THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam." DUNRDIN. MONDAY, MARCH 30.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 397, 30 March 1863, Page 4

THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam." DUNRDIN. MONDAY, MARCH 30.

The intelligence by the English Mail is not so full of exciting interest as might have been anticipated from the nature of the last advice 3. Public attention in England appears to have been pretty well occupied with the approaching marriage of the Prince of Wales, which was fixed to take place on the 12th of March. The Lancashire distress, it is very gratifying to remark, has somewhat subsided, and although there is still ample room for the exercise of public charity, it is confidently hoped that the sufferings of the operatives have passed tha culminating point, and great hopes are felt that the country has seen the worst effects of the cotton famine. ' Cotton is getting more plentiful, large arrivals having taken place from India and elsewhere, and some of the mills are gradually resuming work. The working classes of London are said to be suffering great distress, and con siderable fears are felt that the destitution will rapidly increase. The large subscriptions which .have been raised in London for the relief of the cotton operatives, are said to have resulted in a proportionate falling off in the contributions to local charitable institutions, and thus seriously affected their means of use--fulnes3. -■■

In France all is quiet, the chief item of interest being the opening of the Chambers by the Emperor. The King of Prussia still maintains his unconstitutional attitude against the parliament, but the people appear to take it all very quietly. The Greeks have not yet obtained a Sovereign, and tbe latest mentioned candidate is the Duke of Saxe Cobur^. The reported, proposed cession of the lonian Islands to Greece is confirmed, but no definite steps have yet been taken. Another and a. very serious revolt has taken place in Poland.

The American news is principally confined to the details of the events of which accounts were received by the last mail. The battle of Fredericksburgh turns out to have been even more serious iv its results to the Federals jjthan was reported by our last advices. Later details prove that this fearful battle was almost devoid of a single redeeming feature, so far as the behaviour of the Federal forces is. concerned. Badly generaled, badly disciplined, and panicstricken, the Federal soldiers were driven back in a disgraceful rout. General Burnside, who appears to have had the command, forced on him in spite of his urgent remonstrances to the eontrarj', admits that he was in total ignorance of the number and position ofthe enemy, and incapable of handling his own army. The same inconsiderate rashness which placed him in command, led Mm to assume offensive operations of the nature and extent of which General Burnside had no clear conception, and he seized the first opportunity he had of answering the urgent and unreasonable demands of his employers. Everything was in favor of the Confederates. Occupying a strong position, with a force of some 90,000 well disciplined troops, the Confederates with but little loss to themselves literally decimated the attacking army. Whole regiments of the Federals were mown down like grass before tbe fearful converging fire of the Confederates. The Federals appear to have fought without auy rgpognised plan, and utter disorganisation led to a complete defeat. The Northern .

March 80, l&ti't

papers and the Northern people do not attempt to deny the thorough repulse the Federal army lias sustained; and loud have been the complaints against the imbecility and mismanagement of the Government. Secretaries Chase and Seward, dreading to face the popular indignation, resigned tlieir portfolios; but the President re-called them. General Burnside accepts the whole responsibility of the battle of Fredericksburg.

The position of the Federals at last advices was a critical one. General Stuart had' made another of his brilliant cavalry raids into Maryland, and had cut off the communications in the rear ofthe Federal army, and it was considered probable that the Confederates meditated surrounding the Northern forces. Defeat, and nothing but defeat seems to follow the Federals at every point. On the West, the Confederates under General Bragg haxe inflicted a severe blow on the Federals under Rosencranz at Murfreesborough, and, but for the Confederate General having for strategical reasons withdrawn in the night, there is every probability thatßosencranz's army would have been destroyed. In naval operations the Confederates have proved victorious in several minor engagements, and the Alabama still continues to harrass tlie shipping of the Federals.

President Lincoln adheres to his emancipation proclamation, and the Confederates have proclaimed a war of reprisals, and have, in several instances shot all negroes taken in battle. In spite of continued defeats the Federal Government manifest no disposition to come to terms, and the conclusion of the war appears as far off as ever.

Owing to the pressure on our columns in consequence of the European intelligence, we are compelled to hold over our reports of Mr. Harris's address at Port Chalmers, the Regatta and Police Court, as also several letters, which will appear in our next issue. Professor Parker's entertainment at the Theatre Royal, on Saturday evening, attracted a numerous and critical audience. The programme was adhered to as strictly as circumstances would permit,.but it is to he regretted that the public were deprived of the opportunity of witnessing some important exhibitions of Professor Parker's skill, owing to the absence of competitors. A broadsword combat, with sword-sticks, took place between the Professor and an amateur, which was witnessed with evident pleasure on the part ofthe audience aud elicited considerable applause. Mr Parker briefly addressed the assemblage, and invited M. De Loree to have a bout with him, but wo presume that gentleman was not in the theatre, as the challenge was not accepted. The skill displayed by Professor Parker in severing a sheep aud a leg of mutton at one blow and cutting through a bar of lead, were perhaps the most prominent features in the entertainment, and justly entitled him to the manifestations of approval which followed the performance of the feats. In the Saladin feat of severing a silk scarf this clever swordsman, although exhibiting a master hand, did not succeed, owing to the absence of a sufficiently strong current of air which is, we believe, absolutely necessary for the performance of this trick. Professor Parker apologised to the audience, and stated that the feat required to be performed in the open air. During the evening Miss Annie Beaumont, who made her. first appearance in .Dunedin on this occasion, sang several songs, and judging by the applause she met with, her efforts were highly appreciated by a large portion of the audiencr. The appearance of this young lady is favourable, and she possesses a powerful contralto voice, which, however, lacks cultivation, and her gesticulation is, at times, simply absurd. Miss Ada Hart danced a Highland Fling, in costume, in capital style, and being encored she gave a Sailors Hornpipe. The entertainment, which was highly satisfactory as a whole, concluded with the farce of" Bobtail and Wagtail."

When the Lord Ashley arrived at Canterbury and Wellington what a vast amount of indignation was probably expressed at its not being the bearer of the English mails. -We can fancy the newspapers coming out with leading articles denouncing Mr Ward and his contract and the contractors. The Chambers of Commerce would renew their censuring resolutions, and call on the Government to substitute a new contract for tlie present one. What a surprise it will be when it is found that all the fuss has been thrown ,away —that the delay rests with the protracted voyage of the steamer from Galle. The mails, did not reach Melbourne till the 20th, the Omeo sailed the following day, and after a very failpassage reached Dunedin early yesterday morning. Supposing a contract similar to the old one existed, the steamer would either have left on the 13th or 14th, or if it had waited to the 20th there would have been a cost to the colony of between ,£IOO nnd £200 a day. We are much mistaken if, before the year is out, Mr Ward's contract be not recognised as a wise one. Next month the Aidinga will, in all probability, bring down the mails.

We understand that Messrs' Tooth and Co, relying upon the scarcity of cattle in the Province, and the insufficient supplies likely to come from Gipps' Land and AVellington, are about applying to the Government to be allowed to ship cattlo from Twofold Bay and from Queensland, in neither of which, it is contended, has the disease ever shown itself. The Twofold Bay District is so shut in from a market that qattle are t)oi}ed down there, a beast of from eight tq nine hundred pounds, realising by the process some £4. Tlie question will, of course, be what reasonable security will the proposal provide against the in-, troduction of the disease with which parts at least of the Australian Continent are ravaged ? How-, ever undoubted the evil of the high price of animal food, the introduction of Pleuro-Pueu-monia would be a greater one. The ofthr should therefore, be reviewed in a calm spirit of un» prejudiced inquiry, and a careful scrutiny be instituted as to how far a consideration of safety will permit its being entertained.

The Home News says :—" The Intercolonial Royal Mail Steampacket Company are rapiuly adding to the fleet of iron steamships that have been built for them in this country. On the 3rd January the Paulet, destined to convey the mails between Australia aad New Zealand, ivas launched from the building yard of Messrs Charles Mitchell and Co., at Low Walker, on the Tyne. She is an extremely handsome vessel. A separate steam engine is to be erected on board the Paulet for the purpose of thoroughly ventilating the holds, cabin, and engine-rooms. The machinery is of 150-horse power, and has been manufactured by Messrs It. Morrison and Co., of Newcastle.

On Saturday, the sum of Ll 5s IOJd was deposited in the Lancashire and Scottish Relief Fuui box.

March ac\ 1863

The conclusion df the Dunedin Regatta took" place on Saturday iiftt-rnooti, and the five matches in the programme, which were not contested'on Monday last, formed an agreeable afternoon's amusement. The weather was propititious and owing probably to the early closing of most places of business in the city, the assemblage of spectators on the Jetty and other places where a view of the sports could be obtained, was numerous. The Dart was moored oft", nearly opposite the New Jetty, and used as a flagship. The sports com meiiced at one o'clock with a sailing race, No 3 on tlie programme, open to all boats under 5 tons, the first prize being L2O. For this there were four entries, namely, The Mary, (Landorl) Zenobia, (Southgate), Echo, (Taggart), and White Star, (Geddes). After a sharp and well contested race The Mary was declared the winner, the Echo coming in for the entrance money, 8 guineas, as second, A protest was>,we understand.lodged by Mr Lloyd Taggart, in the hands of the Umpirj, MiGeorge Green, against his decision, on the ground that the tonnage of the Mary exceeded 5 tons. The second match was the Duck Hunt, fourth on. the programme, between Chnrles Clarke (Duck), and F. Pierce, (Drake). This part of the pro gramme created a good deal of amusement, and was won by Clarke. The next was a Sculling- Race, first prize L 5, for which there were four entries, namely, the Wild Wave. (Kelly), Ballarat Star (M'Kenzie) Scout (B u-ton) and Prince Albert (Hale). At the commencement o f this race there was a good deal of fouliug, in the midst of which the Prince Albert managed to get away, and kept the lead throughout the remainder of the distance, winning easily. Tiie Scout being second. The Ballarat Star pulled back before it reached the first buoy. The las t race was the Watermans Scullers Single-handed Match. There were only two entries, Annie Laurie (Turnbull), and Midas, the race being won by Ralph by about two boat lengths. Owing to there being only two entries the Amateur Scullers : Race did not take place. The sports did not con- I elude till dusk.

A man named Jno. Baxter, was on Saturday last, committed for trial on a charge of obtaining Ll2 from one Andrew Lockie, by means of a valueless order upon Messrs Bell, Rae and Co. A second complaint against the prisoner for refusing to support his child, a little girl about " years old was called oc, but not proceeded with, the Magistrate intimating that he would make arrangements lor her to be sent to the BeneVolent Asylum.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court on Saturday, Mr Martin Slmll was summoned, as secretary of the Dunedin Gas and Coke Company, for causing a dangerous nuisance in Princes-street south, by cutting up 150 feet ofthe road for the purpose of laying down the gas pipes. The magistrate considered that the Town Board regulation, whicli allowed only 66 feet of a road to be opened at one time, had been infringed, and inflicted a penalty of L 2 with costs. The Court was occupied a considerable time in hearing evidence against James Lander, Arthur Johnson, and George How, who were charged by William Barry, of Kuri Bush, with illegally killing and carrying away a bullock belonging to him. The statement made by the prosecutor was incoherent, and the charge being apparently groundless, the case was dismissed ; the magistrate at the same time expressing an opinion ' that the prosecutor had acted wrongly in causing the defendants to be arrested under such circumstances.

The Omeo has brought from Melbourne the hall and fittings of the Minerva, a small serewsteamer, which has been purchased by Mr 11. Farley, the boat being intended to rnn to and from Vauxhall Gardens. The socond fete and pyrotechnic display will take place at the Gardens this evening.

We understand that the schooner Annie, which left Port Chalmers on 21st inst. in company with the Planet, bound for the Taieri, was canght in a fearful gale ontside the Heads and driven np to Well'ngton. The vessel returned to Port Chalmers on Friday night uninjured, and has now proceeded on her voyage.