The Express.
London, England, 1865-05-15 00:00:00

CHINA.

The ice at Tientsin broke up on the 11th March,
and communications with the south by see were
then resumed. No improvement has taken place
in trade.
The ports on the Yangtaie River are all in a pro-
mising condition. At lisokow all was quiet at the
date of last advises. No further news of the Ma-
hommedan rebels in that quarter had reached the
settlement. Our dates from Kiukiarig are to the
10th Hayek. The only thing stirring was tbe pas-
sage of braves to the war iu the North. Advices
from Chiukiang are to the 20th March. The trade
of the place is increasing most rapidly. The native
authorities are making great progress in clearing
the Grand Caual between Chinkiaug and Soochow.
Nankieg is being restored to the list of trading either,
after having been a rebel garrison for twelve years;
and it is hoped that business may be doue with it by
the agencies at Chinkiang, communication being
expected with Nankiug by the north bank of de
river. Opposite the Concession there is now a large
village of substantial Chinese bongs, where eighteen
months ago there was only a swamp. The Chinese
appear to be doing all they can to bring trade to the
plops. Two foreign hong. are commenced on the
Concession, and the building of jetties is going on
slowly. "Oar correspondents (says the China Mail)
express the very highest o nions of Chinkiang,
which, they say, is destined to rival libanghae is •
few years, being better situated as a key to the
middle and north of China."
From Peking the news relates to the members
taken by Sir Frederick Bruce to regulate the move-
ments of English visitors against whom complaints
have been made by the Chinese authorities. There
are many places of interest in the city which are
in private custody, and the owners or embodiers
hayefound that strangers are willing to pay sheen
see such places. Such fees are raised occasionally
from smaller te larger sum., and pirtlist
a Chandmisa, finding the thing pro6lo* taboo

VICTORIA. •
The new tariff has ant Weans law the govern-
ment having determined to hasp beak
the Malt-
tions until the estimates are passed, in order that
they may be embodied in the Appropriation Bill.
This course has been adopted, because it was con-
sidered that while the Upper Hfinse might throe
out the Tariff' Bill if it was traesmitted to it as a
separate measure, it would hesitate •to reject the
Appropriation Bill. There is a very strong feeling
that the Upper House, rather than allow itself to
be deprived of a voice in a matter, of such impor-
tanoe as a change in the fiscal policy of the oouutr7,
will resort to that extreme mode of expressing its
dbapprobation of so uneonstitutional an set. This '
state of incertitude naturally affects besieges to a
very considerable extent, importers and the trade
being alike indisposedvatzerate.
The Land Bill has the Legislative Council,
after a conference with the Legislative Assembly,
with less alteration tbari was at first expected. The
Upper House gave way on the majority of the '
points upon which they were at vedettes with the
other branch of the legislature, and the only im-
portant modification has beea the clause relating to •
novel industries.
Although the Confederate cruiser Shenandoah
had left Hobson's Bay it was thought that she was
still hovering about she Australian coast. It was
reported that she had been lying in one of the bays
at King's bland while her crew constructed another
desk Lee tie purpose ef further strengthening the
vessel. A strange craft bad been observed hovering
about, and from her build and general appearance
she was supposed to be the Shenandoah. Several
American vessels have entered the port since the
Confederate left.
The trial of the prisoners charged with commit-
ting a breach of the Foreign Enlistment Act in •
endeavouring to enlist in the Confederate service
on board the Shenandoah, took place in the Supreme
Conn on the 17th March, After taking the Whole
day, the trial resulted in the prisoners being found
guilty of an attempt to enlist, and were sentenced
to be imprisoned fur ten days.
The mining prospects of the colony still continue
to be satisfactory. Aitboagh no extraordinary finals
of gold or the existence of any new fields are re-
ported, still the yield bas been steadily maintained.
A large number of new companies have been placed
upon the market and launched into existence, and
many of thew have met with the confidence of the
community. The want of water has been severely
felt in many of the districts ; but it is hoped that
the proposed satheine on the part of the government
to supply the gold fields with water will speedily
obviate some of these difficulties.