FROM OUR EXCHANGES.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 122, 19 February 1879, Page 2

FROM OUR EXCHANGES.

Tho price of wheat is still falling in London. The Afghan expedition has achieved its object of protection of the frontier, and preserving the independence of Afghanistan. It has been conclusively ascertained that the Russian Mission fled from Cabul with Shere Ali. The position of affairs in Ivashgaria is assuming very serious proportions. A general war between China and Russia is considered inevitable. . The plague is extending in Eastern Europe, and has now reached Bessarabia, where numerous deaths have occurred. It is said that the British Government intend sending a physician 1 o Astrachan to report upon the nature of the plague. It is stated that within the last month the Government have acqu red half a million of acres of land on the West Coast of the North Island from, the natives. They have also purchase of the Kaitangaroa blockvNo. 2 in the Arawata country, comprising 90,000 acres of splendid land, GpviPral additional Native Lands Court judges are to be appointed +o clear off the arrears of work. The sale at Invercargill of the West Plains estate on February 15 attracted a crowd of farmers and others, the property being exceptionally valuable. The bidding was lively, but did not fetch the reserve figure of £2O [ter acre, the highest offer being £l9 per acre. The estate was accordingly withdrawn, and it is likely to be disposed of privately. One half of England’s supply of bread comes from abroad, and she is moving in the same direction in regard to her meat, one fourth of which is imported. It is thirty years since grain was as low price as it as at present in Waterford, Ireland. Indian corn is at the unusually low figure of Is Gd per barrel. It is said that a movement has commenced amongst English grain farmers for the reduction of rent, and that their necessity is real, originating, as it does, in a cheap importation of foreign corn. From a Californian paper we observe that W. H. Little, a San Joaquin fanner, and inventor, is eng’aged in building a new harvesting* machine which lie pioposes taking to Adelaide to contest for the £IOOO prize. Sheep husbandry in 1' estern Texas has grown at a marvellous rate. In 1866 there were shipped from Corpus Christi GOO,OOOI bs. of wool ; this year there will be shipped 6,500,000. No season within memory has been sc unfortunate for the Greenland whaling fleet as that just past. The whole Scotch fleet secured but six whales, and one steamer was totally lost. j The Rev Mr Moses, of London, says | that tho Jews have not that transmitted | predisposition to imbibe alcoholic drinks i which thc children of intemperate parents j possess, and vainly strive to overcome. i The names sent to his Holiness the | Pope for a successor to Archbishop Cullen are those of Bishop M { Cabe, Bishop Moran, and Right Rev M. Woodlock. The Pope may or may not select one of those nominated. . In a case heard the other clay in the Small Debt Court in Glasgow, the wife of the defender pleaded for lenient treatment for her husband on the ground of his being on strike, and therefore unemployed. ' To her astonishment, no doubt, the Sheriff, in refusing to entertain the plea told her that no one who was in debt had a right to strike it was dishonest.' It is evident that laxity of commercial morals in Glasgow is not confined to bank directors and merchant princes.