GENERAL SUMMARY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1910, 22 August 1863, Page 3

GENERAL SUMMARY.

LONDON, 26th June. The Australian April mails were delivered in London on the 12th and 17th June. Her Majesty continues in good health, and now appears often in public. On 10th June, the inauguration of a statue of the late Prince Consort took place with the greatest eclat. The Prince and Princess of Wales are everywhere received with unbounded enthusiasm. On the 24th June, a banquet was given at Willis' Booms, by Australian gentlemen in London to the new Governor of Victoria, who could not he present owing to illness. Notwithstanding his indisposition, he intended leaving in the Suffolk on the 26th June. The House of Commons declined to discuss the Polish question until Russia had answered distinctly the notes of the Three Powers. Fortnightly postal communication with Australia via Gatle still engages public attention, and will likely be carried out in about six months. Tbe Peninsular and Oriental Company are making the necessary preparations at King George's Sound. A deputation waited on the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on the subject of a mail service via Panama. Tbe answer was, that the Government were bound to reduce the public expenditure, but the Australian colonies could have the service provided they paid the entire cost themselves. Piojects of immigration to Queensland and Albertiand on a large scale have been made. They are inaugurated by tbe National Colo* nial Emigration Society. Great distress still exists in tbe manufacturing districts. A grand national celebration of the three hundredth birthday of Shakespeare is to be held in London on tbe 23rd April next, and a statue erected. The Crown prosecution of the builders of tbe alleged Confederate gunboat Alexandra, bas ended in a verdict for the defendants. The great cricket match between the United Eleren and tbe All England was won by the former club. At Ascot Races the gold vase was won by Adventurer ; the Derby by Queen Bertha ; and the gold cup by Voltigeur, Tim Whiffler second, after a dead beat. The grand prize Paris race, value £5000 ? was won by Mr Saville's Ranger.