NEWS BY THE SUEZ MAIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3251, 8 July 1872, Page 3

NEWS BY THE SUEZ MAIL.

We make the following extracts from our Melbourne and English files :—

colonial prom.cc

"Anglo-Australian," writing on the European Mail, says : —" I am glad to state that Australian meat is getting more generally into consumption. Yon may see it at most of our retail grocers' anil oilmen's stores. In some shops they Bell it by the lib, lib, ami jib—a great convenience to the poor. Some I saw exhibited in this way looked first-rate, the grain of the meat being highly suggestive of the tender nature and line flavour of the article. The wholesale prices are not, perhaps, ho remunerative to produccrsaH could be wished, but the«o may improve with experience. Mr Tallermau has a good show in the Queensland annexe, and he i« preparing a collection of the food and animal products of Australia for exhibition at the Bcthiial Green Museum. If I am rightly informed, he is doing this at the request of the directors of the International Exhibition. 1 hear that he has the material for a good collection. Bethnal j Green is a poor neighbourhood, and the value of the products iv question, from an economical point of view, is sure to be appreciated and do much good. Butter, it in expected, will recede in price when the fine weather comes. I hear the demand is falling ofF." The Home News says : —" The consumption of pntsorved meats is steadily increasing, but prices continue low. In six pound tins, mutton is now selling for 4£d per lb. This arises chiefly from the disinclination of shopkeepers to hold stock. In many instances smaller packages—say 21b tins- - sheep's tongues, kidneys, &c, realise quite fancy prices, and meats in this shape are rapidly growing in favour. The meats are now largely used in workhouses, gaols, barracks, and such-like places, and the saving is said to be fully fifty per cent. Complaints of it are rarely heard now, and a taste for it is being acquired." The same journal has the following :— " Mr C. Thome, who is indefatigable in his endeavours to introduce New Zealand flax to the notice of manufacturers, has some fine twill ' Scotch sheeting,' made up from native dressed hemp (supplied by Dr Featherston), also some sacking manufactured from tow, prepared by himself, which certainly marks another important step, and leads us to hope for good things yet in store for this article." A Colonial and Foreign Fibre Company, with a capital of £100,000, haa been started in London. winiT Ht.'KArti. The Queen's birthday was celebrated on the Ist June. Illuminations were general. The Prince of Wales received a magnificent ovation at Yarmouth on June Gth. There were general illuminations. Prince Arthur has been fftted at Liverpool. He lias opened the Sefton park and New Hospital, and inaugurated the Horticultural Show. He also attended a fancy fair at St. George's Hall. Prince Leopold is to take the command of the Crathieand Ballater Volunteers. Colonel Farquharsnn, of Invercauld, is to give the members of the corps Highland dresses of the tartan of his clan, and the orders are being executed by local tradesmen. The Dundee Advertiser says that the announcement that the Prince is to take command of a volunteer corps on Deeside haa raised a great amount of enthusiasm among the young men of the district. Many are joining, and there is every indication that by autumn the Crathie and Ballater corps will be the crack corps of the county. CONTINENTAL NOTES. A Bill for punishing drunkenness has been passed by the French Assembly. I Inundations by the Po have rendered ! 40,000 persona homeless. Blanqui, at his second trial, was sentenced to imprisonment in a fortress. It is said that, on a recent occasion, the people waited patiently outside the doors of the theatre at Dresden for a space of eleven hours to hear Mdme. Lucca sing in " Faust." Overwork has at length had its effect upom Prince Bismarck. He is reported on the sick list, but his physicians declare there is no serious cause for apprehension if he will consent to take the rest which is absolutely necessary for him. General Chanzy is rapidly rising in public estimation in France. He has been chosen leader of the Left • entre. He has publicly declared that the Republic ought to have a fair trial. He is expected to succeed General Cissey as Minister of War. '\Sjr Rookr" at Arlbsforix " Anglo-Austra'itn " writes :—" On May 14, in response to an invitation from some of the leading spirits of the neighbourhood, the Claimant, accompanied by Mr Guildford Onslow, M.P., visited Alresford. His reception was very brilliant. The fanners, tradesmen, and others to the number of 2000, turned out in their best, with flowers in button-holes, and streamers in caps and bonnets, to do honour 'to the 'eir. } He went down like a conquering hero in a waggonette, drawn by four greys. The shouting was immense when the Claimant 'hove in sight.' The greys were taken out, and the vehicle .was drawn to the Swan Hotel by his excited admirers. Mr Onslow their made a speech, in which he avowed hi 3 intention of supporting the Claimant in his endeavours to obtain his rights. The Claimant followed, and denounced the 'tattoo marks'as a vile conspiracy to rob him of his inheritance. I hear that he has received several invitations to visit our leading towns, and that he intends to accept them. A good round sum has been subscribed towards his defence, and to judge by the tone of public feeling in the provinces, this is likely to be considerably augmented. The fair sex especially are on lm side, and ' Sir Roger' is now aa popular

as ever be was among that class who are not over remarkable for discretion or judgment." A telegram of later date says :—"The majority of the Tichborne tenants disavow any connection with the reception of the Claimant at Alresford." UKJ3AT CTOKJI AT MANCHESTER. A fearful atorm broke over Manchester on May 16. In the morning the weather was bright and warm, but towards noon it grow dull, and the clouds gathered so rapidly that at four o'clock it was as dark as during an eclipse. At that time a severe thunderstorm broke over the city, and lasted for about an hour. The first peal of thunder waa of a most teirific character, and it was rapidly followed by other peals, though not of the same violence. The lightning was very vivid ; and the rain descended in torrents to such an extent, that in a very short time many of the drains were choked, and several of the principal streets were for some time flooded. The storm undoubtedly was one of the most violent and prolonged that has occurred in this district for many yearn past. THE FAMINE IN' I'KltSlA. News from Teheran, dated May 3, Bays that the final state of famine is more terrible to witness than the first. The road was strewn with half-rotten corpses. Captain Piorson, 11. E., states that lie had several times to remove dead bodies from the caravanserai where he lodged. Cannibalism was not uncommon, but, owiinr to the magnificent state of the crops ami the abundance of water, the cud of the famine is believed to be at hand.

Another account says :—"Commerce has altogether ceased, as there arc no means of transport. Wolves have made their appearance in great numbers throughout the kingdom."

MF.Si KLL.VN K<tl*S ITEMS

I^ady Charlemont has inaugurated a scheme for a ladies' testimonial to Lady Mayo. A company propose to erect a new theatre for the southern district)* of Edinburgh. ■Several deaths of European oflicers from sunstroke have occurred in Central India.

Mr J. llnllah'H pupils at the (JhartftlimiHc have presented him with a handsome ivory fxUon mounted with gold. The price of land in Ireland has not been affected by the recent legislation with regard to landlord and tenant. Well-situated estates are bringing higher prices than ever. Chimncy-Hweep.H, dustmen, and literary and professional men generally, are the only parties who have not yet joined the nine hours' movement.

Two hundred thousand cattle perished in one province in India. Fourteen inches of rain tell in twenty-four hours at one station in Madraa.

Waterford harbour is to be made a harbour of refuge and port of call, under the auHpiccH of tin: lio.ird of Trade. With this object in view, £80,000 in to be npent on the removal of the bar. AH vessels of above 2")0 tons entering the port will bo subjected to additional taxation.

In tho International Exhibition one gallery i.s lined with newspapers folded so as merely to display the title, and the eye runs from the Yokohama we"kly to one published hero in the Huburbs, and back from familiar Boston and California journals through Italy's Lucerne to Levantine sheets, whose eastern character*? are a puzzle to the eye.