GENERAL SUMMARY.

West Coast Times, Issue 162, 26 March 1866, Page 3

GENERAL SUMMARY.

itiih January. The Royal Commission at Jamaica Have commenced fheir enquiry. An English advocate is the representative of Mrs Gordon, Dr Underwood, and others. America agrees conditionally to concontinue the reciprocity treaty with Canada for another year. London, January The Australian November mails were delivered in London on the 18th aud 19th January. The Queen resides at Osborne in the enjoyment of good health. Her Majesty distributed her usual Christmas gifts to the poor. The Princess Helena's marriage is fixed fdr June, £6,000, independent of the Princess's annual income, is asked for the marriage expenses. Great dissensions in the Ministry about manhood, suffrage, &c. Earl Russell declares that the Cabinet will stand or fall by the Reform Bill. Grave changes m the Ministry are expected. The Baptist and Negro party in Jamaica are using every exertion to damage Governor Eyre's reputation, especially in Gordon's case. The Commissioners' report on capital punishment recommends dividing murder into two degrees : First, should the jury find malice, penalty death ; second, without malice, penal servitude from seven years to life. Two hundred convicts left France for New Caledonia. Ratifications of the treaty of commerce between England and Austria were exchanged at Vienna. » Major Gray has been appointed Aide-de-Camp to the Governor of Ne>v Zealand. A national decoration — called the Albert Medal— has been insituted by the Queen for gallantry in cases of shipwreck. New Zealand affairs occupy a prominent position. The war is considered a mistake, the question should have been settled by legislation, and the troops should not have been marched into the centre of Waikato. On the Ist February the British registration fee on letters will be reduced from 6d to 4d. Respecting the Ministerial crisis in Victoria, the Times observes, where one Chamber represents numbers, and the other property, collision is inevitable. It says the only remedy is in the reform of the Constitution and characterises the conduct of Sir C. Darling as being as gross a case of public delinquency as has for "snany years come under observation. The Daily News supports Governor Darling. It is reported that Sir Richard Macdonnell, Governor of Hongkong, is detained in London two months, in readiness to supersede Governor Darling. Mjny more Fenians have been sentenced to penal servitude. The American Fenians are quarrelling furiously ; but the leaders are making money fast. Fletcher— charged on his own confession, with robbing the Union Bqnk of Mel-

b\y hourne of £10,000 securities—has bee p's discharged. liß- .Another tunnel under the Thames, i efn Deptford, and one between England an ick I France^ from Dover to Cape Grisnez, ar jy, contemplated. at I There have been numerous accidents, a sir usual, from railway collision"*, tfofiiery ex nt I plosions, and crinoline, ed I Brazil, 27th January, at Business quiet. Bank ceased discount' is, I ing paper money. _ a Allies preparing to attack Paraguay, fit I and demanding the expulsion of Lopez. 9, I A serious fire occurred at St. Catherine's n, Dock. Two million! sterling worth ol id property destroyed, ig Crcwhall in Cheshire, has been burnt, l- damage £10,000. ;h I Another consignment of salmon trout I, I and ov» for Australia is preparing. . f, I Mr Edward Wilson, of the Araus, is »f j residing- at Croydoii, and etill eufferi6g s I from ophthalmia. , n I Ternflic gales, commencing on tho 28th s I December, swept along the English coast .1 unti^ the 20th January. Great 6now storms , I and inundations. Four thousand (?) ships t wrecked. Great loss of life. The Amelia, r I steamer, foundered on the 20th January ,in r the Bay of Biscay ; value of cargo' » £250,000. The Hannah More, Black Ball liner, lost. Six out of twenty-four saved ' , i3th February. I The American Revenue Commission I 1 have Submitted a proposition to Congress for raising a 5 per cent loan. I Letters have been received from Mr I Cossftm, announcing that the Abyssinian captives are still alive; Scholi sold into I slavery 6*ooo negroes. 14th February. I O'Donohue's amendment on the Irish Disaffection Bill was rejected by a large majority. The Government proceedings about the cattle plague are severely criticised in both Houses. The promised Ministerial Reform Bill has been read a first time. The Rouade foundered, after a collision with the Queen pf Beauty ; all saved. The second Peabody gift of L 100,000 •baa been distributed.Consols, 87|; OBITUARY. Lieutenant-Colonel Murray, Captain Crawford, R.N., Lady Wilmot, Sir Joseph Malcolm, R. C. Mellish, Dr. Ritchie, ViceAdmiral Herringham,- Sir Francis Goderich, Major-General Westward,- Hon. Laurence Sullivan, Sir William Sykes, Rev. Henry Wellesley, Sir Astley Cooper, Major-General Cherretty, Sir James Love, Sir John M'Gregor, General Latour, Captain Moore. AMERICA. January 11th. . Money abundant, gold 139§. Cotton finder; .' President Johnson intends reconstructing his Cabinet, and retaining two of the present members". Mr Staunttfn supersedes Mr Adams in London. Twenty colored regiments in Texas have been discharged. Tfie aggregate strength of the Federal army is fixed at 60,000. The negroes in Louisiana rose in arms against their 6Ver6e6is. The insurrection was quelled by the militia?/ The planters are anxious to secure wniio labor for the approaching crops. A band of outlaws captured the steamer Lily, with 1000 bales of cotton, on the Alabama River. The House of Representatives have introduced resolutions that the United States ought never to recognise any Government iiripdsed oil any nation on the American Con,tiftertt by European arms". The diplomatic correspondence between France and the United States on the Mexican question, has been before Congress, and is exiciting much discussion. Intercepted letters show that Napoleon strongly endeavored to secure Mexico. The United States urge the immediate withdrawal of the French troops, which the French Government agree to, provided the former gives a pledge not to interfere with Mexican, affairs, but remain neutral. This is flatly refused, and an accredited Minister to the Mexican Republic has been appointed. Ex President Davis's trial is still deferred, — he is to be charged with treason. Resolutions have passed the Senate, declaring treason a punishable crime. Mr How introduced resolutions to provide a Provisional Government for the Southern States. An additional Cotton Tax Bill has been introduced. FRANCE. Count Walewski's election has been declared valid. The Budget for 1867 has been presented to the Chamber. The ordinary expenditure is calculated at 1524 million francs, ordinary revenue at 1G22 millions. After appropriating eighty-eipht millions for an ordinary budget, a suiplus of ten millions and a half francs remain. The issue of Treasury bonds is limited to 150 million francs. The Emperor's speech, made on the 22nd, touched upon the prosperity of France owing to the continued development of trade, manufactures, the unity of Italy, the consolidation of the long subsisting friendship of England, and the declaration that in German affairs France will remain neutral, unless for her own interests sho be compelled to interfere ; and arrangements have been made with the Emperor Maximilian for tie withdrawal of French troops from Mexico, without compromising French interests, which they were sent to defend. # SPAIN. The military insurrections in provincial towns are quelleJ. General Proni and followers were closely pursued by General aeabua. The Minister of Marine escaped to Portugal, but was only allowed to reside there as a Spaniard who unsuccessfully attempted the liberation of his country from despotism. _. _..,. CHILI. lne Chilian steam corvette Esmeralda, commanded by an Englishman, attacked the Spanish corvotte Virginia. After twenty minutes desperate engagement the Spaniards hauled down their lag, The Chilians bad another naval success, giving them confidence of further victories! Admiral Pareja, the commander of the Spanish blockading forces, has committed suicide. Several vessels have been detained it Callao, on suspicion of trading with the Spaniards. The Chilians have captured thj Spanish ship Covodonga. Spam very indignant, flnd i n casing; the Pacific fleet,

en ROME. Victor Emmanuel intimated 1 positive! at that he wa3 not to interfere with tha Papi ad States during the lifetime of Pius IJ re On no pretext will he send troops tbithei Should a revolution break out in Rom as and the Pope take flight, the Italian Go s- vernment will hold aloof, but will.preven Roman insurrectionists from receiving an' support from without. f " ITALY. The Minister?^ crisis has terminated 7i7 i General La Marmora has formed an Ad ministration. The new Finance Miniatci 3 declares against contracting loans for ad- * justing the balance between the revenm and expenditure ; an increase of taxes ant » a reduction are considered necessary. Ht recommends a reduction of fifty-five milt lions — thirty millions in the military and naval departments. 8 1 r COMMERCIAL. London, January • 26. ; The English Funds remain without alte- ' ration. The tone is still adverse. Consols 1 86? to 87 for delivery ;' 87£ for account. Bank rate of discount, minimum 8 per cent. The supply of money on the Stock Exchange comparatively abundant. Exchange, 60 days — New York on" London, 108$ to 100 per cent.; foreign slightly diminished. Tho Board of Trade returns just issued are most satisfactory, showing an increase in exports last year over 1864 0f£2,49 1,479; and" in 1863, £1,896,976. The Bank of Otago, limited, declared a premium and dividend of 6 per cent, for the halfyear. The Scottish Australian Investment Company's dividend was 10 per cent per annum. The Union Bank of Australia's" dividend on lfith January was £2 2s. tfd per share, free of income tax, The New #ea?aud' Tfuit Loan Company's dividend was 10 percent per annum. Affairs are brighter. Tonnage is considerably decreased. Numerous engagements at advanced rates. Colonial Government Securities. — New Ssuth Wales 5 per cents., 1871 to 1876, 92 to 94 ; New Zealand 6 per cent., 100 to 102 ; South Australian 6 per cent., 1878 and upwards, 104 to' 106. Victorian 6 per cent., April and October, 105 to 106. Queensland? per cent., January and July, 99J to 1001 LONDON WOOL REPORT. Since the opening of the year there has been a steady business in all descriptions of wool. From second hands the demand was so great, latterly, that the markets be crime exceedingly bare of all sorts. The advance puid ranged from Id to l^don Fovember rates.

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