ARRIVAL TO THE LORD ASHLEY. ENGLISH NEWS, TO MARCH 1.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 172, 29 April 1864, Page 5 (Supplement)

ARRIVAL TO THE LORD ASHLEY. ENGLISH NEWS, TO MARCH 1.

_ Times Office, Tuesday evening, April 26. The Lord, Ashley, from the South, arrived here this afternoon shortly after 4 o’clock. She did not bring the English mail, which had not been telegraphed at Melbourne up to the 11th inst., when the Black Bird left. She brings 25 “ military settlers.” The Independent st tes that the Governor of Victoria lias appointed Sir Francis Murphy as a Commissioner for deciding on the Seat of Government, and the Governor of New South Wales has appointed Mr, Deas Thompson. Governor Browne has agreed to appoint a commissioner also, but the name is not knowm.

A public meeting was held in Canterbury on the 18th inst., to tliank Mr. Ward for his exertions in connection with the Panama contract, and to consider the action of the General Government in refusing to ratify the contract.

,Tlie most mportant feature in connection with this is the proposal mooted that Canterbury should guarantee the who e requisite cost to the contractors, and seek the aid of the other Southern Provinces. The Superintendent of Picton has brought down “four pounds and a half weight of the precious metal from the newly-discovere Wakamarina diggings. 700 diggers were on the field, and hundreds mo e were on their way. The Independent, on the arrival of the Lady Bird on the 23rd inst., from Sydney, issued the following GENERAL SUMMARY. Loudon, 20th Feb. The Australian December mails were delivered in London on the 12th and 18th February. The Queen is at Windsor. Her medical advisers have prohibited her from appearing at public ceremonials. This announcement has caused universal regret. The Prince and Princess of Wales have arrived in London, to take part in the festivals of the season. Parliament was opened on 4th February, by Royal Commission. The only item of importance in the speech related to the complications of the Danish question. The British Government has announced that it will not endanger the maintenance of the peace of Luiope by rushing into a war L: defence of Denmark, but the Government will endeavor to bring about, by all possible means, a pacific solution of the Schleswig-Holstein question.

Austria and Prussia have agreed to take part in the conference proposed by England, without an armistice, to be held in London. ilranee &mL Russia have agreed to take a part in the proposed Conference on the Danish question. The English will not admit the right of American cruisers to seize British ships when in neutral waters.

The final decision given by Lord Westbury in the celebrated Essays and Reviews case has caused very great sensation. The Privy Council Committee, through the Chancellor, have established a rule that clergyman may assert that, though the Bible contains the word of God, all that is in the book is not inspired, or even true, and also that clergymen may be permitted to hope that there will be no everlasting punishment. On the same subject her Majesty lias appointed a new Commission, whose duty it will be to revise all th various forms of subscription and declaration required af the clergy of the Church of England. A-great mass of correspondence has been published and laid before Parliament between Earl Russell and the American Minister with reference to the proceedings of the Alabama. The Federal Government demands compensation for all losses sustained by the United States thrmgh the seizure and destruction of Federal vessels by the Alabama, the ground of claim being that she was built and manned by Englishmen, Earl Russell absolutely declines to acknowledge any responsibility. In the Divorce case, re Palmerston, the petitioner declined to proceed with the suit. It has been rumoured that a compromise was effected, the Judge, however, declared that no stain rested upon Lord Palmerston’s fame. Great cheering and enthusiasm was displayed on his entrance into the House of Commons, after the case had been abandoned.

A mass meeting, convened by priests in Dublin, took place, the object of which was to protest against the act of the Corporation of that city in granting a site in College Green for the erection of a statue of the late Prince Consort. About 500 persons were present. The proceedings were very turbulent, and a disgraceful and general fight terminated the meeting.

The trade throughout England is very satisfactory.

The distress among the manufacturing population of the cotton districts has greatly diminished, but on the other hand, fever, in which scarlatina is the most prominent, is very prevalent in these districts.

The mutineers of the ship Flowery Land, were tried, found guilty, and executed at Newgate. An immense concourse of people, estimated at 40,000 were present on the occasion.

Major-General Cameron has been appointed K.G.8., in acknowledgement of his services as Commander-in-Chief in New Zealand.

In the Australian appeal cases, that from Victoria, Dill v. Murphy and another, was heard before the Privy Council on the 2nd February. Their Lordships dismissed the appeal. In the Few South Wales case, Robertson v. Dumaresq, the Council confirmed the decision of the Court below, with costs.

After several abortive efforts on the part of the shareholders of the Great Eastern to dispose of that vessel, she has been at last sold by auction for £BO,OOO. Reports are current that she will be probably chartered to lay down the Atlantic cable.

A new scheme has been started for ‘connecting England with the Continent by rail-

way. The London Shakesperian Committee are close on dissolution. The Black Bull Liner Golden Age, from Madras to London, was wrecked near Dungeuess. OBITUARY. The Rev. Sir Charles Harding, - Bart., Lady Louisa Lygon, Lucy Aiken, Miss Proctor, Mr. Dyce. R.A., Mr. Hunt, Dean Newman. D.D. Lady Louisa Stewart, The Hon. P. Peirrepoint, The Baroness Ruthven, The Dimhess of Gordon, The Hon. R. Petrie, Sir B. Hickens, Mr. Potter, M.P., and the Dowager Viscountess of Hereford.