ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 72, 2 October 1852, Page 4

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

[From late Colonial Papers.]

The French are to have a Crystal Palace of their own in the Champ Elysees; it is even said that the Government are in treaty with Messrs. Fox and Henderson for the purchase of the frame building in Hyde Park ; on the other hand, great efforts are being made on this side the water to retain the Exhibition building in its present condition. Public meetings have been held and resolutions passed, calling upon those wishing to join in the proposal to come forward with subscriptions towards the purchase of the edifice. The contractors have endeavoured to enlist the public still further in the course by giving promenades with military music within the building. On the 2nd April seven regimental bands were in the palace, which, with Nellio's great organ, sent their strains through the beautiful glass structure, to the delight of about 80,000 visitors.

A " Great Exhibition" of Indian produce and manufactures was to be undertaken in 1853 by the East India Company.

Further Discovery of Gold. — By letters received from Port Victoria, Vancouver's Island, dated the 10th of January, it appears that gold in considerable quantities, and of great purity, has been discovered at Queen Charlotte's Island. One correspondent writes : — " Several vessels have recently returned from Q. C. Island, the severity of the winter not permitting mining operations. Gold has been discovered there in great abundance. Several fine specimens have been traded from the natives by the Hudson's Bay Company, and it is expected that in the course of the spring the mines will prove richer than California, as the gold is supposed to be of a finer quality, and the veins in the quartz rock superior to any that have been discovered on the coast of the Pacific."— Times.

With reference to this, the " Times," in its City Article of April 2, says :—": — " The discovery of gold in Queen Charlotte's Island, one of the British possessions north of Vancouver's Island, has been satisfactorily established. A report to that effect was mentioned in the last American papers, and its accuracy is confirmed by advices received in London. It appears that the Hudson's Bay Company having been informed of the probable existence of deposits in that quarter, despatched a brigantine called the " Una," with a small crew to Englefield Bay, on the west side of the Island (the spot indicated), and that after a short search, an extremely rich vein of quartz was laid open. The vein was about seven inches in width at the surface, and its course was from the shore to the interior. The party had no means of obtaining any specimens except by gunpowder, but they succeeded in extracting some considerable pieces, which are now on their way to England, which are alleged to contain, as well as could be estimated, 1 lb. of pure gold to every 7 lbs. of ore. In the course of their operations they penetrated to a depth of about two feet, and found the vein more valuable as they descended. The Island is inhabited solely by Indians, who are both numerous and formidable ; and although they are generally friendly to the Hudson's Bay people, it was not considered safe for a small number of persons to attempt any lengthened operations. A knowledge of the value of the gold seems to have been acquired by them, and they watched the process of blasting, rushing forward in a crowd after each explosion to scramble for the fragments, until the officer in charge of the expedition deemed it advisable to withdraw to avoid the chanoes of a collision. The weather at the time was also unfavourable to a lengthened stay, and on her return to Fort Victoria, Vancouver's Island, the vessel was driven ashore at Neah Bay, in the straits of Juan de Fuca. Another and stronger party have, however, been despatched, and in a short time a report of further explorations may be anticipated. Queen Charlotte's Island and Vancouver's Island are both mountainous ; and from the similarity of their formation, it would seem probable that if one is found to be rich, the other may possess a similar character.

The tide of emigration from Germany has set in this year earlier and stronger than ever. From Holstein, rather than submit to the severe measures of the Danish officials — from electoral Hesse, to escape the Government of Hessenpflug— from Schwarzburg, Soderhausen, Eisenach, and generally speaking, from the inland States, to escape starvation — from Hanover and Prussia least of all. It would take up too much space to give the various items of the numerous bands which are flocking to Hamburg and Bremen by every train. Their sums amount to hundreds and thousands, and hundreds more are detained at home only by the impossibility of converting their little properties into money, or even by the difficulty of transporting these masses. Their destinations are the United States, Mexico, and even Brazil,

in spite of the constantly recurring evil tidings of the miserable fate of their brethren who have preceded them there, but none sail for Australia. — Atlas, April 10.

There is a story told of the Duke of Wellington, being in his seat in the Lords, summoned the Bishop of Oxford to his side to repeat the names of the new Ministers. At each name the Duke made some significant growl or nod ; but when the Colonial Secretary was mentioned, he bawled out, " Who, who ? Pakington ? — never heard of such a gentleman."

The South Seas surveying expedition, commanded by Captain Denham, consists of the " Herald," old frigate, at Chatham, and the " Torch," iron steam vessel, 350 tons, and 150 horse power, at Woolwich, as her tender. Mr. M'Gillevray late with Captain Owen Stanley, proceeds with Captain Denham as the naturalist. The expedition, 146 officers and men, was to leave England early in June, and will be engaged in surveying operations probably about five years.

The Russian force in the Baltic at the present moment numbers 42 sail of the line, all powerfully equipped, ably manned, extensively stored, and ready for action.

There had been a long and interesting discussion on the Kaffir war, on taking the vote of £460,000 fo» its expenses.

Everywhere the note of preparation was being sounded for the approaching general election. The Carlton Club is said to have subscribed £150,000 for the purpose of aiding in the election of Conservative members. The Anti-Corn-Law League were not the less active. The struggle was expected to be more severe than any since the passing of the Reform Bill.

The penny subscription towards the fund for erecting a monument to the memory of the late Sir R. Peel has been wound up. The total amount is £1,737 os. 6d., and larger subscriptions has been promised. The accounts having been audited, it was resolved that the money should be placed in the funds in the names of Lord John Russell, Sir Jas. Graham, and Mr Hume, as trustees.

At a meeting of the members of the Metropolitan Freehold Land Society, just held, it was stated that the number of societies in England alone was 170, and the number of members enrclled was 200,000, whilst the amount of subscriptions invested was £300,000 a year.

In striking contrast with the struggles, and the excitement of parties political, who amongst them endeavour to govern England, the Prince President of France is showing the world how easily all this may be managed by one man having the nerves necessary — how much trouble, time, and wordy warfare may be saved by ruling a country after his Neapoleonic fashion — governing it by edicts. What in England requires many nights of anxious debates and numerous divisions, is accomplished in France by a stroke of Louis Napoleon's pen. He wills it, and it is decreed. His budget is not discussed — that would be far too troublesome and tedious — he simply DECREES it. He has not only reshaped the French Constitution by decree, but he has remodelled the army, the bench, and the universities by DECREE. More recently he has by a simple decree converted the five per cent, rents into four and a half stock, by which means the State gains annually, at the expense of the stockholders, about eighteen millions and a half of francs. The restrictions on the press are now most complete ; not only are the whole of the journals under the most stringent censorship, but every private printing-office is narrowly watched as well as licensed. Every writer has now to consider whether his effusions will stand the searching criticism of Mons. Persigny. The wittiest sallies of the " Charivari," and the gravest disquisitions of philosophy, have alike to pass the ordeal of the imperious republican dictator.