THE SUEZ MAIL.

Southland Times, Issue 1565, 19 April 1872, Page 3

THE SUEZ MAIL.

§PECIAI TEJLEGRA3I. Lyttelton, April 17. The John Knox has arrived here. She brinps the English telegraphic news via Suez. The Alexandra arrived at Glenelg at 2 p.m. on the 6th April.thepnssage to King .George's Sound occupvin^ 100 hours and 98 hours back. The Bangalore, Captain Burn, sailed from Galle on the evening of the 16th March, and arrived at King George's Sound on the morning of the lat April. She was to sail from Melbourne on the evening of the Ist London, Feb. 23. The Australian January mail via Brindisi was delivered in London on the 19th. A complimentary dinner was given by the leading colonists in London to the Hon. G. F. Yerdon, as an expression of respect and admiration. It was one of the greatest successes of the kind ever achieved. Messrs Edward Wilson, Sedgwick Cowper, and John Currie organised it. The Duke of Edinburgh referred pleasantly to his experiences in visiting the British dependencies, a pleasure of which he had the lion's share in the family. Lord Kimberley spoke of the growing: difficulties of maintaining so vast an empire, but deprecated any policy calculated to produce an unfriendly severance. . j A few days' later the Queen distributed j a shower of honors on representative colonists, already announcer l. Mr Knatchbull Hugesson's Bill to constitute kidnapping of the Pacific islanders a felony, has passed. The Australian courts are empowered to try the cases, and the Australian squadron is to be strengthened. The monstrous claims for inferential damages in the Alabama case have aroused the strong indignation of all classes in England. Everybody, including the Ministers and Commissioners, believing that .the American negociatiors had distinctly waived the indirect claims, their revival was at first regarded as " sharp attorney" practice. A further scrutiny of the Treaty and protocol shows that they are nowhere expressly excluded. The Americans profited by the ambiguity, and refused to withdraw these claims from their case for arbitration. England is taunted with cowardice before an impartial tribunal, lest she should find herself mulcted in a few hundred million pounds' damages. England maintains that no Treaty can be ratified under a wrong understanding, and-the national resolve is absolutely to refuse to recognise the indirect claims. The indignation at Yankee cunning is qualified by mortification at the obtuseness of English lawyers and officials. The Government is reproached with dilatoriness. A large balance of European opinion is on the British side. The German press particularly pronounces the claims outrageous, and declares their right to claim similar reparation from America for assistance to France. A legislator, indeed, has moved for an inquiry into this breach of neutrality. Four of the sharpest American lawyers have arrived in Paris ready for the general pleadings, owing to a false report which was circulated that the separation of Canada from Great Britain had been decided upon, to be declared immediately should any disturbance take place "with the United States (?). A letter has been published from Sir Samuel Baker, who is forcing his way through almost insuperable difficulties into the African interior. Diamonds continue to arrive from the Cape. Lynch law prevails at the diggings, and canteen-keepers have been burnt out for buying stolen diamonds from the natives. There is great disorder. A dreadful murder took place at Lambeth, committed by an American surgeon, at 2 o'clock in the morning. The cause of the crime is incomprehensible. A memorial fund, ■, devoted to mission purposes, is proposed by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. The British Government has not yet formally recognised the Fiji Government. On the 20th February Mr Macfie called attention to the last report of the Immigration Commissioner. The Court of Error confirmed the judgment of the Court of Exchequer in the case of M'Coll \. the Australian Meat Company. The Duke of Edinburgh's art collection at South Kensington is visited by increasing crowds. The Brazilian Government ia making great efforts to attract European emigrants to that country. Upwards of a month was occupied by the Attorney-General in presenting an historical resume of tb:i fraud of the Tichborne claimant. All his Australian , career has been clearly traced, except six months of 1859, when he disappeared as Arthur Orton, and reappeared as Castro. General surprise is expressed that Serjeant Ballantine did not follow the example of Rose and Son, and throw up the case. An extraordinary case of disappearance of a Russian traveller has occurred in London. Colonel Tomlin's pertinacity has been by Mr Lowe ordering the Bank to exchange old silver for new, and the Mint to coin night and day, to relieve the scarcity, Robert Kelly, who was acquitted on the charge of the murder of Talbot, has been sentenced to fifteen years' penal servitude for Bhooting another policeman. There is great activity in Woolwich arsenal in the manufacture of heavycannon for naval and coast service. The colonies, are also being supplied with the newest, designs in artillery. Torpedo experiments are carried on nightly. London, Feb. 29. The National Thanksgiving was an un-

qualified success, and the weather favorable, There was a general holiday, and the crowds were unprecedented. Numerous casualties occurred. The Prince of Wales was present with the Queen, and bore the fatigue well. The manifestations of loyalty were indescribable. St. Paul's cathedral was occupied by 13 000 ppraons, and presented a magnificent spectacle. The illuminations were very effective, and the festival decorations covered miles. The "French ex-Imperial family bre kfasted with the Queen, witnessing the departure of the cortege from Buckingham Palace. The Queen 'presented £1000 and the Prince of Wales £500 towards the Cathedral Restoration Fund. The London Corporation's address was presented at Marlborough House yesterday. The Prince of Wales, with emotion, | returned his sincere thanks for the national sympathy, and expressed his gratitude to God for his recovery. He suitably acknowledged the public reception accorded to the Queen and Royal family. The American Government asserts its determination to have the indirect claims submitted to the Geneva Commission. , A deputation proposed that New Caledonia should be sold, instead of be- j coming a convict settlement. The Standard interprets Earl Kimberley's invitation to New South Wales to annex Fiji, and encourage its becoming independent, as an evasion of the national ■ duty. Two thousand cases of condemned Australian meats were seized. Arrived. —Darra Cha See, Glen Osmond, City of Paris, Norfolk, Indus, Clodion, Corinth. Sailed. —Gal way, Lincolnshire, Whittington, Ascalon, Woodbine. London, March 8. The Queen has written a touching letter, expressing her deep sense of the reception accorded on Thanksgiving Day to herself and family. The Queen returned from a Dipl )matic Court on the 29th February, and is living at Buckingham Palace. She was attacked by George Arthur O'Connor, who presented an unloaded pistol, and a petition for the release of the Fenian prisoners. He was overpowered by .the attendants. The Queen was unmoved. The prisoner is without accomplices, and was committed for trial. Public excitement was promptly allayed. The Queen's health is good. She visits Germany shortly. The Prince of Wales will spend the spring in the south of Europe. A baronetcy is conferred on the Mayor of London, and Sheriffs Truscott and Bennett are knighted. Sir Charles Cowper was presented at Court by Earl Kimberley. In the Tichborne trial the claimant was nonsuited, and next day arrested for perjury. He was taken to Newgate. Mr Dixon's attack on the Education Act has failed. Mr Cardwell's army reorganisation scheme is adopted, and the estimates voted. The Meg©ra report fixes the chief responsibility on Sir Spencer Robinson, and blames Mr Reed (late Chief Constructor of the Navy), Mr Carberry, Lord Morgan, and others. Wool closed flatter, and most descriptions are one penny lower from the highest point. 500 bales were taken for export. The next sales will take place on 18th. April. The probable amount to be submitted is 200 000 bales. The French indemnity, fourth half milliard, was paid in advance under discount. Arrived. — Anna Maria, Miltiades, Delaware, La Hogue. Sailed. — Furness Abbey, Incholm, Coldinghatn, Ann Duthie.