ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAIL, VIA SUEZ.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4291, 21 December 1874, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAIL, VIA SUEZ.

[Press Telegraph Agency.] The Bluff, Saturday. The s.s. Albion with the English mail, left Melbourne at 2.30 p.m. on the 13th inst., and arrived at the Bluff at daylight on the 19 th She brings 46 saloon and 30 steerage passengers, and 460 tons cargo for all ports. She sailed for Dunedin at 4 p.m. The Albion has the following passengers for Wellington : —Mr. J. J. Baker, the Rev. Mr. Brown, Mr. and Miss Shaw, and Mr. and Mrs. Wilson. The news she brings is as follows; London, December 8. The wool sales closed with, increasing weakness, and quotations show a decline on September rates of a penny to threepence per lb., faulty sorts ; sound fleeces scarce, and comparatively firm. The new clip brought by the Great Britain commands better prices. 22,000 bales were exported, and 10,000 old stock were offered, of which 8000 were withdawn. The Jason, bound from London to Sydney, was badly injured by fire, and was towed back to the Victoria Docks. December 9. The fire on board the Jason broke out afresh, and the vessel was submeiged in dock. Berlin, December 10. The trial of Count Arnim commenced on the 7th December. Exceptions were taken ta the jurisdiction of the Court, but were overruled. The indictment was read, charging the Count with the embezzlement of State documents. The examination of witnesses has commenced.

GENERAL SUMMARY. London, October 30. The cession of the Fiji Islands is generally approved of by the Press. The sudden death of Mr. Eddy, on a platform of a Glasgow Railway Station, while attending the Social Science Congress, has produced a profoundly painful sensation amongst colonists. He died from chronic heart disease. A true bill for libel has been returned against Dr. Kenealy, the prosecutrix being Mrs.' Pittendreich, a -witness against the claimant in his late trial.

A testimonial of silver plate, voted by the province of Otago to Captain Jacquemart, c£ the war steamer Vire, for having rescued the shipwrecked immigrants from the ship Surat was presnted by Dr. Featherston to Marshal Macmahon, in the presence of the French Ministers, on behalf of the captain, who is on foreign service. Two thousand two hundred and sixty-two emigrants were forwarded to New Zealand during September. Liverpool returns for the quarter ending Sept. 30 shows a decrease of 9515 immigrants, compared with those of last year. Bishop Selwyn, now on a visit to Canada, has been warmly received. A fatal collision took place between two Australian ships, the Candahar and Kingsbridge, on the 15th October, off the Lizard. The latter vessel sank in three minutes, carrying down the Captain, his wife, daughter, and eight seamen. The remainder of the crew managed to board the Candahar. This vessel having watertight fore compartments, was preserved from sinking. The estimated value of the Kingsbridge is £30,000. The Empress of Russia, by rapid travelling, arrived six hours after her daughter’s confinement. Princess Alice has written a book called “Life Paths,” illustrative of life among the upper ten. It will shortly be published. Mr. Disraeli has received from the provincial Orange Lodges of the North-Eastern District, a resolution condemning ritualism, and commending his action against it. The Premier expressed himself as honored by the terms of the motion. In Exeter the feeling against the ritualists is very strong, and a fund has been formed for the defence of the victims. Parliament will be appealed to for the suppression of the monstrous imposition. Stanley has arrived in good health at Zanzibar. A deputation of the London Missionary Society of Madagascar report 1000 (?) churches formed, and that 30,000 natives had abandoned idolatry. The iron strikes have been mostly settled by acceptance of the employers’ terms, A tremendous gale swept over the British Islands, causing enormous loss. The devastation was principally on the north-west coast of Scotland. Telegrams dated London, November 17, state that the ship Isabella is supposed to have foundered at sea. The value of British exports for October £21,875, 000 ; imports, £27,750,000. Lord Derby has been elected Hector of the Edinburgh University by 770 votes, against 580 polled by Dr. Playfair. Disraeli has been elected Rector of the Glasgow University. Private Smith confessed to the murder of Captain Bird, and has been executed. The recruiting in the army is larger than for several years. FOREIGN NEWS. A union between Russia and France on the Eastern question is on the tapis. A great defection of mutineers has taken place in Carlist ranks. The Cax-list atrocities are unabated. The rumor of Germany intervening has been received but not credited,]

The arrest of Count Arnim is generally condemned in German political circles. A painful sensation was caused at Vienna by the publication of a pastoral by the Cardinal Archbishop, charging Germany with endeavoring to extirpate Christianity. Garibaldi, at the invitation of the Romans, stands to represent them. lie exhorts electors to vote for persons now political prisoners. He has been elected. Three expeditions have been despatched by Russia against the Turcomans. Extensive arrests of internationalist aims and war munitions have been made at Elorence, Japan and China are now preparing for war. and have sent large orders to Birmingham. Thirty Westphalian ladies were each fined one hundred thalers, or three weeks’ imprisonment, for presenting an address to the Bishop of Munster. INDIA AND THE EAST. Extensive frauds on the Oriental Bank at Galle have been discovered. An investigation, vc Nana Sahib is proceeding at Cawnpore. The evidence is very conflicting. During a cyclone at Calcutta thirty lives were lost. Severe floods have taken place in Southern India, with loss of life and property. By an earthquake which occurred at Cabul 7000 lives were lost. Auckland, Saturday. The s.s. Wonga Wonga has arrived. She left Sydney on December 12. The produce telegram of the New Zealand Company, dated London, December 8, says that the wool sales closed flatly. Nearly all descriptions declined from IRI. to 2d. Sales comprise about 85,000' hales ; 22,000 bales were taken for export; 4000 were withdrawn. During past sales'a good many second-hand parcels were offered. The prospects of next gales are not so good. Tallow.—Public sales of Australian comprised 4000 casks. Mutton fetched 445. ; beef, 435. Leather.—Best sides fetched a farthing advance on previous rates ; others unchanged. Wheat market quiet.