CONTINENTAL NEWS. FRANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1126, 24 June 1867, Page 6

CONTINENTAL NEWS. FRANCE.

The Luxemburg question caused great commotion throughout Europe during the last month. _ Journalists, statesman, aud politicians prophesied that war was inevitable ; but owinoto the intervention of England and Russia, peace was happily sustained. ' Count Walewski has resigned the Presidency of the French legislative body, and the Emperor lias nominated M. Schneider as the Count's successor. Military preparations in Prance still continue 60,000 needle guns and 40,000 breech-loaders have just been completed. . The Emperor •Napoleon still preserves a stolid silence; as toliis.future policy.

AUSTBIA. The preparations for the coronation of the Emperor and Empress as King and Queen of Hungary are going on rapidly. There have been great demonstrations arnonc the members of the Hungarians and Bohemian Diets owing to the irregularities in the late elections. GERMANY. The Prussian Chambers opened on'the 29th April, and a new 5-i- per cent, loan for 30,000 000 tflalers has been issued to meet financial'requirements of the military administration, and to supply a fresli supply of arms and ammunimi. lnee ' : contingencies. _ The general feeling of Germany relative to the Luxemburg question, as expressed in.public, ik to the eilect„„that..it..must soon be united to i Germany. I. The army is in splendid force, and anxious, it is said, for war.

" " ThcKing's speeeh-was firm and-decisive, and. declalfcffc that now Germany was in a fcondition to uphold its rights, peace, and dignity by its Collective strength. ITALY. Signor Mari, the new President of the Chamber of Deputies, in a stirring speech, advised the representatives of all opinions to join in restoring the financial condition of the country. An earthquake occurred at Naples on the 28 th March. Admiral Persano has been found guilty of disobedience, incapacity, and negligence, and is to be dismissed the service. EOME. The Pope continues iu good hcalh, and is enthusiastically received in public. It is reported that the Garibaldians are inciting insurrection in the Eoman territory to put down what they style the " tyrants of temporal power," but to respect the spiritual authority of the Pope. The Provisional Government is to be armed, and a plebiscite is to decide on the question of annexation. Garibaldi has written that Eome must be the capital of Italy. . RUSSIA. The cession of Eussian America to the United States is considered to be advantageous to both countries, commercially and politically. SPAIN". _ Expressive Government measures still continue, and affairs are in a frightful condition ; all persons opposing the Government, however slightly, are severely punished. Nothing short of a revolution is anticipated. TUEKEY. The Cretan insurrection is assuming grave proportions, as Eussian and other influences are at work. Omar Pacha, with two steamers and 1500 picked men, sailed for Crete, to strike, if possible, a decisive blow against the insurrection. AMERICA. The Senate has ratified the treaty entered into with Eussia for the cession of Russian America. Tonnage dues of 30 cents, per ton have been imposed on all vessels from foreign ports once a year. Gold, 141-1-; Exchange, 109f; 520 United States bonds, 109 J. There are indications of a bloody Indian war on the north-western frontier. CANADA. The en lire Volunteer force of Canada has been placed under martial law. INDIA AND THE EAST. JAPAN. The Tycoon declares his intention to enrry out the treaties entered into with the various foreign nations to the fullest extent, and a diplomatic interview in relation thereto has taken place between the Government of Japan and the various representations of foreign Powers. Dr. M'Gowan's telegraphic scheme progresses satisfactorily ; it embraces communication between Japan, Shanghai, the Philippines, Guam, Honolulu, and San Francisco, a distance of 7,200 miles. CHINA. A correspondence is opened between the representatives of the Treaty Powers and the Government, as to placing the pilotage in open ports under the direction of the Imperial Customs. The rebel troops have been successful against the Imperial troops. The Viceroy of Canton is raising a steam flotilla for war purposes. Trade at Shanghai is improving, and the price of goods has advanced at Pekin. Freights.—Wliampoa to London, £3 10s per ton ; Canton to London, 50s. Exchange on London, six months, 4s 6d to 4s 6kl; four months, 4s Gd. SAIGON. Desperate fighting has occurred in Cambodie, between tlie Koj'al aud Cambodian troops, in which the former were successful. SINGAPORE. There have been disturbances in the province of Kcaug, which borders on Malabar. The new

Governor proceeded there to settle the difficulty.

Tonnage is m demand, for £3 10s. to London; from Penang and from Singapore, dead weight, £2 55.; light weight, £2 10s.

CEYLON. The arrival of the first railway train at Candy, and the completion of the telegraph line inland, caused great satisfaction. The Governor has returned from a tour through the provinces. His Excellency and party had a narrow escape from destruction by fire, in a hotel. The baggage and papers were saved, but the escape was providential. The Council meets in July. Tonnage is more plentiful, and freights are slightly lower. Business in the import market is dull; plantation coffee, 12s. per bushel; picked and dried native, 465. per cwt. ; cocoanut oil, 30s. per cwt. Freights.—To Loudon : CofFee (casks), £4 — (bags), £1 10s ; oil, £2 10s.

INDIA. Tlieliccnse tax still causes much dissatisfaction. A famine is apprehended in Upper Burmah, where fighting continues, but the rebels have been defeated. The cholera in the north-west provinces is most alarming. Tlie working of tha telegraph lines is now more satisfactory. The Boyal Bank of India is to be wound up voluntarily. There is no alteration in discount rates, and money is easy. News from Bombay to bUli May states that intelligence lias been received there that Dr. Livingstone is alive and well. Freights..—Calcutta to .London : Cotton, £2 2s 6d; measurement goods, £2 -ss. From Bombay to Liverpool: Cotton, £4 7s 6d. Shipping is in request for the Burmah ports : rice, £3 10s, as per charter.

MAURITIUS. The fearful visitation of fever still prevails. The deaths during the month of April amounted to 10,000, and the total for March and April to 17,182, and no sign of the plague abating ; the deaths in Port Louis alone are 6,000. The distress is incalculable. The Government have done their utmost, but yet starvation prevails to a sad extent. All business is seriously affected. The mail service between Galle and Mauritius is to cease at the end of May. Sugars.—Pine white crystals, 7.60 to 7.75 ; yellow, fine No. 1, 7.25 ; good No. 2, 6.25. Freights to Australia, 355; exchange on London, 90 days, 5\- per cent, premium.