ENGLISH NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 17, 3 May 1851, Page 2

ENGLISH NEWS.

The Wellington Independent of the -l.Sjth of April gives the following as extracts from English papers up ;to ijeceinber 26th. ](? 16th;) Wool Market, ■ Friday. Dec. 13i—TJie public sales of 25,014 bales of colonial, 1,228 East India, and 2,472 of foreign, have been concluded since our last. The result of these sales must prove highly satisfactory to the importers of colonial wools, and was more than could have been entertained before commencement, the general opinion being that prices would not rule higher than at the last series, but the buyers from our manufacturing districts were so numerous and eager to stock themselves, that an advance in the prices paid in September last, was established from the first night, and confirmed to the close of at least 2d. per lb. on every description of colonial, except Cape, which may be quoted at about Id. higher. A new company, for the purpose of establishing a system of steam navigation between Plymonth and the East Indies, is already determined upon by influential capitalists. The will of the late King of the French has just been proved in Doctors' Commons. The personal estate is sworn to be under £100,000. The first screw-propeller of the General Screw Navigation Company, will sail with the mails for Cape Town on the 15th of December. This event will constitute an era in the history of the colony. We understand, from good authority, that the intention of reducing 5000 men in the next year's estimate is suspended, and the present numbers will be proposed. A Roman Catholic cathedral, convent, and college are to be erected at Edinburgh, says the Builder, " The cathedral is to be 350 feet long, and to have a spire 380 feet high: the two buildings are to be connected. The funds required for the erection are said to be 400,000?., more than half of which has already been obtained through large donations and bequests. Notice has been given by the authorities of several of the metropolitan parishes " that the cholera having entirely ceased, burials will take place as heretofore" in the burial grounds attached to their respective parishes. Flax.—-Two new inventions are announced from which great promise to the cultivation of Flax is augured; the first, that of M. Clausen, would enable it to be spun and cleaned by cotton machinery; the second is the admixture of it with cotton or other fibre, so as to deprive it of the cold feel, while, at the same time, it retains the flossy surface. Among other articles to be sent to the Exhibition from Dresden, is a beautiful model of the town in porcelain, upon a scale large enough to admit of accurate models of the principal buildings and churches of the town. The Afhican Expedition.—The two German travellers Overbeck and Barth, who accompanied the expedition of Richardson to the interior of Africa, have been heard of. A report received at Berlin, dated August 16, left them 300 miles south-east of Tripoli, where they intended to wait the termination of the rainy season ; they were preparing canoes, which can be carried by camels, and used to cross the rivers. The travellers are assisted by contributions, both from the King and the Geographical Society of Berlin. F