The Daily Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2885, 24 October 1866, Page 4

The Daily Southern Cross.

LTJCEO, NON TJBO. " If I hart betn •xtlnruiih«d, jrtt tlier* (lit A thoniand beacon* from th» spark I bor«."

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24.

The following article was preparedfor publication, and in type, previous to the arrival of the mail on Monday night. The latest news makes it somewhat out of date ; but as no consecutive view of the Italian campaign has yet been placed before our readers, we deem it right to give it insertion, although in some particulars the position of affairs has changed. The battle of Sadowa, and the subsequent advance on Vienna by Prussia, combined with the simultaneous occupation of the district of Trent by the Italian army, happily led to the ratification of a peace, in which Austria cedes Venetia to Italy, charged with a proportion of the war debt. The alliance of Italy with Prussia, as we anticipated, has enabled Italy to obtain Venetia without French intervention, and the necessity of ceding another foot of Italian ground to France. So far as Italy is concerned, therefore, the campaign has been successful. Venetia is free j and the only thing wanting to the consolidation of the Italian kingdom is the occupation of Eome, which still remains the patrimony of the Church. The national feeling is strong on this point ; and if the opinion of Cardinal-Archbishop Cullen is worth anything, it is quite evident that the Pope and the College of Cai^dinals have made up their minds to the inevitable. They cannot stand much longer against the onward march of liberal ideas, and the unanimous voice of Catholic Italy. The days of the temporal power of the Church are numbered ; and before many months hare elapsed, should no fresh political combinations be formed to thwart the Italians in their aspirations after national unity and freedom, we should not wonder if the head of the Catholic Church ceased to be a temporal prince. With Rome the capital of a free and united Italy, and Germany united under the expansive policy of Prussia, there would be a guarantee for the future peace of Europe, more effectual than treaties. The balance of power would then be pretty equally adjusted ; and France would respect those powers which she saw were too strong to be coerced. Belgium, Holland, and the Scandinavian States would have, in such a state of things, an assurance that they would not be " an- " nexed," on any pretext whatever, by their powerful and aggressive neighbours.

Pending the arrival of the mail from Europe, a short review of the main features of the late Italian campaign, and of the position of Italian affairs at the date of our last advices, may not be without interest. The plan of the campaign appears to have been this: Cialdini, at the head of 100,000 men, was to invade VeDetia at its eastern or Adriatic side. He was to cross the Po near Ferrara, and to march parallel to the coast and entrench himself upon the Verona and Padua Railroad. If this movement had been successful, he would hare secured the principal communication between the Quadrilateral and Germany, and would have been able to invest Venice from the mainland. In order to prevent the bulk of the Austrian forces from being used against Cialdini, it was intended that, while he was crossing the Po, the main body of the Italian army, under Victor Emmanuel and La Marmora, about 200,000 men, should make a demonstration against the Quadrilateral, and that the fleet should attack the forts of Venice. It was also intended that Garibaldi should march through the Tyrol, and descend upon Venetia through some of the Tyrolese valleys. On the 23rd of June Cialdini's force began the passage of the Po. It met with no opposition, and the advance guard took up their position on Venetian territory. On the left, things had not proceeded so well. On the 23rd of June also, the Italian army, under La Marmora, crossed the Mincio. For some reason, difficult to arrive at, the demonstration was changed into a substantive movement. The army advanced, it is said with little caution, towards Verona, in and about which the Austrians had concentrated their main force. We have not space to detail the fights between the separated and wearied corps of the Italians, and their fresh and strongly-posted

adversaries. The battle of Custozza, as it is called, resulted in the defeat of the Italians. By nightfall the repulsed army returned to the positions they occupied in the morning, and the next day they re-crossed the Mincio. Though the Italians were beaten, they had fought splendidly, having tried again and again to carry the Austrian batteries, though in vain. Neither Garibaldi's volunteers nor the ffeet took any active part in the operations. The volunteers "were not ready for action. For the inaction of the fleet no very intelligible reason is assigned. The first result of the defeat was to enable the Austrians to reinforce the army opposed to Cialdini. The whole concerted attack had to be abandoned, and Cialdini withdrew his troops back across the Po. Our readers know how Austria subsequently ceded Venetia to France, a neutral power, far removed from the seat of war. "Whether this was done by Austria merely to spite the Italians, or whether it was brought about by the intrigues of the French Emperor, and was the price of his mediation for an armistioe, it is impossible to determine. The Italian Government refused to accept the cession as a condition of peace, and La Marmora aud Cialdini advanced unresisted' across the Po, gained possession of Padua and Vincenza, and drove the Austrians before them to the outworks of Verona and Mestre. The Austrians had withdrawn the bulk of their army, leaving behind what they deemed a sufficient force to garrison the fortresses, and protect the strongholds of the Tyrol, of inner Austria, and the coast. It would have been better for the Austrians had they so acted earlier. The bloodshed of Custozza might have been spared, and they could have mastered many more of their best troops on. the field of Sadowa. Cialdini, at the date o our latest detailed advices, had occupied all the open countxy as far as Udine, and the boxindary line of the Isonzo, leaving nothing to the Austrians in Venetia except the Quadrilateral and Venice. The Times says that "the armistice did not come one day too " soon to save Austria from a final catastrophe." The position of aflairs at that juncture in Germany has already been put clearly before our readers. In the South, the division of the Italian army under Medici, a former Garibaldian General, had forced its way through the Valsugano, as far as Levico, storming the Austrian posi~ tions, and invading the Austrian Tyrol to within about six miles of Trent. Another day of such fighting, and the Italians would have oeen in full possession of the Southern Tyrol. As to the doings of Garibaldi and his volunteers, the accounts are so conflicting that it is difficult to arrive at any certain opinion. On the whole, they seem to have accomplished as much as could be expected from such raw and imperfectly-found levies. With a strange ilUberality, the Italian military authorities refused' to allow correspondents of the press to accompany their armies, promising to supply ample official bulletins. This they have not done, the accounts published being most meagre and unsatisfactory. Henoe it is most difficult to arrive at a correct opinion on the various events of the war. We have already published all the available particulars about the sea-fight off Lissa. We now refer to it only to say that the statement that the vessels there sunk and crippled were procured in England has been contradicted. It appears that they were built in America, and plated in Italy with Italian rolled iron plates. The diplomatic position of affairs seems to be as follows : Venetia is to decide her own fate by universal suffrage. There can be little doubt that she will cast in her lot with the Kingdom of Italy, though it is said that there is a considerable party in Venice in favour of a return to the fown of government of the old Venetian Eepublic. The Italians do not seek the liberation of Venetia only. Their aim is also the acquisition of the Trentino, or Italian Tyrol, and of Istria, including Trieste. It is said that France and Prussia will support their claims to these districts, but it is doubtful whether they will obtain Istria or even Trieste. It is said that Napoleon will demand from Italy the island of Sardinia and a strip of the Ligurian coast, as the price of his consent to waive his claim on Venetia, and to forward her views regarding the Tyrol. Many friends of Italy are of opinion that she might, without dishonour and with advantage, cede Sardinia to France. Others hold a directly opposite opinion, and assert, moreover, that Bicasoli, the " Iron Baron," will never consemt to let France have another foot of Italian soil. There seems but one opinion as to the cession of any portion of Liguria — that any further French encroachment on the mainland of Italy should be resisted at all hazards. If Victor Emmanuel is backed, as he deserves to be, by Prussia, he may, in the present juncture of affairs, set at naught any demands of France for compensation. The mail now nearly due will probably set at rest our conjectures as to the territorial gains and losses of the Italian Kingdom.

We believe that Mr. John White is about to pro* ceed to Wangarei, with a portion of the money which has been owing for a long time to the natives in that quarter on account of lands sold. This will be good news to the Wangarei people, as this is their only hope [of getting the money owing to them by the natives. Not the slightest trace has been found of Eobinson since he committed the assault on Mr. Lawson, on Saturday night last. All the bushmen in the district are now thoroughly on the alert, and are incensed at the brutal way in which he has treated Mr. Lawson. Considerable alarm i> also felt by persons who have to work in solitary placet ; and we believe that Mr. Griffiths, whom Eobinson maltreated when lie formerly escaped, hearing that he was at large again, left his work, which was at some distance from his house, and went home. Two or three of the constables returned last night from their circuits, but there are still a good many out. A meeting of the Finance Committee of the City Board was held yesterday, at which the proposal to expend a sum of money on the Old Supreme Court, with the view of turning it into a temporary market, was considered. The result of the meeting was that the plan was approved of, and the Foreman of Works was authorised to expend any sum not exceeding £150 on the work. All the members of the committee, except Mr. George, were present. We find the following in an Adelaide telegram of Octoher 8:—"8 :— " Sales of wheat have been made to-day at 4s. lid., for shipment to New Zealand. Flour is worth from £11 10s. to £12 10s. per ton. Several ' adjudications in insolvency took place to-day, and amongst them was that of Samuel White, miller." The sitting of the Compensation Court was resumed yesterday, before T. Beckham, Esq., Commissioner. In the case of Thomas Power, Kangiawhia, the Commissioner intimated that the Government had been put to the expense of £30 155., which the claimant would have to refund before his claim could be re-heard. The claimant said he would endeavour to raise the money. The claim of Messrs. Brown, Campbell, and Co. was re-heard. The original claim was £1,127 10*. and the award £685. A reduction of £35 was made, and the final award given for £650. Further evidence was given respecting the claim of Mr. William Kerr, Drury. The Commissioner reserved his decision, The Court will sit again to-day.

The funeral of Dr. George R. Pickthome, late •iriitant-iurgeon of the • Challenger,' took place yesterday, 'lhe body was brought on shore in a boot from the « Challenger,' and the coffin put npon a gnn carriage. The firing party was composed of a company of the Royal Marints, and they were followed by the band of the « Challenger,' playing the 11 Dead March." The oarriage on which the coffin wa» placed wao drawn by a company of sailors belonging to the 'Challenger,' and after it came ■everal officers and civilians, desirou* of \ aying a last tribute of respect to the deoeased. These were followed by the orews of the 'Challenger' and •Falcon,' and a number of naval and military officer*, among whom were Commodore Maguire, Colonel Beatson, and others. The cortege having arrived at the Cemetery, the last obsequies were performed by the Chaplain of the Fleet, in a very impressive manner, after which the procession reformed, and moved slowly towards the Wynyard Pier. The excellent quality of the iron produced from titaniferoui iron ore is now generally acknowledged, and very good results have been obtained even by the admixture of only a small quantity of the titaniferous iron-sand with the ordinary materials used in the manufacture of iron ; bnt the necessity of obtaining thesupply from the antipodes has oaused the application of the sand to be very limited. The discovery of valuable deposits of titaniferous sand in this oountry has now been made, and the necessary steps have been taken to turn the knowledge acquired to commercial account. A sample has been forwarded to us, which das been obtained from the sea-sand on the coast of Cheshire j it is of great purity, and highly magnetio, and appears thoroughly equal to the best samples from • New Zealand, — Mining Journal. The census returns of New Zealand show, as all the preceding statistics of the colony have done, that the great want is a very large infusion of robust, vigorous, and industrious women. We find that the number of males of European descent in New Zealand in December, 1864, was— exclusive of the military— lo6,soB, or 61*91 per cent, of the whole population. The number of females was 65,578, or 38*09 per cent. Steps ought to be taken by the various emigration agents throughout the country to supply the colony with honest, virtuous, and able-bodied women. Great Britain could, without any serious loss to the country and great gain to the female immigrants themselves, spare thousands of the kind of persons required. In this direction much more requires to be done thnn has yet been attempted. A systematic course of female emigration ought to be vigorously pursued, on social, political, and moral ground?. — New Zealand Examiner. The members of the Newton Totil Abstinence Society held their usual weekly meeting last evening, in, Mr. Dewar's academy, Newton. Mr. A. Black occupied the chair, and addressed the meeting in a few appropriate remarks. Several recitations and addresses were given, and the meeting was brought to a close by singing the National Anthem. Stephen Farrell, late a clerk in the Customs, Mongonui, was charged at the Police Court, yesterday, with embezzling £23 12s. Gd. and £14 10s. The information was laid by Mr. McKellar, Collector of Customs, Auckland. A remand was granted till to-day, but we understand it is intended to have the preliminary investigation before the magistrate at Mongonui, as all the witnesses are at that place. The committee of the Auckland Gymnastic Club will meet on Thursday afternoon next, at half -past 4 o'clock, for the transaction of important business. The Nelson Colonist is responsible for the follow* ing : — " We have been informed by a good authority that some weeks ago a party of miners engaged in sinking for gold up the Kanieri, Hokitika, made the very interesting discovery of the fossil skeleton of a whale, perfectly entire, and measuring as much as * 150 feet in length. It was covered by alluvial soil, and only a few feet below the surface. The fact that the locality is ten or twelve miles from the present sea-shore, and about one hundred feet above its present level, renders the fact a very remarkable one, and goes to prove the assertion of geologists that a great part of New Zealand has been raised from the bed of the sea. This circumstance would go to prove that at one time the most of the West Coast goldfielda and the different strata of auriferous black Band formed in the terraces and lying at varying levels, show so many different eras, periods of stillness between each rising action of the land. We understand that it is the intention of the warden to obtain the jaw-bones from the finders, and to send them to the Christchurch Museum, and that a fresh in the river vvas only wanted to get them down in a canoe. Numerous fossils have already been found in the large flats round the township of Kanieri, and Commissioner's Flat offers a vast and rich field for the researches of the geologist, having already furnished some remarkable specimens." We understand that it has been proposed to hold a festival meeting of the Foresters' Lodge and the Rechabite Lodge on the 9th of November next, which is the Prince of Wales Birthday. "J here will be a dinner of the Foresters, at which Mr. Augur, who has for a long time been Chief Ranger, willreceive a presentation. A lerious robbery was effected on board the ' Nelson,' at Greymouth, on the 7th inst. A man named John Markham and his mate had taken their passage from Greymouth to Auckland. On waking up in the morning, Markham was horrified to find he had been robbed of the following property : — A £20 note, a £10 note, seven £1 notes, deposit reoeipts on the on the Bank of New South Wales, at Hokitika and Okarita, for £40, £100, £200, £280, and £240. These were all drawn in Markhan?'s name. The thieves have not yet been discovered. — Independent, About two o'clock yesterday afternoon, Thomas Fratson, who is undergoing a sentence of imprisonmett for life, attempted to escape from the gaol. He was in the exercise yard, and was seen to go into the mess-room. From this place it is presumed that by getting on to a table he managed to reach the skylight, through which he passed on to th *- roof, down to the platform, and over the wall at the south side of the gaol. He was seen l>y Mr. Blair, of the Deeds Office, who immediate'y gave the alarm. In the meantime Fratson made off round by the water's edge to the front of the gaol, where he was met by Mr. Stoddart, the governor, who was taking a walk. Mr. Stoddart captured him, and held him until assistance arrived, when he was taken back. It will be remembered that Fratson was convicted in 1862 for the murder of Andrew Wilsou at Clutha Ferry, and was sentenced to death, which was afterwards commuted to penal servitude for life. — Otago Daily Times. At the Police Court, yesterday, William Laverty was fined 10a. and costs for a breach of the Municipal Police Act, by having offensive matter on his premises, in Victoria-street. Thomas Davis, a waterman, was fined 20s. and costs for assaulting Francis Furlong. The Sydney Morning Herald of September 29, in its return of specie exported thence from July 1 to date, gives £90,000 as the quantity sent to New Zealand. Of this sum £50,000 went to Auckland, and £30,000 to Nelson. We learn from the Lyttelton Times that Dr. Haast, the Canterbury Provincial Geologist, has lately received a valuable present from the Emperqr of Austria in recognition of the services rendered by that gentleman towards the advancement of science. The present consists of a ring in which is a valuable emerald, encircled by two rows of brilliants. Mr. Eyre, the late Governor of Jamaica, accompanied by his wife, arrived at Southampton, by the ' Tasmania,' on August 12. Previous to his departure Mr. Eyre received an address from a deputation of the inhabitants of Kingston, expressing their regret at his leaving the colony, and their gratification at the praise given him by the Jamaica commission for his promptitude and vigour in suppressing the recent insurrection. Mr. Eyre, in thanking the deputation for the address, read a long defence of the measures adopted by him, of the execution of Gordon, and of the prolongation of martial law. The subscription in Jamaica for presentation to the late Governor amounts to £5,0C0.— A banquet was given to Mr. Eyre in Southampton on the night of August 21. One hundred and twenty persons were present. An address, with upwards, of 1,000 signatures, was presented to Mr. Eyre by the mayor, wko presided. Lord Hardwicke proposed the health of Mr. Eyre, who, in responding, said that what he did was to preserve the lives of the whites and the honour of their wives and daughters. Speeches were also delivered by Lord Cardigan, the" Earl of Shrews, bury, and the Rev. Charles Kingsley.— An indignation meeting was held at the same time, at" which over 2,000 persons were present. It was the largest meeting ever held in Southampton ; General Tryon presided. Resolutions condemning Mr. Eyre's conduct were carried unanimously. The greatest enthusiasm and unanimity prevailed. The proceedipgs lasted three hours.— lt is now stated that an influential committee is in course of formation f oi the collection of an " Eyre .Testimonial and Defence Fund." Several noblemen and gentlemen of distinguished position have already expreesed theii approval of the movement.

We learn from the SoutMand Times that "it is reported that a deposit of coal of a very superior character has been found at Coal Island. It is said that there is a beautiful harbour, and that vessels cou'd be loaded at a very trifling cost. This island is situated a few miles (eight or ten miles) beyond the bounds of Southland, on the Otago side. We understand that a number of gentlemen have united to work it, provided that a lease can be obtained." The amount received as a dog-tax in Otago, during the year ending the 30th September, was£l,B9Q l(k, which, at 10s. each, shows that 3,781 dogs were registered. According to the Census taken in December, 1864, there were just 24,000 adult males in the province. That number must certainly be reduced to 19,000 or 20,000 for the twelve months just ended ; bo that, for every five or six men there has been one dog registered, and it is tolerably safe to conclude that every fourth man amongst us has owned a dog during the year. — Otago Dmly Times. The first case under the Vagrancy Act was brought up at the Police Court, yesterday, when James Grace, a soldier, was charged with indecently exposing his person in Symonds-street. For this offence, by the new Act, a person might be sent to prison for twelve months. Their Worships sentenced Grace to a month's imprisonment. James Ayes, the purser of the ' Winterthur,' was arrested yesterday on the charge of stealing some el the clothes of John Brown, a midshipman on board. Mr. L. W. Eaton wilt sell by puMic auction today, at 11 o'clock, at the stores of Messrs. Eaton and Dewolf, orangei, hams, bacon, furniture, &c. Messrs. Hunter and Co. announce that they will offer for sale by public auction, to-day, at the residence of Mr. Cronkshaw, Drury, the whole of his hotel furniture, bar fittings, stock-in-trade, &c. Mr. I). J. O'Keeffe has received instructions to sell by axiction, to-day, at 12 o'clock, at the residence of Major Bostpck, Graf ton-road, the whole of his household furniture, plated ware, saddles, &c. Messrs* C. Arthur and Son will sell at their mart, at 11 o'clock, to-day, clothing, caps, drapery, watches, &o. Mr. Henry Ridings advertises the receipt of instructions from Mr. H. H. Lusk to sell by public auction, to-day, at 11 o'clock, at the mart, the whole of his very valuable library.