LATEST ENGLISH NEWS.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 488, 27 July 1850, Page 86

LATEST ENGLISH NEWS.

[From the Time*, February 97.]

The following account of the Colonial Wool Sales, which terminated yesterday, is from the Circular of Messrs. Thomas Soutbey & Son :—

" Tbe fifth and last series of sales of colonial wool of the season commenced on the 14th instant, and concluded this day, consisting of 18,322 bales.

" We have satisfaction in stating that the greatest activity has prevailed in the woollen districts throughout the winter, and that the very heavy weight of wool sold here in the autumn months was nearly consumed when the above moderate quantity was declared for sale. " The prospect of a continuance of this satisfactory state of tbe trade gave buyers confidence, which resulted in the whole being cleared off at an advance upon December prices of about Id. to lid. per lb.on inferior and middle, and 2d. on the better qualities. " The attendance of buyers has been most numerous from the commencement, but, although there were many from the Continent, tbey evidently were not prepared to purchase at any considerable advance ; their operations were consequently very limited."

[Compiled from late Colonial Papers.]

The Funds had undergone a slight alteration. Our last quotations are 951 to 96*. Her Majesty and Prince Albert were still at Buckingham Palace, her Majesty being to well as to have been able to attend the Hay market Theatre on the night of the Bth of March, notwithstanding the interesting erent to shortly expected. The following relating to Sir John Franklin appeared in the London Gazette of the 7th of March t — " £20,000 reward will be given by her Majesty's Government to any party or parties, of any country, who shall render efficient assistance to the crews of the discovery ships under the command of Sir John Franklin : — 11 1. To any party or parties who, in the judgment of the Board of Admiralty, shall discover and effectually relieve the crews of her^Majesty's ships Erebus and Terror, the sum of £20,000 ; or, •' 2. To any party or parties who, in the judgment of the Board of Admiralty, shall discover and effectually relieve any of the crews of her Majesty's ships Erebus and Terror, or shall convey such intelligence a. shall lead to the , relief of such crews or any of them, the sum of £10,000; or, "3 To any party or parties who, in thejudgment'of the Board of Admiralty, shall, by virtue of his or their efforts, first succeed ia ascertaining their fate, £10,000. «• W. A. B. Hamilton, " Secretary of the Admiralty."

The following appear* among the Parliamentary intelligence of the Morning Chronicle of March gth . «• Sir W. Molesworlh gave notice that ia

committee on the Australian Colonies Bill, in the event of the motion of the honourable and learned member for Midhurst— Mr. Walpole-— being carried, by which there were to be two houses of legislature appointed, he would move that both those houses should be elected. And there were other provisions which he proposes at the same time " The South Australian Newt of March is very wroth at the idea of a General Assembly, and at the thought of their being allowed to have to do with the Waste Lands, but our contemporary may spare his anger on this and all kindred subjectsgive us a Legislative Assembly, and power to alter our Constitution according to our own minds, for which this Bill provides, and we are quite able to take care of all the rest.—- Adelaide Times, June 12.

A report was in circulation in London in the middle of March, that intelligence had reached California that Sir John Franklin's expedition had passed Bhering's Straits, aud reached Oregon. This may account for a rumour which was circulated in Sydney about a fortnight since, that some news had reached Port Phillip of a similar kind, but which we did not notice, as we believed it to be without foundation. As there are many friends of Sir John Franklin in the colony, who will probably hear of the report referred to, we think it right to point out that our dates from California are several months later than the period when the intelligence was said to have reached that country, and that no such information had been received there.— Sydney Herald, July 2.

The Crown Lands made over to tbk Colonies. — We have received, a copy of the Australian Colonies Government Bill in the shape in which it has been brought before Parliament during the present session. And we rejoice to perceive in it one most important improvement on the measure submitted last year. In adverting to this subject a few days ago, we intimated our general concurrence with the views entertained by the Times as to the liberal spirit in which Her Majesty's Government were proposing to frame our future constitution ; but we nevertheless expressed a decided conviction that the colonists would never rest satisfied until the management of the public lands and of the revenues thence arising should have been transferred from the Lords of the Treasury to the local Legislature. Even this has at length been conceded ! The Bill still contains the proviso that the Legislative Council shall not interfere in any manner with the sale or other appropriation of the lands belonging to the Crown within the colony, or with the revenue thence arising; but in the clause defining the powers of the General Assembly, there is the following remarkable passage: — "XXXII. And be it enacted, that the said General Assembly of Australia shall have power to make and enact such laws as may be required for all or any of the purposes after mentioned; (that is to say), for selling, demising, granting licenses for occupation of, or otherwise disposing of waste lands of the Crown in the colonies represented in such General Assembly, and for the appropriation of the money to arise from such disposition of such lands, anything in an Act of the sixth year of Her Majesty, intituled • An Act for regulating the sale of waste land belonging to the Crown in the Australian colonies,' or in an Act of the tenth year of the reign of Her Majesty to amend such Act and to make further provision for the management of such land, to the contrary notwithstanding." Here, then, is the great point gained ; the point for which the colonists have been struggling, almost without hope, through a long series of years ; and which Sir George Gipps, Lord Stanley, and even Earl Grey himself, used roundly to declare never could and never would be conceded. Towards the achievement of this hard- won victory, our late eloquent and learned representative, Mr. Lowe, largely contributed; and we only regret that we cannot personally congratulate him on the cheering issue. It may be doubted, however, whether the General Assembly will be so competent to settle the vexed Land Question on principles generally satisfactory, as the Legislatures of the respective colonies. For our own part, we should have been much better satisfied had each province been left to deal with its own territory and territorial revenues as it might think fit. But still, assuming the above clause to have passed into law, the great principle is settled, that the colonies have both the ability and the right to manage the administration of their public lands. The principle gained,'* the best mode of carrying it out may be left to the teachings of experience. If it shall be found that the clashing interests of the constituent parts of the General Assembly cannot be so far harmonized as to admit of sound legislation, and that the prevailing opinion of the several provinces is in favour of a transfer of the powers of that body, as regards land, to the separate Legislatures, we have no doubt that the law will be modified accordingly. We congratulate our fellow-colonists on the prospect they now have of possessing a constitution as nearly perfect as they could resonably desire. — Sydney Herald, July 6. Colonel Sibthorp indignantly denounced both ■ides of the House as full of roguery and trickery ; and having utterly refused to rote on either side, stepped upon the floor, made a low bow to the Speaker, and walked hastily out, amid roars of laughter, and cheers. The Lob© Lieutenancy.— There seems no doubt that with the departure of Lord Clarendon, the vice-royalty of Ireland will " cease and determine." In the London military circles the departure of the Guards for Dublin in the month of May is regarded as a matter long since arranged —this step being a preliminary to the periodical visitations of her Majesty and a sojourn in her Irish capital of some weeks during every summer. The withdrawal of Sir Edward Blakeney from the chief command in Ireland with also, it is said, form part of the contemplated arrangements — that distinguished veteran to be succeeded by Prince George of Combridge, who will be assisted by a general officer of experience and long standing in the service. Sundry squadrons of the Oxford Blues will, it is thought, accompany the Guards to Dublin. The Irish law courts are also said to be doomed. The change will not be beneficial to Dublin, for the vice-royalty drew for a time a large aristocratic congress to the Irish metropolis. It had some effect also in retaining its trade and position, and discharged a certain amount of salaries through the channels of local

trade. The citizens of Dublin are urged to ask that in return for these removals her Majesty will consent to hold a court for six weeks every year in Dublin.

A company has been started in Paris, constituted as a " Socie"te en Commandite?' for the purpose of establishing by means of the electric telegraph, by submarine wires across the Channel, an instantaneous communication between France and England, to and from Dover and Calais, or some other two points. The capital of the company is to be 750,000 francs, equal to £30,000, in 6,000 shares of 125 francs (or £5) each. Mr. Jacob Brett transfers to the company the right of using on this line, the peculiar means for which he has obtained patent 3in France and England, also the decree of the French Government, which grants to him the exclusive right of transmitting, by electric telegraph, all messages across the Channel, and the authorization of the English Government to establish the said telegraph on this side of the Channel. Mr. Brett contracts to complete the establishment for the fixed price of 451),0U0f., or £18,000, by the end of May next. The electric line is to consist of seven distinct messages to or from the different continental lines, and provided with separate sets of electric apparatus for printing and communications. The patentee guarantees that this telegraph shall, by the aid of a single wire and two persons only (the one stationed in France, the other in England), be capable of printing in clear Roman type (on paper), 100 messages of fifteen words each, including addresses and signatures, all ready for delivery, in 100 consecutive minutes, The prospectus states that the capital is not to be ventured on a doubtful experience, as even in the case of non-success the risk of shareholders is actually limited to 10s. per share, and the concern is guaranteed in respectability by having the names of Messrs. C. Devaux and Co. attached to its direction. — Morning Chronicle.

The Tablet contains an ordinance of Dr. Wiseman , Roman Catholic " Vicar Apostolic of the London District," enjoining that, " in Votive Masses and Offices of the Conception of the B. V. M " the word Immaculata to be joined to the word Conceptio, and that in the public recitation of the Litany of Loretto the words JRegina sine labe originali concepta be always added.

Cape or Goon Hops. — A. private letter from Port Elizabeth, in the eastern division of the Cape of Good Hope, appears in the South Australian Register, stating that wheat is Bs. 6d. per bushel, is likely to be higher, and recommending persons to ship wheat from these colonies. Australian wheat it is said is not liked. — Sydney Herald, July 6.