INDIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1099, 23 May 1863, Page 3

INDIA.

Sir Charles Trevelyan, it is rumoured, intends to abolish the tax on salt raised in India, and increase the duty on imported salt. It is currently rumoured in native society in Bengal that the infamous Nana, of Bithoor, is still living, and that he visited Benares last year for a short time. Doubts are also entertained as to the death of Bala Rao, who, with Tantia Topee, Azeemoolo Khan, Jowalla Persuad, and the Nana, directed the massacre of the Cawnpore garrison in the boats. The Hon. Mr. Edmonstone having resigned the post of Lieut.-Governor of the North-West Provinces, it was conferred on the Hon. Mr. Harrington, who declined it on the score of ill-health, and the Hon. Mr. Drummond now stands appointed to it. The eldest daughter of His Excellency Sir William Denison, the Governor of Madras, has been married to Mr. James Wilkinson Breeks, private secretary to His Excellency. His Excellency's brother, Colonel Denison, has been gazetted military secretary to the Governor, vice Captain Glover, who has resigned the office, and been appointed first aide-de-camp. A Ranee of Madura (Madras Prsidency) has been sentenced to be hanged for the murder of her sister, commited in a very cold-blooded manner. The second commission of inquiry into the loss of the steamship Jason, near Madras, lias resulted in the suspension of Captain Hurst's certificate for the period of twelve months. He has protested against the jurisdiction of the Court of Inquiry, and against their decision, and threatens to have the question brought before the High Court of Appeal. Mr.Plunkett.late manager of the Ivurrachee Bank, has committed suicide. A man of the Brinjaree caste ran a muck a few days ago in the Court of the Assistant Commissioner ,of Raepore, in the province of Nagpore, and mortally wounded two persons—one a native officer of the court—with his dagger. He then stabbed himself, and was ultimately shot down and killed. He had been an unsuccessful suitor; and in his last moments accused the official whom he had stabbed with having received a heavy bribe from the opposite party.

Numbers of forged currency notes still continue to be put into circulation at Biombay, and two eases are now under investigation by t<he police. The ceremony of investing Major Blair, of the 2nd Bombay Light Cavalry, with the decoration of the Victoria Cross, was performed in the presence of the troops at Rajkote, a few days ago, by MajorGeneral Sir C. T. Van Sraubenzee, commanding the northern division of the army. That stupendous railway work, the Bhore Ghaut Incline, will be fully completed by the contractor s agents, Messrs. Adamson and Clowser, by the 20th instant, and will be ready to be opened for goods traffic in the early part of April. The contract for the weekly mail to Bombay luis been given to the Peninsular and Oriental .Steam Navigation Company; and the new service between Aden and this port will be commenced as soon as the requisite number of ships can be brought out from England and placed on the line. Allahabad being fixed upon as the capital of the North-West Provinces, a sum of sixteen lacs of rupees has been sanctioned for the construction of new buildings there. It is stated in private advices from Manilla that the duty on cigars is to be taken off. The demolition of the ramparts of the Fort of Bombay is going on, and the committee are engaged in apportioning the ground thus acquired for building purposes.