The Express.
London, England, 1862-04-09 00:00:00

'A.USTRLLIA.

ARRTiAL OF THE GREAT BRITAIN.

The screw steamship Great Britain, Captain
Gray, of the Eagle and Black Ball line of Austra-
lian packets, arrived in the Mersey yesterday
afternoon, about four o'clock, having sailed
from Melbourne, in company with the ship
King of Italy, on the 30th of January, making
the passage in 68 days. The ship Yorkshire
sailed a few days previously. The Great Britain's
cargo includes 60,367 ounces of gold on freight, sonic
jewellery, and 465 passengers, of whom 84 were
saloon. The ship started to come home, as had been
announced, by the Cape of Good Hope, but after
continuing on that course for two days she was put
about and the usual route round Cape Horn adopted.
Light head winds and generally fine weather were
experienced nearly throughout the passage, so that
the excellence of the run compared with what clip-
per sailing vessels have lately accomplished may be
attributed to the steam power which the vessel pos•
sasses. Cape Horn was doubled on the 23rd of Fe-
bruary, in a perfect calm. The best day's running
was made on the 21st of February, when the vessel
logged 339 miles. The next best was on the 4th of
April, when 304 miles were accomplished. The
rest was all steady average steaming. Amongst
the cargo is the Australian contribution to the
International Exhibition, comprising 50 tons of
various goods.
The Great Britain left the following vessels at
Melbourne :—Donald M'Kay, Elizabeth A. Bright,
British Trident, Chariot of Fame, Zoboah, Blue
Jacket, and Morning Light.
On the 14th of March, in lat. 18.26, long. 29.58,
the Great Britain spoke the Petchelee, from Liver-
pool for Singapore, and on the same day spoke the
Rose, from Loudon for Alpe Bay, out 52 days.
On the 15th March, spoke the Thracian, from
London for Hobart Town.

We have advioes from Sydney to January 22.
Remarking on the affairs of New Zealand, the
Herold says :
If, se we have hoard, the privet° instructions to Governor
Grey are to make peace with the natives of New Zealand
at all sacrifices, then the proposals of his colonial secretory
are intelligible. There is a complete reversal of the
policy of Governor Browne—an utter repudiation
of the conditions which he proposed to the na-
tives—a total subjection of the colonial to the
aboriginal interest. When we say aboriginal in-
terest, we mean the demands of the natives, not the line
of action which would be in the long run conducive to
their pesos and prosperity. The land which the late
governor declared to be private property is now to be
disposed of by a tribunal of the most marvellous structure
—and to which none but the colonists will submit. Road-
making, as a right of government, is to be abandoned ;
mardiaers and thieves are to have the privilege of asylum ;
the future ask of land is to be submitted to the native
Ranging& ; and, finally, the Bing movement 11 to be no
longer opposed. It is justly remarked by the Soothers
Cron that the Wine of the war is to found an independent
kingdom in the centre of a British colony, having the pear
tip of victory both in the coma and in the bald.
THE ENGLISH CRICKETERS.
STuarT, XONDAT. Jai. 27.

The City of Sydney arrived punctually this moan-
ing with the English Eleven, who were landed a
little after seven, in the presence of fully 10,000
people. After an enthusiastic reception, they were
entertained at a champagne breakfast atTattersalra,
Mr. Arnold, Minister of Works, in the chair. They
are dining this evening at the Victoria Club, and
are highly gratified with their reception. They have
suffered so much from seersicimeas that they will
be unable to begin pixy until Wednesday ; the
match is therefore postponed to that day.

PROGRESS OF OTAGO.
The Otago Daily Titus of the 17th Feb. says :
The population of Otago is still on the increase, and the
gold fields continue to prove very productive to the
number of miners engaged in working them. Every
day tends to prove that gold exists in payable gnaw-
Aides over • large portion cd the province, sad that
gold mining will continue to form • profitable
pursuit to a large population for many years to come.
The most noticeable event during the lent month has
been the discovery of • new gold field on the Lemmerlew
Creek, neer its junction with the Walpori. Opinions
concerning it are more or leas conflicting, but
the general belief is that it will prove a valuable
addition to the already opened gold fields. As a
natural adjunct to increased population and large
geld traduce, Otago is showing increased pro-
mo in all the accessories of rapid colonisation. Its chief
town, Dunedin, is growing into a large city, and property,
es we understand, minuends • high value. Roads are
being made into the interior, and lines of ooecbm traverse
places where at one time it was matter of difficulty
for a horseman to pumas his way. The inland nevi.
ration of the rims Is being developed, and agricul-
tural and pastoral pumnits have been greatly stimulated
by the augmented population. The revenues are evincing
a most satisfactory return. They show a rateable increase
of 60 per cent on the estimates that were weal two months
gal" in which it was thought due allowances were made for
the additions consequent upon the gold discoveries. The
other provinces seem likely to share in the benefits
Otago is deriving. The land revenues of South-
land and Canterbury show an amazing increase. To
seek as extent we. this the case in the latter place, that the
Provincial Council has decided to buy up the first 60,0001.
of the debt contracted by the province for railway construc-
tion. A considerable feeling is being demonstrated in favour
of the separation of the two islands. The southern island
has everything to gain by it ; the northern, that is not
much accustomed to rely on it. own resources, considers
I I it will lose by the diernemberzeing.