INDIA AND THE EAST.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3339, 30 March 1868, Page 3

INDIA AND THE EAST.

The second batch of elephants for the Abyssinian Transport Department has left Bombay. Dr. Norman Macleod preached his first sermon to, » Calcutta congregation on January 19. The cash balance of the Bank of Bengal is over £5,000,000. ' r , A meeting of the depositors of the Asiatic Bank has been held at Bombay, at which it was resolved ,to take steps to bring the vr rongs of the Bmall depositors before the Viee,-Chancellor of England. A dreadful murder has been committed at Ootacamun'd. The victim was Mrs. McDougal, the ,

widow of the late General McDougal, of the Bombay army. The murderer is supposed to be the home* keeper. A banquet was given to Dr. Norman Macleodand Dr. Watson in Calcutta, on the 4th February, at which the Viceroy was present. Great distreis will be felt this year in some parts of Madras Presidency, from the scarcity of food. The cattle disease is very prevalent ; the water is very scarce. The British ship 'Jolar,' Captain Wright, foundered in a cyclone near Mauritius in December. The officers and crew were saved by the American Bbip 'Moonbeam,' and taken on to Bombay. The steam-tug ' Enterprise' blew up en the 31st January, killing five natives, mortally injuring seven others, and injuriDg two Europeans and some native*. The chief engineer, Mr. Newton, had a narrow escape. On the representation of Sir Richard Temple, the Nizam has given his consent to the construction of a bianch line of railway from Hyderabad. The distance is 130 miles. During the fortnight, thirty-five ships had arrived at Bombay, and thirty-two ships had sailed. The rate* of freight were : — United Kingdom—Liverpool—Cotton and wool, £3 7s. 6d. to £3 10s.

CHINA, An earthquake has occurred at Formosa. Much damage was done. No ships were lost. A police superintendent is to be seat from Hongkong to Australia to procure horses for the mounted force. Numbers of Europeans are out of employment. Taxation and other grievances are attracting attention. The Chinese are leaving in thousands, disgusted with the legislation of the Governor. Exchange : London, aix months' sight bills, 4s. 3£d. Private paper, 43. 3|d.

JAPAN. The steamer 'Coquette' has been purchased by the Japanese for 85,000 dollars. A sad accident ha« occurred at Osaka, one of the ports opened on the Ist of January. A boat carrying to the shore the United States admiral and his flag lieutenant was capsized in a heavy sea ; the admiral, the lieutenant, and ten of the crew perished. The British admiral narrowly escaped a similar fate in the same place.