ARRIVAL OF THE SUEZ MAIL

Westport Times, Volume 2, Issue 150, 23 January 1868, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE SUEZ MAIL

AT THE BLUFF. ~?" [By Electric Telegraph.] (From the Grey Biver Argus, of the 21st inst.) Bluff, January 18, 5 p.m. The P.,N.Z. and A.B.M. Co.'s s.s. Bangitoto, W. H. Bax, R.N.8., commander, arrived at the Bluff this afternoon at 4.40 p.m. Left Sandridge at 4 p.m. on the 13th inst. The Bombay anchored in Hobson's Bay at 6 a.m. on the 13th inst. She brings intelligence of alterations in the mail arrangements. In future the mail will leave England every four weeks, giving thirteen mails yearly. Next mail leaves Sydney on 2nd February. There will be no mail on the 24th January. GENERAL SUMMARY. London. November 26. The Australian mails were delivered in London on the 16th and 23rd. The Queen is at Windsor, and in good health. The Prince and Princess of Wales are at Sandringham. The Princess is able to walk with the help of a stick. Mrs Disraeli has been seriously ill, but is recovering. Parliament have approved of the Abyssinian expedition. The Address in reply to the Queen's Speech passed unopposed. Of five Fenians condemned to death for murder and rescue at Manchester, three were hung, one pardoned, and one reprieved., The gaol and scaffold were strongly guarded by military and police. 2000 working men acted as special constables.' There was great anxiety through the country, but no disturbance. The Fenians threatened to burn every town in England if the men were executed, and great efforts were made to obtain their reprieve. A deputation of working men waited on the Home Secretary, who refused to see them. Another deputation endeavored to see the Queen, who referred them to her Ministers. There was disgraceful scenes at the Home Office and at Windsor.

News from St Thomas states that 300 bodies have been recovered and buried.

The loss to the Royal Mail Company is estimated at £250,000. At Tortola the storm occasioned the loss of 100 lives and great distress was caused.

Eelief funds are being raised at Southampton and London, to which the Queen has subscribed £2OO. Trustworthy information has been received of the safety of Dr Livingston.

Major Wesley Blaekall, Governor of the West African Settlements, has been appointed Governor of Queensland. The apartments of the British Minister at ome were searched during his absence by the police ; an explanation was demanded and given, and is considered satisfactory.

The new P. and O. contract covers 52 mails yearly to Bombay, 26 to China, and 13 to Australia. The subsidy is £400,000, and the duration of the contract twelve years. Earl Russell will introduce education resolutions in the House of Lords. He proposes to extend aid to elementary and middle class schools. Reform of the Universities, and the appointment of a Minister of Education.

Mr. Disraeli and Lord Stanley attended a large Conservative banquet at Bristol in January. John Bright has objected to the scheme of sending working men to Parliament.

Thomas Hughes has seceded from the Reform League. Lord Derby has refused the request of the Orangemen to repeal the Party Processions Act.

The Bishop of New Zealand has declined the bishopric of Lichfield. Conservative working men's associations are being successfully formed. The Danish journals contradict the violent death of Countess Danner. Charles Dickens is in America, and has been well received.

Stephens, the Fenian, is in France, in great poverty. Burke, the Fenian, has been arrested.

Mr. Goldwin Smith emigrates to America.

The Fenian General, Halpin, has been sentenced to fifteen years penal servitude.

The banquet to Mr. Disraeli, at Edinburgh, was attended by 1300 gentlemen. He was presented with the freedom of the city, and the honorary degree of the University. At a colliery explosion in Grlan morganshire, 170 men and boys were killed. Serious riots have occurred in Ritualistic Churches, at Lambeth. A petition has been presented to the House of Lords, signed by 3000 persons, accusing the Bishop of Salisbury of preaching unscriptural doctrines. Dr. Russell has been appointed the Times correspondent at Paris. Mr. Disraeli, at the Lord Mayor's dinner, expressed confidence in maintenance of peace. JuliaMathews has been well received in English Opera at Covent G-arden. Lord Stanley thinks a Roman conference useless, if a programme is prepared beforehand.

OBITUARY. Lord Wrotterley, the eminent astronomer ; Earl of Murray; Edward James, M.P., Q.C.; Countess De Flauhault, and Marshall O'Donnell. LONDON WOOL MARKET. The fourth series of colonial sales was opened on the 15th November. The catalogues comprised 4247 bales. There was a fair attendance of English buyers, but the foreign attendance was under the average. The bulk of wool catalogued consisted of Cape wool and Australian—wholly of scoured descriptions. Prices have fallen below the September rates. The fresh decline is attributed to very bad business and over-production of wool. SHIPPING. Departures. —For Port Chalmers : LochieL For Nelson : R. T. Turnbuli. For Wellington: Commodore. For Canterbury: Motoaka.

CONTINENTAL NEWS. FRANCE. At the opening of the Chambers, the Emperor made a fpacific speech, and accepted frankly the changes in Germany. He would not interfere unless French interests were affected. No hostility was felt towards Italy , but the September Convention must be respected. Pending the decision of the Conference, the army now is to be modified, with a view to a reduction of forces during peace, and their increase during war.

Paris papers assert that Russia, A ustria, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Bavaria, Wurtemburg, and Baden have unreservedly accepted the Conference on the Roman question ; and that its acceptance by England Prussia is probable. Munich is proposed as the place of meeting. The new English Ambassador, Lord Lyons, has been well received by the Emperor, who expressed his friendship for England. The French Exhibition was closed on the 3rd November without ceremony.

LATEST TELEGRAMS. November 26 to December 7. The Duke of Montrose explained the terms of the new postal contract with the Peninsula and Oriental Company. He says that the Brindisi route has not been adopted because the present railway communication is inefficient. The steamers are to call at Massan instead of Malta, thus saving twenty.four hours. Postage to be increased 3d per half ounce. American Congress has met, and the Judicial Committee has presented a report in favor of impeachment of the President. The House of Commons has voted two millions sterling for the Abyssinian expedition. Lord Stanley's speech in July last was held to have induced a belief that no expedition was immediately intended, and it was found that preliminary steps had been taken. Lord Stanley vindicated the course pursued by Government, and stated that the expedition was not finally resolved upon till after the close of the last session. The £2,000,000 required is provided as follows : —From surplus of next budget, £200,000; additional penny on income tax, £840,000 ; and remainder from balance of exchequer. Mr Gladstone cordially approved of the means proposed. Sir Stafford Northcote's resolution that the ordinary pay of troops forming the Abyssinian expedition should be borne by the Indian revenues was lost by 193 to 23.

The Times and Daily News opposed the motion.

The House of Commons has approved the contract with the Peninsula and and Oriental Company for the conveyance of mails to India and China. It is considered doubtful whether the proposed conference on Eoman question will be held. Telegrams state that a Mazzinian conspiracy has been discovered in Italy.

The French debate on the Roman question is concluded. M. Bouher. French Minister, stated that Italy would never possess Rome. Jules Favre attacked the Government vigorously. The Italian Parliament has been opened. Menebrea explained the Italian policy on the Roman question, and declared it not solvable by violence. The Pope would find Italy his strongest support.

The American Congress has passed a bill repealing the cotton tax. Advices report the occurrence of another earthquake at St. Thomas, but the news is considered doubtful. Garibaldi has been transferred to Caprera on account of illness. Earl Russell's education resolutions were avoided by moving the " previous question." French troops are leaving Rome. The Fenian executions are generally approved, and their moral effect is good.

Jacob Bright (John's brother) has been returned for Manchester. Archdeacon Chester is dead. The Panama mail had not arrived on the 3rd December. Wool is selling better. There is no London telegrams of later dates than Dec. 7th.