ENGLAND AND AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4520, 15 September 1875, Page 2

ENGLAND AND AUSTRALIA.

The Southern Cross, from Sydney, brings the following English news ; London, August 28. Au inquest has been hold relative to the catastrophe by the collision between the Royal steamer Alberta and the yacht Mistletoe. The jury were unable to agree to a verdict. The Alphonsist troops captured the citadel and garrison of Seode Urge!, a fortified town in Catalonia. The ; Pacha of Servia and foreign Consuls are to meet at Mostar, a town in European Turkey, on Tuesday next, to negotiate with the Herzegovingian insurgents. The Banks of California and National Gold Bank of San Francisco have failed, causing a panic in San Francisco. Wheat is declining under the influence of more favorable harvest reports. Australian is quoted at 555. to 565. Wool is steady, without, however, a recovery in the recent decline of prices. Foreign buyers are operating largely. The copper market is steady, and prices are firm. Chili is quoted at £B2 10s. ; Burra, £B9 to £9O ; Wallaroo held for higher prices. Tin market active. Straits, £B2 to £B3 ; Australian, £BO to £Bl. Arrived,— Lady Jocelyn, from Lyttelton, May 14. Singapore, August 28. Nothing is officially known here confirming the news lately received of an insult offered to Mr. T. F. Wade, Minister Plenipotentiary to Pekin. Wade only informed the Home Government that he was dissatisfied with the action of the Government of China, and suggested the expediency of having troops ready to send to China if required. Tiie following items of news are to hand by tbo brig Neptune, from Newcastle, at Wellington : (PER JAVA CABLE.) London, August 30. Tho panic in America consequent upon the bank failures is Subsiding. The English mail, via Suez, left Gallo for Adelaide on the 28th inst. •H.M.S. Valorous has returned to Plymouth. • August 31. Three thousand Servians crossed tho southern frontier into Turkey, and bauds of Servian inhabitants arc endeavoring to create a rising in Bulgaria. Tho Alert and Discovery left Disco, au island belonging to Denmark, on tho south part of Baffin's Bay, in tho middle of July. AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY. Sydney, September 4. A movement Ims been commenced for the purpose of raising funds towards tho erection of a memorial statue over the remains of Commodore Goodonough and tho two seamen who wore murdered by tho natives of Santa Oruz. Tho.widow of tho late Judge Milford died yesterday. Tho London cable is interrupted near Singapore. There arc political rumors that a member of tho present Ministry is to receive a permanent appointment in connection with the railways.. It is also stated that an offer of the thou vacant portfolio is to be made to a member of tho late Administration. The Government have received a communication from South Shields, England, stating that the examiner of railway iron, appointed by tho New South Wales Government, denies that tho iron was inferior or different from the conditions of tho specification. Petitions to the Governor are in course of signature praying a remission of the sentence inflicted on White, who was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for attempting to bribe Mr..Soholcy, M.L.A. It is probable the petition will be presented before the. Full Court, in order to give the latter an opportunity of deciding the cose. ■ ■

Melbourne, Sept. 4. , The Exhibition was formally opened at noon on Thursday by the Administrator of the Government, Sir William Stawell. Although season ticket holders and persons specially invited only were present, the hall was so inconveniently crowded as to render locomotion extremely inconvenient, in fact, almost impossible. ' The Exhibition Commissioners met the Acting-Governor at the entrance to the Public Library, and conducted him to a dais prepared upon the platform in the building. The reading of the address from the Commissioners by Sir Redmond Barry to Sir William Stawell occupied half an hour. His Excellency replied briefly. Cheers were then given for the Queen and his Excellency. The members of the Ministry, and the colonial and naval military, with a large number of the elite of the colony, were on the platform on which the dais was erected. A young man named Richard Whycross Sawyers has been arrested, charged with neglecting to make an entry in the books of the Bank of Victoria (of which he was a teller) of £llOO deposited there. It is stated that he will be accused of taking part in the robbery of the £2OOO worth of notes, about the loss of which there has been so much excitement lately. He has been remanded for a week. The Government intend to propose a loan of £IOO,OOO for public works. The Exhibition is being largely attended, and is attracting crowds to the city. Eistori had a splendid house yesterday. At a sale of 400 pure-bred merino rams, from the Ercildoun flocks, the lot averaged £4 4s.

The price of wheat has improved; ss. 9d. is offered, and at that price it is much wanted. Elour is not to be obtained under £ll ss. Sugars have improved in price; maize is quoted at 4s. lid. The Egmont, s.s., with the detachment of Royal Engineers for Fiji on board, grounded, owing to a heavy gale, in leaving the bay yesterday, but got off speedily, and went on her voyage.

The water in the Yarra is rising rapidly, and fears of a flood are entertained.

The Whampoa arrived last week ; she is in fine trim. Complimentary addresses have been presented to Captain Hynes and his officers.

An Australian Health Society is projected.

Ah Oat was executed in Melbourne gaol. Mdlle. de Murska was serenaded, and was honored by a torchlight procession. Eistori opened in “ Medea,” to a fair house. Judge Dunne’s resignation has been accepted by the Government.

Great floods have occurred at Beechworth. A quarter of a mile of the railway line has been washed away. The Ovens river rose 9ft. in a very few hours. Damages, £2O, have been given against the Bank of New South Wales for dishonoring a cheque. A reward of £2OO is offered for the recovery of the notes stolen from the Bank of Victoria, and a further sum of £2OO for such information as will lead to the conviction of the thief.

The Rev. Charles Clark has given up his congregation to devote himself entirely to lecturing. John H. Leeds, a drover, a native of Bathurst, has committed suicide by taking poison. His cheques had been returned unpaid.

Advices have been received that 2250 Martini-Henry rifles have been shipped for the volunteers.

The Minister for Education informed a deputation that in order to carry out promises already made for the erection of sohoolhouses, £300,000 will be required. Leggatt, worn out and fatigued, has returned to Melbourne with the Stephen’s life-boat. He had reached Port Albert.

Brisbane, September 4.

Mr. Henry Jordan, at one- time AgentGeneral, has been appointed RegistrarGeneral. Mr. Scott has been appointed Master of Titles.

The Premier, Mr. Maealister, leaves for London by the next Torres Strait mail. He goes Home on business connected with the colony. The Government supporters have resolved to entertain him previous to his departure. His Ipswich constituents will give a banquet to him on Wednesday. It is thought that the Education Bill will be shelved, owing to the action of the President of the Legislative Council. ' Mr. Mackay, editor of the Queenslajtder, has been appointed Commissioner to represent the colony at the Philadelphia Exhibition, The motion for a grant of money to Dr. Lang from the public funds has been withdrawn, in consequence of the question having been previously decided during the present session of Parliament.

An English company proposes to open up the coal measures of the Endeavor River.

Samples have been taken by Augustus Gregory, near Biugra, which prove that a valuable coalfield has been discovered in the colony of Queensland. Mr. Warry, grocer, has suspended payment. His liabilities are stated to he about £20,000, of which £4OOO are due to Sydney creditors. The stoppage is attributed to losses by the Northern trade.

Adelaide, September 3.

A fresh addition has been proposed to the stamp duties—on lawyer’s annual certificate, £10; Queen’s counsel, £2O. The extra stamps on policies have been expunged, and an annual fee substituted of £SO; local marine companies' fee, £25 for fire, and £25 extra for foreign companies. A number of sudden deaths have occurred lately. Wheat is dull. Buyers are offering ss. Id., but holders ask Id. more. Country flour sold at £lO ss.