LATEST NEWS.

Press, Volume XI, Issue 1339, 21 February 1867, Page 3

LATEST NEWS.

LoN r DO> T , January 3. The Austrian Reichsrath has been convoked for the 25th February, when it is proposed to consider the question of the Constitutional programme. The new Greek Ministry has declared that notwithstanding their sympathy with the Cretans, Greece will observe a neutral policy. January I. Dr. Meltar, the vicar of Greenwich, has been spoken of as the future Bishop of Calcutta. The weekly sale 3 of cotton amount to 64,000 bales. The Porte lias received news of the surrender of Slimus and Kassamas, in Western Candia. The Manchester markets are firm and but little doing, January 5. A plan for a modified reorganisation of the French navy has been adopted. An earthquake has taken place in Algeria, and the village of Ratasbon destroyed. The Agra and Masterman's Bank recommenced business on the first of January. Mr Macintosh Balfour has started for India, and branches of the bank are to be organised in China. January 7. Preparations are making for a great Reform demonstration on the 11th February, including the presentation of petitions at the doors of the House of Commons. The Radical agitation in America for the impeachment of Johnson has been renewed. Tranquility has been restored in Missouri. Chinese pirates have captured the ship Westminster, bound from Calcutta to London. A portion of the crew were murdered ; and another portion, cast adrift, were subsequently rescued. The French have seized 250,000 dollars in Vera Cruz Custom-house. Ecclesiastical arrangements have been concluded between the Pope and Italy, and according to Reuters telegrams of the 22ud December, the Pope has convened a consistory of Bishops to assemble at Rome in June. The " Pall Mall Gazette " eulogises Sir Bartle Frere. Tho Australian mails were delivered on the 19th October ; by way of Panama were delivered on the 2nd December. The Queen was at Osborn-house, and the Prince and Princess of Wales at Sandringham. The Prince has recovered from his recent indisposition. After Christmas Prince Arthur goes to Woolwich as a cadet. The Rev. Charles Alford, long principal of the Training Institution at Highbury, has been appointed Bishop of Victoria. The Rev. W. Sawyer, M.A., is appointed to the vacant see of Grafton and Armidale. A commission, consisting of Sir Edward Angus, Lord William Paulet, Sir Henry Storkes, the Under Secretary for the Colonies, Mr Elliott, Mr Vernon, and Mr Lushington, has been appointed to consider the application of the codal law under certain circumstances, and to define the duties of the civil and military authorities when disturbances arose. A great Trades meeting in support of Parliamentary Reform took place on the 3rd of December. The weather was very unfavorable—raining all day ; but the number of working men takiDg part in the procession was estimated at 25,000. Everything passed off" in perfect order. A quiet sequel to the meeting was held on the following evening at St. James's Hall, when Mr Bright made a long speech advocating reform. Another Working Men's meeting is to be held in Hyde Park on the Monday before the assembling of Parliament. Three yachts, the property of American owners, left New York on the 13th, for a race across the Atlantic to Cowes. The first arrival takes stakes amounting to 90,000 dols. The winning yacht is the Henrietta, owned by J. G. Bennet, junior. She reached Cowes on Christmas Day. The two others—the Vesta and the Fleetwing —arrived this morning. During the voyage the Vesta shipped a heavy sea, carrying away six men and her jibboom. On the 19th a terrible explosion from fire-damp occurred at the Oaks colliery, near Barnsley, causing the death of three hundred and fifty men and boys then in the pit. Parties of j volunteers descended to bring up the survivors and the dead, and continued their laborious work of rescue all night. Next day another explosion took place, destroying a large body of the • volunteers, including one of the partners and several of the managers, as well as various others not connected i with the mine. The pit subsequently took fire, and numerous other explo--1 sions followed, but without further destruction of life. Another bad explosion from tire-

damp occurred at the Talk colliery, in Staffordshire, by which nearly a hundred lives were lost.