GENERAL SUMMARY.

Southland Times, Issue 1118, 5 March 1869, Page 3

GENERAL SUMMARY.

1 London, Jm. 1. The Queen, the Crosvn Prince and j Princess of Prussia, Prince Leopold, and c the Princesses Louise and Beatrice, are V at Osb.»rne. c Claremont is being got ready for her c Majesty, who will reside there occassion--1 ally. Parliament will assemble on February 16, when it is expected that the Queen ' will deliver the speech from the throne in 2 the House of Lords. k The total number ot election petitions r from boroughs was fifty-four from forty--3 eight constituencies. It is stated that • upwards of one million of money was i withdrawn from the banks in the week 3 before the elections. ' Her Majesty, on the occasion of Mr 5 Bright's appointment to office, dispensed ! with the ceremony of kneeling and kiss- '- ing the hand, personally assuring him of ■ her regard. The Princess Royal of Prussia requested that she might be presented, and expressed her thanks to Mr 1 Bright, on behalf of herself and the rest 1 of the Royal Family, for the manner in which he had always spoken of their mother. The Pope's allocution deplores the evils which have befallen the Church in Spain. The Lord Chancellor has been gazetted Baron Hatherley. The final judgment in the Court of Appeal in the St Alban's ritual case is against Machonachie, without reserve on all points. Mr Gladstone, aided by Mr Childers and Mr Stansfield, is engaged in the preparation of a great scheme for the reform and reorganisation of the whole Civil Service. It is anticipated that by the simplification of the machinery now iv iuo, and by a re-distribution of duties in s veral departments, increased effick.i -y, together with greater economy in tiiuir administration, will be attained. Mr Giffrird has been appointed a Lord Justice, vice Sir W. Page Wood. Mr W. M. James has succeeded Mr Giffard as Vice- C'lancel lor. Dr J.ickson declines the bishopric of London, and the appointment has been conferred on Dr Wi I Perforce. It is authoritatively stated that the nev Victorian lorn will not be placed on the market at present, although the arran^eiiionts for it are compL-ted. A telegraphic c.ible, to connect Eng land with India, China, and Australia, id being manufactured for a company. The Melbourne letter o( ' Toe Times ' gives occasion tor a leader in that journal on the encouragement of emigration to Australia in preference to supporting a pauper population at home. Tne 'Times' Melbourne correspondent's remarks on goLJ-mining enterprise in the colony has elicited a reply from Mr Carpeutbr, who not only controverts the correspondent's statements, but shows how great a field Australia presents for the employment of British capital. Considerable interest is taken in the question of the ability of Australia to supply England with good fresh meat. A meeting was held on December 29, under the presidency of Mr Verdon, who proposes to take steps to give the English public the benefits derivable from a supply of animal food from the Australian colonies. A great many gentlemen connected with the colonies were present. Mr Verdon stated that the importation of beef and mutton had increased considerably in the course of the year. The new monitor for Melbourne is I nearly completed. A dinner of preserved meats was given in London on Tuesday last to Australians and other friends of the movement for the importation of these meats. TheAyers Government (South Australia) offer a large reward to the inventor of the best new meat-preserving system. A large exportation of salmon ova from the Severn for New Zealand has been made by the ship Mindora. The first meeting of the Colonial Society was held on December 16. A grand inaugural gathering will shortly be held. Emigration to New Zealand is about to recommence. Mr G. F. Train has been liberated and has returned to America. The Duke of Argyle, in replying to a deputation, said he agreed with Lord Dalhousie, that the expenses of the irrigation works in India should not be charged to current revenue, but that loans should be obtained. An official liquidator will be appointed to wind up the United Service Company. Mr Peabody has given another hundred thousand pouuds to the poor of London, and a hnndred and fifty thousand pouuds to the poor oi' Baltimore, The Lancashire cotton-spinners have been reduced to half time. A renewed eruption at Mount Etna has taken place. An earthquake has occurred at Gioraltar, Violent storms have prevailed over the Continent. A succession of gales have prevailed round the Euglish Coast. Numerous shipping disasters have occurred. Rochdale school-room was blown bown bury* ing 400 persons, but no one was killed. Another colliery explosion has occurred at Wigan ; seven lives were lostAn explosion took place at Haydock Colliery, by which twenty men lost their lives. A portion of the works on the Thames embankment, between the Temple and Blackfriars- bridge, have been destroyed. A memorial has been presented to Mr Reverdy Johnson, praying him to negotiate a penny ocean postage. Severe measures for the repression of the criminal population are discussed by the press. Sir Culling Eardley has obtained a free pardon and gone to Madeira*

Madame Rachel has been admitted to bail. A messenger employed by the London, Asiatic, and American Company has been arrested for stealing £8,000. An underground railway, from the Marble Arch to the General Post-office, , is proposed. Another international exhibition is proposed. Cologne is the place selected. "Another England; Life, Living, Home, and Home-makers in Victoria," is the title of a work just published by Mr Carton Booth, who was lately engaged in the inspection of land settlements in Victoria. It professes to be a history of the colony from its first settlement to its latest development. A meeting of Liverpool merchants has approved of Sir Charles Fox's scheme for the construction of a railway from Liverpool to Birkenhead by a tunnel under the Mersey. The cost of the en- i terprise would amount to £450,000. ' The hearing of the summons against six directors of Overend, Gurney, and Co.'s bank, for conspiracy to defraud the shareholders, commenced yesterday. The case is exciting intense interest. It is expected to occupy several days.