EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE,

Otago Witness, Issue 331, 3 April 1858, Page 4

EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE,

The European intelligence by the December mail, which arrived at so late a period of the last week that we were enabled to give but few extracts, contains little news of importance. The meeting of Parliament, the state of trade, the late panic, and the war in India, were the chief topics of discussion. The very strong feeling which was manifested by the people of Great Britain at the fearful atrocities of the mutineers has but little abated. The events noticed are, however, old to us, and we have this week given to cur readers the latest news of the Indian war, to the 16th January. It is satisfactory, as showing the progress made in tranquilizing the mutinous districts.

Australian Mail Service. — The still disgraceful state of the mail service between England and Australia was brought under the notice of. Parliament on the 11th December by Alderman Cope-

land, who had given notice of a motion for a return of ail the vessels employed by the European and Australian Company. As no further returns could be furnished than those already before the House, he withdrew his motion, but took occasion to urge upon the Government the importance of expediting the performance of the new contract, by which it is to be hoped some improvement may be effected in our intercoarse with our Australian colonies. The whole case is discreditable in the last degree to the colonial department. The delays arising from the failure of the European and Australian Company in the performance of their engagements have occasioned the most serious inconvenience'to the general public, and inflicted heavy losses on the commercial community. It is understood that only one vessel employed by that company had actually performed the voyage in the stipulated time. Nor is it as yet quite certain that the West India Mail Company, with whom the new contract has been made, will be able to perform their undertaking more efficiently than their predecessors. They have promised largely, but done nothing up to the present time to justify the confidence they invoke. They will not be ready till May with full arrangements to carry out all the requirements of the service, and in the meanwhile the postal and passenger communications must get on as well as they can. Such is literally the condition in which the intercourse between this great empire and its ! richest colony is placed at the present moment. We "learn with deep regret that Dr. John Fleming, the distinguished Professor of Natural Science in the Free Church College here, died on Wednesday at two o'clock, of a spasmodic complaint. We believe he had nearly reached his 80th year, and until within a few days his activity seemed unabated. —Scotsman. In the latter end of November, a disastrous gale occurred on the coast of Banffshire, which resulted in the loss of several fishing boats and 42 fishermen. The following are the melancholy results :—: — Fishermen Widows

j It is somewhat remarkable (says the " Morning Herald") that the three dissentting preachers who attract the largest audiences on Sundays, in the three greatest towns in the kingdom are Baptists, namely, Mr. C. H. Spurgeon, in London; Mr. Arthur Murseli, at the Free Trade Hall, Manchester ; and Mr. Hugh Stowell Brown, at the Lord Nelson Street Concert Hall, Liverpool. Two more volumes of Lord Macaulay's history, bringing it down to the end of the reign of Queen Anne, are approaching completion ; and it 3aid that they will be published shortly after the completion of the cheap edition now in course of issue in monthly volumes. Dr. Merle D'Aubignee, the Genevese historian of the Reformation, took an active part in the late Berlin convention, discoursing in three languages. According to descriptions of him he has grown gray with age and labour, and would hardly be recognised from the current portraits. Our Australian Governors.—The salaries of the Governors of the Australian colonies are as follows :—New South Wales, Sir William Denison, 7000/; Victoria, Sir Henry Barkly, 10,000Z; Tasmania, Sir H. E. Fox Young, 4000Z, and a colpnial allowance of 2500Z for contingent expenses; South Australia, Sir Richard Graves Macdonnell, 4000Z; Western Australia, Mr. Arthur Edward Kennedy, 1800Z: and New Zealand, Colonel Thomas Gore Brown 3500?. FRANCE. It is said that a conference will shortly be held in London, between the representatives of France and England, to settle what is, and what is not, slave traffic. The new plan by which the French Government proposes to engage negroes on the west coast of Africa as free labourers in its West Indian colonies, might obviously lead to a conflict between the Eng • lish cruisers and the French ships. The proposal to come to a distinct understanding emanates from France, the Government of which is of opinion that the engagement of free labourers is a better mode of stopping the .traffic in slaves than any preventive measures. PRUSSIA. The effects of the crisis are now showing themselves in Prussia, where a great number of manufacturers are obliged, more or less, to suspend their works. BELGIUM, The great contest is over; the electors have delivered their verdict by an imposing majority in favour of the liberal policy. The new cabinet has obtained a majority such as no cabinet

has had for a long time in Belgium. As we have stated, there were one hundred and eight members to be elected. Of these 70 belong to the liberal side, and only 38 to the opposition. In the great towns, the majority of liberal votes was immense. Although there has seldom been a more severe struggle, it has been remarked with no small astonishment that the most perfect order • reigned throughout the country, and the Tew symptoms of riot which did appear were immediately suppressed. j

c 'ortknockie, . iuckie, , 'ortgordon . drowned 18 15 9 i. left. 12 8 7 left. 34 22 23 Totals, . 42 27 79