NEWS BY THE MAIL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 136, 10 December 1875, Page 14

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Tho latest mail advices from England contain gloomy reports. During the recent floods in the Midland Counties, at Nottingham thirteen persons were drowned, and more than 3000 houses were inundated, and fifty factories stopped. At Burton-on-Trent six persons were drowned, and at Derby tho water is s bill several feet deep in tlie streets. Above Gainsborough the Trent has burst its, banks, and all the surrounding country is flooded. The loss of property is enormous,. The main line of the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railroad was washed away. All traffic was stopped for a time. Tip type for the ninth edition of the " Encyclopedia Britanniua " is being seb by machinery, and is working successfully. Nearly the whole of the i-ity of Virginia has been swept away by iirc. Theve is considerable distress amongst, the burnt-out citizens. The railroad lines, placing carriages at their disposal free of charge, take them to other parts of Union. Most of the mills have been burned, and work will be limited during the present winter. _ A letter from Hcniy Stanley, explorer, dated Victoria Kyanza, Africa, March 1, 1875, giving a highly interesting account of hi* 103 days' journey across the wilds of the African interior during his journey from 13agamogagt. At Kagohalii some of the party 'died of fatigue, famine, dysentry, and fever, while a number had to be left at Urimo. In the interior the people are noted for their manly forms, and are entirely naked. Pocock, a young English explorer, died at Chiwyn. I'ive of the party died* after four days' march. Several lights occurred with wild tribes, in which both sides suffered. Ihc natives of Xatura fought a three days' battle against the explorers. Stanley lost 21 men, and the natives 35 altogether With wars, famine, and disease, he had lost 1 25 men, all Africans, except Pocock. Two hundred dwellings, a .synagogue, and live schools in Widsy, Russian Poland, have been burned. Some persons perished, and 3000 persons are homeless. Hope is entertained that some of the passengers by the Pacific may yet be found. Over 200 sailors have been lost during the late gales in the North Sea. 26,000,0001" . were subscribed to relieve the distress caused I>y the recent inundations in France. Mrs. Black, the original of Byron's " Maid of Athens," died in Greece, aged 76. _ The King and Queen of Denmark and Princess Thyra intend visiting: England shortly. Sixty tons of small arms and amunition fur tho Chinese hare been shipped at London as merchandise. The Government is after the shippers. It is thought the Government will prosecute tho consignees of arms shipped hence to China during the recent negotiations. Several cargoes are now en route. They are betting in London that the Prince of Wales will I>e assassinated in India. A man in Dusseldorf, Prussia, lately murdered his wife and daughter because they ridiculed his red hair. There is said to be an average of (390,000 foot passengers cross London Bridge, and more than 116,000 horses in a week. Two-storoy railway coaches is the latest Swiss idea. Twelve cars are now being made for a branch line, which weigh ten tons, and have sixty-six seats each. During one week recently the London health authorities seized and destroyed two tons and twelve hundredweight of meat as unfit for human food, that had been exposed for sale in the market. Mr. Plimsolls war upon owners and agents of rotten sailingships has produced some good effect at least. German consuls at all British ports have received orders to prevent unsr.t worthy ships flying the German flag from putting 1 out. The Russian Government has published an edict compelling all Polish proprietors in the provinces of A Vienna, Grodno, Keens', Minsel, and Wilcpsk, to sell to Russian tenants the property leased by tho latter. Russia limits its exhibits at the Philadelphia Exhibition to specialities unknown out of Russia. A special from Alexandra reports that Lho people of Kada and White Nile have revolted, and defeated the Egyptian troops, killing •100 of them. Reinforcements will be sent. SHIPPING. For Otago — loading', cleared, and sailed: — Corona, 1,100 tons, at London, August 15 ; Margaret (xalbroith, 810 tons, sailed Sept. 28; C live, 846 tons, at London, September 6; Oxford, 1,281 tons, at London, September 20 ; Oamaru, 1,393 tons, at London, September 24 ; Rakaia, 1 ,022 tons, sailed, September 33 , Theseus, i)4S tons, at London, September 21 ; Wiltshire, sailed, September 20 ; Sir Lancelot, 1,(500 tons, to sail, November 10 j Orpheus, 2,000 tons, to sail, December 10; Meridamgen, 2,000 tons., to sail. November 30. The Oamaru is to sail on the 2Sth October. Freight to Otago from Glasgow, 35s to 40s per ton ; hull and box goods from London, rough measurement 30s, tine 40s ; liquids 45s ; cement, 50s ; per cask-weight, 30s ; bottled beer, Is per doz. ; salt, 35s per ton.

Improving the Danube. — The Austrian Government has commenced a series of improvements in the Danube .River, to nuike it navigable as far up us Vienna. The plan of General McAljune, of Albany, N.V., was chosen by the Austrian Government as the best, and ho was instructed to contract for the work in accordance with his specifications. A firm of New York contractors have agreed to do the work, and have just received their contract from tho Austrian Government. The contract amounts to 5,000.000d01.