie. Sydney, October 24. A public meeting has been called for Monday, to urge upon the Government the establishment of a Californian mail service irrespective of New Zealand. Messrs. Russell and Samuel have agreed to carry on a temporary service at the joint expense of the colonies, until the permanent contract commences. The Laboring Men’s Union has notified an intention to demand ten shillings for a day of eight hours’ work after the Ist of December. Advices from Noumea report the murder of all the crew of the Auckland cutter Lapwing, at Santa Cruz. The natives burned the vessel, and also attacked H.M.S. schooner Sandfly, but she escaped. Adelaide, October 24. The Murray River Railway Bill was lost on the casting vote of the Speaker. Mr. Forrest is to have a public reception on the 3rd of November. Mr. Boucaut has given notice of the intention of the Government to Bring in a Bill for a loan of two millions two hundred thousand pounds, for public works. He also proposed to increase taxation by tb© imposition of stamp, legacy, and other duties. Launceston, October 24. Bird, the pedestrian, and two publicans, have been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for trying to get up a sham race.