ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 435, 13 May 1863, Page 6

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

"We extract the' following1 from the ''Home. News: —" The army estimates for the year have been issued. The reduction on the estimates of last year amounted, as in the case of the navy, to a trifle over a million, making, as far as yet appears, a reduction of two millions .. on the year's expenses. The reduction is on. the effective service, the non-eftective service ~'. showing a slight increase. The estimates for the volunteer force are L 200,000 above those of last j'ear, preliminary, we presume, to the , adoption of the suggestions contained in the report of the Royal commissioners. The estimates include charges amounting to L 3,620,256 " ' for military purposes in the colonies, exclusive of the cost of arms, accoutrements, and bar- " ■ rack, hospital, and other stores to be supplied from this country. But rather more than a fourth of this charge is incurred in respect of • the Mediterranean and other stations not pro- t perly colonies. The year's expenses in respect of Canada is estimated at L 702,115, and in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, L 180,695 ; the West Indies, L 291.525; New Zealand, L 347.269; China and Hong Kong, L 330,789; West Coa3t of Africa, L 77,438 ; Labuan, L 4500; Western Australia, L 29.368. From all these colonies no repayment is expected. The cost for the Cape of Good Hope is put at L 290,384, and Natal L 60.693, but they will contribute L 13,500, in aid of the extra allowance of the troops. For New South Wales and Queensland the charge is L 28,140; for \ Victoria, L 24.767; for Tasmania, L 30,214; . and for South Australia, L.6,829. New South , Wales and Victoria pay the expense of one battery of garrison Artillery, and these Australian colonies pay a special allowance to the troops, but the-amount of these is at present uuder discussion; New South Wales and South Australia also defray the cost of barrack „.- buildings. The charge for the Mauritius is L 150,995, and for Ceylon L.89,534. but the former contributes LIO,OOO and the latter L 24,000, and both make allowances to the officers, Ceylon also bearing its commissariat charges and expense of barrack buildings. : The navy estimates for the year show a great reduction of L 1,058,273 on the vote of last ; year. The great reduction is in the right : place—on vote 10, for naval stores." Serve Him Rigiit.—At the Police-court, Swansea, on Monday last, William Russell, a, • seaman, Sarah Russell, his n-iii ,md Mary Ann ' Vaughan (sister to Mrs. Eij-s il), were charged '\ with having violently v-» .ilted and beaten. . Charles Tippinsrs, a work an in the Hnfod • silver works. From th. /idence given it appeared that the cot p1 .nant had boasted in -. public that lie hadb.- - on too intimate terms' with Mrs. Russell during the absence of her v husband at sea, and this coining to the ears of : the aggrieved parties they went to Tip'pinga and asked him if the rumors they had heard " were correct. With the most daring effron- r tery Tippings said they were, and applied to Mrs Russell a most offensive epithet. This- • naturally aggravated thu defendants, and they one and all (to use the expressive words of his own advocite), gave it him right and. left, .and he now- came into court with black , eyes, and other unmislakeable signs of the . drubbing he had received. The Bench in- ■> stantly dismissed the case, saying that the ; treatment he received " served him right," and , ordered him to pay the costs of the proceedings, together with advocate's fee, amounting in the whole to £1 10s 6d.— Bristol Mercury. Tub Cruelties of Cortez.—Retiring. ' • among his Indian allies, who longed for the; downfall of the haughty Mexicans, Cortea - reformed his army, and on 31st May, 1321, again appeared under the walls of Mexico, When the city was eventually taken, after a month's resistance, the fury of the Spaniards knew no bounds at finding so little wealth, The unfortunate Emperor ;and one of his ' officers were hung by the feet over burning coals, but the monarch's stoicism did not onco desert him, in spite of his atrocious sufferings, ' On hearing the cries of agony uttered by his companion in misfortune, he merely turned . his head faintly, and said, "Am lon roses, pray ?" The Empire of Mexico was at an end, and Cortez, by fearful cruelty, soon ' brought the whole country under subjectioq,. Cortez, after being Captain, General, andGovernor of New Spain, fell into disgrace, and died forgotten and unknown, in a villagq ; near Seville.— Si. Jamus's Magazine. A Fobtune made in a Day.—*A splendid - prize has just been picked up by the captain • and crew of the Annie Vernon, a steamer trading between Newport, Monmouthshire,. ' and other ports. While on her voyage off . Holyhead she fell in with a large East India.man, which had been abandoned, took her in tow,and brought her in safety to the Mumbles.. Mr Jackson, cliief mate, being placed on board to take possession. She was laden with teak-' wood and rice, and the cargo alone is valued at L 70,000. The salvage will consequently yield to the captain such a sum as will enable. \ him to retire, and the other officers and mei^ will c ich have a handsome share. •. The vessel' is supposed to haveb"een desertedby her cre\ip during the fearful gale? at the counnencem,ent,. of the week.