The Otago Witness

Otago Witness, Issue 747, 24 March 1866, Page 10

The Otago Witness

DUNEDIN, SATURDAY, MARCH 24.

The telegraphic message from the Bluff, transmitting the principal items of intelligence by the English Mail, which should have reached the Daily Times and Witness office, by ten o'clock on Thursday Morning, was received at intervals yesterday. The first portion of it, in consequence of the regulations lately issued, was received between eleven and twelve o'clock ; but the whole message was not completed until half-past four o'clock in the afternoon. The consequence of the repeated delays that occurred wa<=, that two editions of the English news were issue J, while that from Victoria, having special reference to the Colony, was not printed until too late for circulation last evening. These interruptions were the more vexatious on account of the more than ordinary interest of the news. It is not so much the political items that affect the Colony, but one of the most disastrous shipwrecks on record, involving the loss of several friends and relatives of residents in Victoria and the Colonies, has occurred. The London, a favorite and nearly new emigrant ship, with a great number of passengers outward bound from London, foundered in the Bay of Biscay. Of these, only three were saved. On looking over the list of names, there are many of well known and respected colonists who have perished, but the terrible calamity has come home to Dunedin from the fact that the family of Mr Justice Chapman are among the number. The sympathy felt by all classes with Hia Honor in his bereavement is heartfelt and general ; and although the wound of the spirit will be both deep and lasting, it will be consoling, when the first rude shock has past over, for him to know that hi 3 sorrow is- shared in by his fellow citizens. The full particulars of the wreck are not to hand, but enough is known to cast a very general gloom over tiie public mind.

Turning from this painful topic to the general intelligence, it is gratifying to find that for the time the war party in America has been defeated. A motion was introduced into the Senate requesting the President to recal the American Ambassador from England on acconnt of her refusal to entertain the claims for compensation for losses sustained through the cruise of the Alabama, which was negatived by a majority of thirteen. This is virtually a declaration of a desire for the maintenance of peace. In fact nothing more suicidal could have been done, than for the States to rush into war with England. But taking into consideration that the war excitement cannot be considered at an end, that mena's passions have even yet hardly bad time to cool after the anxiety and turmoil of civil contest, and that on the part of a large section of the population, feelings of deadly hostility to Great Britain are industriously fostered and disseminated, the resolution arrived at must be considered a triumph. Each year as it passes will intertwine the interests of the two countries, and multiply the number of those interested in the maintenance of peace, and if nothing fresh occurs to interrupt the friendly relations now subsisting with the majority, increased commercial intercourse

will but tend to render a breach less likely. Beyond the opening of the Imperial Parliament and tbe account oi a repetition of the insane efforts of the Fenians in the United States, our English telegraphic intelligence contains little of interest. Late in the afternoon the telegraphic message, which had occupied so long in transmission, was completed by some items •of Victorian intelligence, of unusual interest. We insert these in preference to further remarks, and they will be found- in the usual columns.