ARRIVAL OF THE JANUARY MAIL

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 1, Issue 29, 10 April 1858, Page 4

ARRIVAL OF THE JANUARY MAIL

The Dolphin, which arrived on Wednesday morning, was bearer of the English mail of January, received in the sister colonies by the R. M. S. European, and brought to Auckland by the clipper schooner Gazelle. The news by this opportunity was therefore but 81 days old upon its arrival here. The intelligence to hand forms a striking contrast to that received by the December mail — the one dark and gloomy ; the other bright and cheering. The financial crisis which was then so severely felt, had passed away. The rate of interest had sunk one half — frr>m ten to five per centum ; money at that rate had become "easy" ; and confidence was at length restored. "The elasticity of British commerce," as the Sydney Herald truly observes, "is as striking as its vastness." As more directly affecting our own District, it gives us much pleasure to note the probability of an advance on wool. A reference to our commercial intelligence ■will shew that, should the demand equal expectations, a rise of a l|d per lb. may be anticipated ; and, for fine and choice lots, a further advance. The fluctuating nature of the wool market shews strikingly how advantageous would it be for our sheep farmers were they able to ship their pro - duce without drawing against it, so that their London agent could hold over, if necessary. The warehouse rent would be a mere bagatelle, we should suppose, in comparison with the loss sustained through a

necessity for realizing, irrespective of the state the market might be in at the time. At present our runholders have, generally, employment for all the funds they can command, but the time may come when they will be better able to lie out of a few hundreds until receipt of their Accounts Sales. One of the most important items of news to hand is the probability of immediate in-ter-colonial and inter-provincial steam communication — a fact the importance of which, socially, commercially, and politically, cannot be over-rated. On this subject — so momentous to the colony of which we form a part — the Home News ofthe 16th January thus writes : — We have much pleasure in beiug able to announce that arrangements have recently been concluded, with the co-operation of the Royal Mail Company, to despatch two efficient screw steamers from England in the course of the present month direct for Melbourne, to act as pioneers in the establishment of a regular postal service between Australia and New Zealand. These steamers are to be immediately followed by two smaller ones, to be employed as a branch service, by distributing the malls among the various provinces ; and are to return in time to enable the steamers of the trunk line to fall in with the homeward mail steamer. Possessed of these advantages, New Zealand will then assume the position due to its importance, and will no longer have to complain of a deficiency .of postal accommodation. We are given to understand that this great benefit has been conferred upon the colony entirely through the exertions of Mr. S^well, Mr. Mangles, Captain Gibbs, and several energetic and enterprising colonists, whose untiring zeal has resulted in the formation of a new company for the above desirable object. We have felt interested in the perusal of a somewhat dry document — the report read at the annual meeting of the shareholders of the Union Bank, held in London on the llth January, on account of the encouraging references it contains to the prosperity of New Zealand. The chairman observed "that the number of branches now open was 20, and the increasing business of the bank, especially in New Zealand, rendered it necessary to add to the paid-up capital." It is elsewhere indicated that the object of of this additional call was to have the necessary capital for opening fresh branches ; and we trust that one of the first will be in Napier, where such an establishment is urgently required. The news from India, which is always looked forward to with intense interest, is as usual, meagre. But it is evident that the "war-bred" Sir Colin was fully equal to the emergency, and that the worst of the mutiny was over. Oude, which presented a formidable obstacle to the success of the British arms, had at length offered to capitulate, and Sir Colin had gone in person to conduct the negotiation. The approaching marriage of the Princess Royal was the great event of the day. It was to be celebrated at the Chapel Royal, St James', on the 25th January, with extraordinary splendour. Balls and parties in honour of the event were to be given for a succession of days. The illustrious couple would proceed to Windsor Castle, and on the 28th be joined by Her Majesty. Her Royal Highness would then embark at Gravesend on board the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert, and proceed to Antwerp. The intelligence of the death of General Havelock, and the defeat of General Wyndham by the Gwalior mutineers, had been received in England early in January, and was considered the worst news from India received for some time. The death of Havelock was mourned as a national calamity to India and England. It is to be regretted that the melancholy event took place ere he learnt the honours conferred upon him, and the estimation •he was held in by his countrymen who "live at home at ease." His death took place on the 25th November, the day after the London Gazette contained his appointment to the Baronetcy. The subsequent rout and dispersion of the whole Gwalior contingent by Sir Colin Campbell redeems the defeat of the English. There were three memorable deaths . recorded . the • week ended January 16, of European celebrity, namely, Marshal Radetzky, the Wellington of Austria, Redschild Pascha, the most eminent, liberal, and enlightened statesman of Turkey, the great friend of England, and Mdlle. Rachel, the greatest dramatic actress in these modern times. The Leviathan was not finally launched but had been moved by degrees to the water's edge — being, at the latest date, immersed 1\ feet at high water. All fears of her ultimately taking the water had disappeared, but the engineering talents of Mr. Brunei had somewhat fallen in public estimation. The repeated attempts at launch-

ing "the monster had proved a very costly affair. There had been an awful earthquake in the kingdom of Naples, by which 22,000 persons are said to have lost their lives. The calamity was terrible — twelve villages haying been destroyed, and upwards' of 250,000 persons rendered houseless. Several shocks were experienced at Naples, but no actual damage was done in the city. An attempt had been made on the life of Louis Napoleon, in which although the Emperor had escaped unharmed, fifty-four persons were wounded, two mortally. Hand Grenades were thrown at the Imperial carriages, containing the Emperor and Empress, on its way to the Opera. . The face of the Emperor was slightly scratched, and his' hat pierced by a fragment of one of the projectiles. He proceeded to the Opera, and was enthusiastically cheered by the populace. The 'would-be assassins proved to be Italians, and were arrested immediately. Canton was still in possession of the English and French, and Mr. Commission - er Yeh, the cause of the whole affair, had been taken prisoner, and placed on board an English frigate. The Emperor of the French had given £1000 towards the Indian Relief Fund ; and £200 more had been subscribed by the National Guard. The fund had reached £320,000. The message to Congress of the United States President had just been delivered. Amongst many important matters touched upon, Mr. Buchanan expresses his regret that ;^Valker has again been permitted to return to the scene of his former piratical explpits, and asks, for the sake ofthe national character, that the Government should be armed with the power of adopting such measures as will be effectual "in restraining American citizens from committing such outrages." Mr. Buchanan next stigmatises the rebellion which has broken out amongts the Mormons in Utah. He says, "this is the first rebellion which has existed in our territories and humanity itself requires that we should put it down in such a manner that it shall be the last. To trifle with it would be to'encourage it and render it formidable. W r e ought to go there with such an imposing force as to convince those deluded people that resistance would be vain, and spare the effusion of blood." Mr. Buchanan therefore proposes that four regiments should be added to the regular army ofthe United States, to lay prostrate institutions which are "at war with the laws of God and man." A statement comes from Marseilles of a peculiar character. An American ship called the Adriatic swamped a French steamer, and the act was accompanied by a considerable destruction of life and property. The offending vessel was placed under embargo, but her commander contrived to get away, and has thus eluded the vigilance of the authorities. An app?al for redress to the Government at Washington is spoken of.