GENERAL SUMMARY.

Southland Times, Issue 660, 22 April 1867, Page 3

GENERAL SUMMARY.

London, Feb. 26. The Australian December mails were delivered in London on the 11th and 16th February. > The Queen's health has much improved She is residing at Winsdor Castle, and will hold five courts there during the ensuing season. - ■- '-■'■'- The Princess of Wales was safely delivered on February 20 of a princess. Mr Bennet, the owner of the yacht Henrietta, presented her to Prince Alfred, who gi*acefully declined the offer. An appeallto tlie House of Lords has been lodged on behalf of Mrs Hives, who claims to be Princess Olive of Cambridge. The "Lord Justice- General McNeil and Sir Hugh Cairns have been raised to the peerage. Great reform mass meetings continue, but no disturbances have taken place. The Habeas Corpus Act has been further suspended in Ireland. The federation of the North American colonies is considered highly important. A plan has been proposed by the Gover-nor-Greneral, who was appointed by the Crown to represent the Imperial Executive. The General Parliament, consistiag of Tipper and Lower Houses, will legislate for the United Provinces, and the formation of local Parliaments is contemplated. . A Fenian raid on Chester by 600 men was frustrated by the activity \ of the authorities, Volunteers were sworn in as well as special constables. The Fenian raid on Kerry County ended in the complete defeat of the former. Several other risings were promptlyoDippressed. The bishops-and clergy of the Roman Catholic Church condemn Fenianism, and denounce the leaders. Nine Fenians have been sentenced variously from seven years' to fifteen years' penal servitude. . Freensland, manager of the lieetis Bank, has been sentenced to fifteen months.' imprisonment, with hard laboui'. Holdsworth and Berwick, two brokers charged with scuttling the ship Severn, to defraud the insurance offices, have been sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment. Fearful distress continues, in the east of London. Thirteen thousand pounds was collected, and it was ail spent for relief. It is annQunee4 that the Birmingham Bank can pay 20s. in the pound. The crew of the steamship Tornado have been liberated by the Spanish Government Charles Lever, the novelist, has been appointed British Consul at Treiste. Bishops Mihnan, of Culcutta ; Alford, of Hong Kong ; and Sawyer, of Grafton and Arinidale, have been consecrated. The Eyre prosecutions have been commenced. A matqji h,as been made between Goss and Baldwin for the championship of the ring, and between' Kelly and Chambers for the championship of tha Thames and Tyne. In both cases the stakes are large. Obituary.— Colonel Stepney, Countess of Devon, Dowager Countess of Jersey Countess Mayo; Sir John Shelley, Bart, Lady" Gastleinaiue, Karl of Camperdown. "Lord Grey, Gen. Maxwell, Dr Sutherland, F.R.S., Houry Grab.b Robinson (aged ninety two), Mr Wm. D*rgan \ Lard Fevorsuatn, Sir 'Wm. Mil nor. Coio \ \ uei St, John Neal, Sir Arthur Magnis. ; j G.C<B. ; Lord Bamngtotu Viscountess i » Str^tfcalliC Baril lfcow&lotti '■'■-'