THE AUSTRALIAN MAILS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 533, 12 December 1857, Page 5

THE AUSTRALIAN MAILS.

We are deprived of rapid intercourse with our greatest colonies ; and why? Apparently, because our contract system is loose and irregular. A conmittee appointed to examine the subject has been sitting, and there are unpleasant rumours that two distinct cases of bribery hay» been made out. The report, we sincerely hoje, is ill-founded. But it is difficult to get over the affair of the Australian postal service. Mr Macartney moved the topic in the House oJ Commons, and Mr. Under-Secre-tary Wilson,after saying a few words in defence of the Government, sat down in the idea that he had put tie question aside. However, the member for Brighton pitched a shell at his feet.

He complaiied of the vast amount of money which was ganted out of the public purse to the mail comjanies. He understood from the report of a recent meeting that it was proposed to amalgamate the West India Mail Company and the Austnlian Company. What interest had the publi'. in granting the enormous sum of £10,000 t> amalgamate two companies, neither of whidi had been very successful ? In the case of th> West India Mail Company, their contract hd been granted without being put up to competition, while the Australian Company's contact was the highest which had be<m offered. Neither of those companies had successfully acomplished their work. The penalties for noi-performance had been fixed so as to enable the ompanies to execute their works slowly or rapidljas best suited their purposes. The honourable jentleman concluded by deprecating the grantiig of contracts without public competition. Now the Westlndia Mail Company are contractors for the conveyance of mails to and from the West Irlies and the Brazils, and the European and Aistralian Company are con tractors for the coveyance of the mails to and from England ancAustralia by way of Egypt. With the former ompany a contract was made in 1851 for 11 ye?s, at an annual payment of £270,000; with &c latter the contract was made in 1856 for ive years, at an annual payment of £185,001 Both the companies have failed to work thei contracts; the postal communication with Lustralia is suspended; and tho companies hay agreed to an amalgamation subject to the ptviso that Government will gr.-int " an extensin of two years of the present contracts wit the two companies subject to such modificatios as may be deemed necessary." Will it beselieved that, without submitting the mattf to competition, and disregarding much rare favourable offers from other companies, tVTreasury have assented to tho o-reat proposabf jobbery ? We note the affin-, at present, trsorily, but it is one to be investigated at larj. — Leader. The Great Brita arrived from Melbourne on the 22nd Augu, bringing 226 passengers, and gold to the aount of over half a million sterling, besides 83 bales of wool and 215 tons of tallow. During the entire run from Melbourne she met vth nothing but the most adverse winds. Novithstanding the protracted

character of the voyage, all the passengers have passed the highest encomiums on the ship and her_ popular commander, Captain Gray. The cabin passengers have presented him with an address and a piece of plate, and the second and third cabin passengers have also preBented addresses, thanking him for his kindness and attention to them whilst on board. The Great Britain was taken into the gravingdock, and will in a few days be again ready to start on her next voyage. Great numbers of the passengers aie most anxious to secure berths for the next passage, should she proceed to Australia. SIIALL-POX IN AUSTRALIA. A letter has been addressed by Mr. Watson, the Secretary to the Medical Board of Victoria, to the Government of this colony, respecting the small-pox. The Board has deemed it desirable to put New South Wales on its guard, as passengers by the Commodore Perry, a ship now in quarantine, who were improperly allowed to land, are supposed to have taken passage to S3'dney. The notices that have appeared have awakened attention to vaccination, and the medical office has been thronged by women bringing. their children, some of whom ought to have been there months ago. Many adults have also been vaccinated. It appears that in secondary vaccination the development is generally imperfect. The intermediate stage, the pearly appearance, between the inflammation of the skin, and the formation of the scab, rarely occurs. This ! seems to indicate that, when vaccination has been properly performed, a repetition of it is less necessary than many have supposed, however proper as a precaution. This further notice will, we hope, receive proper attention. Common humanity, to say nothing of parental affection, seems to dictate the performance of this obligation. Those whose recollection goes back thirty or forty years will remember that they could scarcely pass ten yards in a populous city without meeting persons irreparably defaced by this fell disease. The numbers who actually perished in various countries by the small-pox were probably greater than the victims of the sword.— Sydney Morning Herald, Oct. 17. The prospectus of the Red Sea Telegraph Company (limited) has been issued, from which we learn that it is proposed to raise a capital of £300,000, in 60,000 shares of £5 each, on which the deposit is fixed at £1 per share. The first section now proposed to be undertaken is that from Alexandria to Aden, so as to effect telegraphic communication thus far with India at the earliest possible period. This object, it is stated, may be completed in a few months, simultaneously with the Mediterranean telegraph to Alexandria. By this means communication with all India will be brought within one week, and by the extension to Kurrachee, which will immediately follow, hourly communication will be established. The value of this undertaking is too painfully established by recent occurrences, while its commercial importance is scarcely less undeniable. The East India Company have consented to sruarantee a minimum annual revenue of £20,000 on the first section to Aden from the date of the first message received, accompanied by assurances of every necessary assistance and support. This arrangement only awaits the confirmation of the Board of Control. As a commercial investment the undertaking is expected to be highly remunerative, and the carefully prepared returns are ready for inspection, which show that all orders for produce, insurance, shipments, arrivals, departures, accidents, change of destination of vessels, &c, &c, would be the subject of telegraphic communication. It was originally proposed to purchase the Atlantic cable, or provide a new cable, whichever may be decided to be best for the object in view. The cable will be laid in sections of from 300 to 600 miles, and arrangements have been made with responsible contractors to undertake the risk of laying it. The company have already secured the necessaiy concessions from the Turkish and Egyptian Governments.— Some News.

Death of Lady Lyttelton.—We regret to learn that Lady Lyttelton died at an early hour yesterday morning at Hagley-hall, Worcester. Her Ladyship had been suffering during the last month from an internal complaint, which, towards the close of the past week assumed a more favourable aspect. A relapse took place on Monday morning, from which her lady-ship never rallied. ' She had the consolation to be surrounded by all the members of her family at her dissolution. The deceased .lady was second daughter of the late Sir Stephen Glynne, and sister to the present baronet and Mrs. W. E. Gladstone. She was married to Lord Lyttelton in 1539, and leaves issue 12 sons and daughters.— Times, Aug. 19. The amalgamation of the West Indian and European and Australian Mail Companies has been consummated, and the Australian line is now in the hands of the Royal Mail Company.

A gentleman, who has been long resident in Cawnpore, writes to a morning journal to state that there are two individuals belonging to Biohoor who take the terrible name of Nena Sahib; the one, the adopted son of the late Peishwa Bajao Rao, a stout inactive man ; and the other, the eldest of three brothers, the son ofi;helateSoobadar,brother of the late Peishwa, andan active vindictive man, who would not hesitate to commit any act of cruelty. This latter Nona Sahib, in 1855, actually defied the magistrates ot'Cawnpore, thus showing his capacity for brave deeds. " I firmly believe," says the wviter, " that the public have their eye upon tho wrong individual when they speak of Nenii Sahib as the heir of Bajao Rao, and that the real scoundrel is the man who defied the magistrates."

MIBACLE TURNED TO PbACTICAL ACCOUKTJ —Dr. Duff states that a few years ago a company of Ascetics having lighted then- sticks of dry cow dung where veins of coal were out cropping.theblackstonecaughtfire, sitwhichthey were greatly astonished, and circulated the report of a new miracle, which was the special manifestation of their god-ot'fire, who had-even caused the very stones to burn. Multitudes flocked to the spot, a new shrine was erected, and worship paid to the god of fire. Some Europeans hearing of ifc went to the place and soon ascertained the real nature of the miracle which they turned to profitable account by digging and working a mine that has, since the discovery was made, supplied the Granges steamers iv Upper India with coal.

A most extraordinary event is about to occur at Moscow, about the middle of next month, —the sale of the jewels belonging to the Empress Catherine, which have been in litigation ever since the sovereign's death. On the 23rd Aug. in the House of Commons, —

Mr. Cobbett inquired of the Secretary for the Colonies whether he had received any information with regard to an emigrant vessel called the Ann Wilson, which sailed from the Port of Liverpool on the 29th of November last for New Zealand, particularly as regards the alleged over-crowded state of that vessel, the short supply of water, provisions, and medical comforts on beard, and the fatal effects that ensued; and whether any inquiry had been or would be made into the facts p

Mr. Labouchere replied that no official information had been received from the colony on the subject, but the accounts in the newspapers had attracted the attention of the Government, and the immigration Commissioners had written to obtain information as to the facts. It turned out that the ship was measured for 186 adult passengers, but that she took out only 169, therefore there must be some error in, the statement that she was over-crowded. The supply of water and provisions also, it appeared, underwent the usual examination before thevessel sailed, and was found to be sufficient according to the regulation. The matter, however, was one that deserved the most serious consideration, and instructions would be given that as soon as the ship arrived in this country steps should be taken to ascertain what were the true facts of the case, when, should it turn out that there were sufficient grounds for so doing, proceedings .would be instituted against the parties who were to blame.