ARRIVAL OF THE "ALDINGA," WITH ENGLISH NEWS TO FEBRUARY 20. AND NEWS FROM MELBOURNE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 139, 26 April 1862, Page 3

ARRIVAL OF THE "ALDINGA," WITH ENGLISH NEWS TO FEBRUARY 20. AND NEWS FROM MELBOURNE

TO THE 19th APRIL.

The Aldinga arrived at Port Chalmers early yesterday, having left Melbourne at 5 p.m , on Saturday, the 19th iiist. She brings; the news contained in the English Mail, and a small Mail from Melbourne.

The English Mail was forwarded by the Omeo, which may be expected to arrive tomorrow. The Omeo had left Melbourne on Thursday, the 17th inst, hut was obliged to come to at Port Phillip Heads, in consequence of strong gales and squalls, and did not leave until Saturday morning. On Monday, the 21st iust., at 930 a.m. the Aldinga passed the Omeo, and it was Captain McLachlan"s wish that she should take the Mails, but Captain McLean had reluctantly to decline, as he had no orders, and the Omeo ■was in the same good order as she was when slie left Melbourne. Throughout the passage, ,which was made in five days twelve hours from Sandridge to Port Otago Heads, the Aldinga had very fine pleasant weather. She brings about 100 passengers—72 in the steerage and in the saloon:—-Miss Pearson, Miss Grant, Mrs Brodie and two children, Mrs Fuller, Miss Fuller, and Masters (2), Mrs Delovy and two children, Mrs Barnes and two children, Mrs Hill and. two children, Mrs Godso and child, Mrs. Coulton and child, Mr 3 Nevelle, H Orr, V. Pyke. Captain Murray, Messrs Moss, Creach, Hart, Riach, Wittkowski, Crisk, Hoyle, K«es.

We take the following from the Argu*: — The mail from England was delivered in Melbourne on Thursday, the 17th, the Madras having arrived off the Heads at two o'clock on Thursday morning. The weather was very stormy, and the ship lay-to till daylight, when she entered the Heads, arriving in H'obson's Bay about ten o'clock. The Madras is commanded by Captain Stead, late of the Benares. She left Galle on the 26th of March four days after time, three of which were lost in Egypt, waiting for the Marseilles portion of the mail, and one between Suez and Galle. King George's Sound was reached on the 10th instant, at three p.m., and left at seven a.m. on the following day. Fine weather prevailed throughout the voyage, until Wednesday last, when a strong gale from the westward was experienced.. The Madras resumed her voyage to Sydney at three o'clock on ; Thursday afternoon. The English Australian December mails ■were delivered in London on the 17th and 19th of February. The Queen continues in retirement. Ihe Princess Royal had arrived on a visit to Her Maiestv, us also Prince Alfred.' A marriage treaty between Princess Alice and Prince Louis of Hesse has been published. There is a rumour of a proposed marriage between the Prince of Wales and the Princess of Denmark. It is confidently spoken of. On the 25 th of February the Albert Memorial Fund amounted to £35,000. The monument, by the express wish of the Queen, is to be erected in Hyde Park, on the site of the Great Exhibition of 1851. Parliament was opened by commission on the 6th of February. The Speech from the Throne* reterred to the irreparable loss the nation had sustained by the death of the Prince Consort. It announced peace with Europe, the'settlement of the American dispute, the operations against Mexico, the convention with Mordcco, warmly applauded the loyalty of the Canadians, and promised some lew law reforms. The Opposition in both Houses expressed their approval of the conduct of the Government in the American difficulty. , . . The Government have issued instructions prohibiting any American war vessel from remaining beyond 24 hours in any British or colonial port, unless detained by stress of weather or for repairs. The second reading of the bill to legalise marriage with a deceased wife's sister was carried in°the House of Commons. The O'Donoghue was # called to order in Parliament for a breach of privilege in sendin" a hostile challenge to Sir Robert Peel. navy estimates for the year amount to nearly 12 millions sterling. _ ■ ' Lord Dufferin has declined the offer of Governorship of Bombay. _ The anniversary banquet of the Australian Association was held on the 12th of February. The Duke of Newcastle delivered, an important speech on democracy. - The new country discovered by Burke will likely be named Burkes Land. A monument to the memory of W. J. Wills is to be erected at Totnes, his native place. The Wyndham lunacy commission has terminated, finding Wyndham sound in mind. _ Fifty men were killed by an explosion m the Celhan coal pit, in Wales. ',■,.- The Hartley Colliery Fund for the relief of the bereaved families, amounts to £50,000. The English line-of-battle ship Conqueror has been wrecked. No lives were lost. Obituary.—Sir J. T. Platt, Mr. Hans Buck, Admiral Dick, Mr. Lang, Martinza de la Rosa, Rev. H. Home, and Provost of The debate on the address in reply to_ the Emperor's speech has led to a scene of great violence between the Legitimists and Liberals. Prince Napoleon attacked the Papacy in strong terms, openly declared against the temporal power ol the Pope, demanded that National Education in France should be taken out of the hands of the priests, and claimed for France the freedom of the press. The Emperor has read the Episcopate a severe lesson. The Papal Government summoned bishops of all countries to convocation in Rome in May next; but the French toshops are prohibited from attending, by command of the French Government. _ , . The Pope is suffering from disease of the heart, and is not expected to live more than a few days, if so long. . . Great sensation had.been caused m Pane by • letter from the Emperor to General Montauban, passing a censure on the Legislative Corps for its opposition to the Dotation Bill for the general services in China. A military insurrection has taken place in Greece, and the towji and fortress of Naupila are in the possession of the insurgents. The Chambers and the country have expressed their devotion to the dynasty. The question of Federal reforms and national German unity is about to be discussed in the Prussian Chamber of Deputies. Austria, being unequal to the task of keeping Venetia and Hungary single-handed, seeks to raise up a confederacy in Germany, so constructed as to commit its members to the defence of her foreign provinces, against which scheme Prussia protests. The consequences of this disagreement may be that Germany will be divided into two confederations, which will involve momentous- consequences to the rest of Europe. ' The recognition of the kingdom of Italy by Prussia is said to have been. decided. The new Archbishop of Warsaw has urced the people to be quiet, and reopened the churches, but military repression is still carried out with the greatest severity. The Portuguese Ministry has resigned, and a new Cabinet is formed under the presidency of the Marquis of Soule. The Allied Forces in Mexico have adTanced. beyond, Vera Cruz without opposition,

and submitted their demand to the Mexican authorities. It is rumoured that the throne of Mexico will be offered to an Archduke of the honse" of Austria in exchange for Vcnetia. This project (Napoleon's) has been much discussed.

The Italians are mcnaci d with a new difficulty. A strong party around the King is urging him to suspend Parliamentary government, and assume the dictatorship.

The Hourbonists are organizing a ; .new invasion of the Neapolitan provinces. ' Great demand has lately existed for all foreign ar.d colonial securities. Colonial Government debentures firm, and rising; Victorian Six per. Cents, are quoted 107£ to lO7£ ; the new issue, 104 to 104£; New South Wales Five per Cent. (1866, 99-to 100. Latest prices of Consols, 93§ to 93£, cash ; hank rate of discount, two and a half per cent; money abundant. The chief event in monetary circles has been an attempt of the French Government to borrow four millions sterling in the London market, in order to force through the conversion of the Four and a Half Per Cent. Rentes into Three Per Cents. This loan could not be carried out owing to the inability of the French contractors to supply the French securities. The Board of Trade returns for 1861 have been published, and are considered satisfactory, notwithstanding the cotton difficulty, and the prohibitory tariff of the United States.

Exports to Melbourne during January, £•299,668, against .£431,689 in December: decreiise, £132,021. Millinery, piece goods, apparel, haberdashery, and.blankets, considerably reduced.; wrought leather slightly. Galvanized iron none. Bacon, cheese, and oils of every description moderate. Flint glass and earthenware very abundant. Butter only 110 firkins. Hops rather heavy.' Wines very moderate. Spirits and Beer, average quantities; shipments since the 7th £113,000. Exports to Sydney during the month rather less than previous one, with the exception of spirits, which are heavy.

Wool Report, Februory.—Market inactive, few inquiries, and those mostly |for wool at last sale's rates, which dealers will not accept. Next sales commence on the 28th of February. Stock on hand—total, 45,312 bales. It is anticipated that a decline of one penny per lb will occur next sales, owing to unsatisfactory accounts from the Continent, and general slackness of trade. Arrivals for May sales expected to be very large. Produce Markets—Hides in limited demand, prices rather lower. Good crop realised large prices. Bark—Mimosa, good, sold at £9 per ton. Tallow —Heavy sales of Australian at a decline of 6d. to 9d. per cwt. Metals—Burra copper sold at £98 10s. to £99. British copper reduced Jd. per lb. Quicksilver—steady at £7 per bottle. Sugar—large business done at advance of from 6d. to Is. per cwt.: the stock is much reduced. Corn—English wheat maintains former rate; foreign has declined from' Is. to 2s. per quarter. Oats given away 6d. per quarter.