INDIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 556, 26 July 1862, Page 6

INDIA.

(From the Madras Atltcnceuin and Statesman, June 10.)

Feelixo in the Northern Provinces. — That uneasy feeling relative to the insecure state of political affairs in the Northern Provinces of British India, to which we lately drew attention, appears to be gaining ground. The Moftmilile of the 27th ult. has a warning article on the subject, republished by us, coi roborative of admonitory hints thrown out by the Delhi Gazette. Englishmen, he thinks, are not half so w<>ll prepared as they ought to be for " coming storms," the presages of which nre thickening around them. The abhorred income-tax, " tfie most searohingly disagreeable, aud wearisomely unprofitable invention ever applied to Asiatic finance ;" the now penal code, suddenly launched upon a disaffected public ; and other exciting causes, have, our contemporaries are of opinion, alienated the native mind to an extent that is menacing, and which renders it expelient that the British and Eurasian population should be generally well firmed, so as to have the means of self-defence at hand, in the event of emergency. (From the Madras Athenaum and Statesman.

June 15.) A Novel Case. — A novel case, connected with the native armies, has arisen in Bengal ; — A native officer in one of the Bangal regiments has applied to Government for leave to 0:0 to Enslfu.d. on private affairs, for two years. As far as this Government is concerned, there appeared to be no objection to a native officer getting furlough to Europe for one year, with his usual pay for nine months, and net pay for three mouths but the individual proposing to take thi.s furlough was given to understand that it must be taken in lieu 01 the usual leave to vWt their homes granted to native oflijei-s and soldiers. The matter has been referred for the decision of the Secretary of State for India, which, xvu presume, will be in favor of the application, since, to use the words of the Englishman, who repoi-te the case, "the visits of natives to England strengthen our empire in Indip."

(From the Domini/ Time.*, May2t.) Officers Unkmvloyed. — There are now, in the three Presidencies of India, not far under a thousand jouug officers supernumerary, u&elr ss, and positively without, any project of an aytive military career before them. To us iiiis announcement has something frightful about it — what must it prove to the relatives and friends of the.se unfortunately-placed young men] Government should look to this alarming condition of the army, for which, whatever may be the explanation, its culpability and responsibility are beyond denial, Ib would surely be better thr.t these younjr officers shutild be removed from the delusion of military service, and return into private life whilst they nre &till young enough to commence some new career.

WrrOs op a Eritisii Ship in Bombay Harbor — The ship Beeciiwortk, Frayne, commander, 1266 tons, bound to Liverpool with cargo of cotton anil seeds valued at £100,000, was wrecked on the 12th of May, in the Bombay Harbor, haviug grounded on the south-west end of Carauja Hhotil.