The Sun.
London, England, 1861-04-13 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SAT URD

INDIA.

By the arrival of the Overland Mail we have
received letters and papers from Calcutta to
March 8. Of the famine the Englishnzan says :
In the north-west week follows week and still
little or no change takes place in the scene where
famine is, as yet, the most prominent feature. In
our last overland we congratulated ourselves on the
chances of an improvement, and we wish we
could more positively repeat those congratula-
tions now. But our news, though scanty, is far
from encouraging. As we said before, every pos-
sible means have been tried that money or energy
could compass, but there is a hitch somewhere.
The central committee have balances in their hands;
but the local committees either will not apply for,
or cannot obtain, assistance when they require it.
Col. Baird Smith is on his tour, as special famine
eommissioner, but as yet there has not been time
to hear of any reports from him. Rain has not
fallen, and irrigation is now becoming a matter of
much and serious interest. Experiments have been
suggested, and the subject is now occupying the
attention of some of the most intelligent engineers
in India. Setting aside the present evil, and look-
ing only to the future, there is a pressing necessity
for the introduction of some economical and efficient
scheme for preventing the recurrence of such pain-
ful events, so far as human power can avail. It is
to be hoped that such scenes as we daily read of—
boys dropping dead before dak bungalows, and
2,000 dead bodies seen by one regiment on its down-
ward march from Cawnpore, will call forth all the
talent and energy we may have at our disposal to
prevent our ever reading the like again.
The prospects of the indigo districts are described
as being very bad. The disposition of the ryots to
refuse payment of their rent is said to have assumed
" a formidable aspect." Mr. Lushington reports :
Except among native zemindars, whose ryots
rarely ever think of refusing to obey their
demands, the prospects are very limited. In
the Bengal Indigo Company's district only 9,000 bee-
gahs have been sown again st 76,0001a5t year, and the
greater part of this quality is south of Bongong,
where at present the ryots pay rent readily, and
have taken advances. At Jingergatcha, Bauns-
barea, Katli, and Hobrah, and some others, the
concerns are nearly closed. _ _

A cemmission has been appointed in Calcutta to
report on the arrangements necessary for carrying
out the amalgamation of the armies. The work will
occupy six months.
On the 6th ult. Lord Canning, as Chancell©r of
the Calcutta University, conferred the degree of
bachelor of arts and bachelor of law on a number
of young men. including one Christian, several
Hindoos, and a few Mahommedans. The ceremony
took place in the Town-hall, before a large audience
representing all classes.. Lord Canning, in a speech
of half-an-hour's duration, reviewed the history of
the university and the state of education generally,
urging the importance of doing more for the higher
classes, through whom alone we shall ultimately
attain that desirable object, the government of
India by Indians.

CALCUTTA COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
CALCUTTA, MARCH 7.

The Bombay express, with dates to the 4th Feb-
ruary, reached Calcutta yesterday, and the mail
steamer may be hourly expected to arrive at Ceylon,
bringing news to February 11.
PRODUCE MARKET.—The amount of business
transacted during the interval elapsed since our
former report has been very limited; rates have
not suffered any serious decline, the stocks of
nearly all descriptions of produce are increasing,
owing to the almost entire withdrawal of the re-
gular shippers for the present.
IMPORT MARKET.—The slight improvement
noticed in last report cannot be said to have con-
tinued. Advices of large shipments have mainly
contributed to check any improvement in rates ;
a considerable business has been doing within the
last few days, but at barely remunerative prices.
GOVERNMENT SECURITIES.—The purchase of a
few lacs of 51 per cent. paper for remittance to
Bombay is the only change to be noted in Govern-
ment Securities.

FREIGHTS.—No important change to note; ton-
nage is more plentiful ; this, added to the circum-
stance of the continued high price of all exportable
produce, tends materially to check any speculation.
Former rates are maintained.

half sterling, whilst the probable available income
from the established sources, rose only to three mil-
lions. The ministry proposed to make up the dif-
ference by imposing new taxes on certain articles
of luxury, on stamps, and some other duties. But
the Assembly met them at once with an emphatic
refusal to sanction any new fixes, and a demand for
sweeping retrenchment. At length, after several
nights of sharp discussions an amendment was
moved by Mr. Joseph Wilk* a member for one of
the country districts, and seconded by Dr. Evans,
to the following effect :—" That the estimates sub-
mitted by the government tie withdrawn, with a
view to their readjustmetit, so that the whole
amount of expenditure may lie brought within the
revenue for 1861, as estimited by them at three

millions, and that no reduct
timates for roads and bridge
representative bodies durin
for the supply of water to ti

be made on the es-
orin the aid for local
the present year, or
goldfields."

This amendment was carr
to 27. The ministry took
their position, and the nem
announced that, after what 1
previous night, the ministr3
signation in the hands of t,
his excellency had been pleas
conditional on their holding
cessors were appointed. He NI
ment of the position in whichi
by the adverse and somewhq
the house, concluding that thl
the business of the country
imposed upon them. A vote ck
for the payment of salaries
was then taken, and the lu
week. This was on the 31st Ji
date till Feb. 16 the publicli
stand-still.

;d-by a majority of 34
day to consider upon
evening Mr. Heales
id taken place on the
had placed their re-
e Governor, and that
id to accept the same,
offiee until their sue.
n t into a brief state-.
ley found themselves
conflicting votes of
could not. carry on
nder the restrictions
300,000 in advance
d current liabilities
e adjourned for
nary, and from that
"ikesq v 94 at a dead

On Feb. 15, Mr. Heales anniunced in the Asse-
mbly that his Excellency had requested himself and
his colleagues to resume °Kee and that they had
consented to do so. When thqt;ouse next met, M.
Heales went at some length into a statement of the
financial position in which the ministry felt them,
selves placed when they resigned office ; and stated
that he and his colleagues hadAgone over. the esti-
mates of their respective deArtments, and up to
the present time they found thy could make reduc-
tions to the amount of £300,000. He then asked
for a week's further intervaltto allow of the revi-
sions in the estimates being f 417 carried out.' OR
Tuesday next the main busin.iss of the session will
recommence. This is exactly4he ministerial 'pc:4i.:
tion at the moment we write'*
Of the goldfields the Argueiirrites—
Owing to various causes, thiii total 'yield of gold
has been well maintained urtto the present time,
and there is little reason now ip.expect any falling
off during the remainder ofthe year which has,
commenced so hopefully. Oily a few days since'
enormously rich quartz was struck in the ground,
the gold being taken out in pieces estimated by
pounds instead of ounces, and Tarrengower is fast
resuming its place of pre-eminence as a gold pro-
ducing district.
We take from the same paper the following sum-
mary of monetary and commercial matters—
Money for temporary investment is still abund-
ant. The public companies having occasion to invest
capital on first class mortgages with ample mar-
gin, find some difficulty in placing out the sums at
their disposal. The bank rates of discount continue
as follow :—For two months' bills, 7 per cent. per
annum; for three months', 8 per cent.; for four
months', 9 per cent. ; for over four months', 10 per
cent. ; for cash credits, 10 per cent.; for overdrawn
accounts, 12 per cent. Interest is allowed on time
deposits at the following rates :—For deposits, at 30
days' notice, from 11 to 2 per cent, per annum; at
three months' notice, from 2 to 21 per cent.; at six
months' notice, from 4 to 41 per cent.
The selling rates of exchange on England are
quoted at par for 60 days' sight for large amounts;
and 1 per cent. prem. for 30 days' sight for bills
under £5O. Freight on gold by sailing vessels is
from 2d. to 3d. per ounce, delivered in London ; in-
surance. 11 per cent. By the overland route, the
freight to the Bank of England, including insur-
ance and transit duty, is 2 per cent. ; exclusive of
insurance, 1 per cent.
From Sydney we learn that the general state of
affairs had undergone no considerable change since
the departure of the last mail. The prospects of
the gold fields are described as encouraging, but
some serious disturbances had occurred at one of
them, at a place called " Lambing Flat." We
abridge the *Sydney Herald's account of the matter :
On Sunday, 'Jan. 27, a meeting of miners and
others, called by regular public notice, was held at
Golden Point, Lambing Flat, for the purpose of de-
ciding " whether Burrandong is a European or a
Chinese territory." Over 1,500 persons assembled
on the occasion, and, from the advertised object of
the meeting, the staple of the speeches made on the
occasion may be readily imagined. The chairman,
a Mr. Charles Allen, storekeeper, in complimenting
the Lambing Flat men on their orderly conduct,
said that "the assault on the shanties and gambling
houses was a sufficient guarantee that they only
desired a good state of society, and their previous
affair with the Chinese was Proof that they only
wished to be rid, as peaceably as possible, of a nui-
sance to them all."

THE WAR IN NEW ZEALAND.

(From the Melbourne Argus.)

Via Sydney, we have intelligence from the sea
of war up to the 11th Feb., thus giving us four
weeks' later news than we were enabled to forward
by the last mail.
It is gratifying for us to be able to state that our
successes have lately been invariable, the natives
having been defeated with considerable loss on
several occasions, our own casualties being fortu-
nately comparatively few. After the capture of the
Waikato stronghold at Matarikoriko, on the 31st
Dec., no general engagement took place until Jan.
23, the troops, however, not remaining idle, but
large bodies of them being employed in throwing
up a series of redoubts in front of a very formidable
position, in which the natives, to the number of
about 2,000, had entrenched themselves at Huirangi.
The redoubts were thrown up for the purpose of
approaching the position, a very formidable one—
standing on an eminence, and commanding the
country for miles around, and guarded on all points.
Whilst this was being done numerous small skir-
mishes took place between the Maories and our
troops, the former doing everything in their power
to annoy the soldiers while at their work, and to
prevent their completing the redoubts. In order
the better to accomplish this, the Maories formed a
number of rifle pits, extending over a space of a
mile and a quarter, which they found of the greatest
use in their skirmishes with our working parties
and the men covering them. The redoubts were all
constructed in the face of a very heavy fire from the
enemy, which, fortunately, was not well directed,
or our loss would have been great. One of the re-
doubts, which was completed on the 18th January,
was so commanding as to render the natives' posi-
tion almost untenable, and the grand assault on
Huirangi was therefore fixed for the 21st ult., but
this was subsequently postponed, for the purpose
of throwing up another redoubt, whiea was done
on the night of the 22d, and a double sap in a
direct line commenced to the enemy's position.
The Maories having become fully aware that
the success of these operations on the part of the
British must eventuate in their being driven
from Huirangi, determined to act as assailants, and
to attack redoubt No. 3, which was the most
advanced, and this they did on the night of the
23d January. The garrison of the redoubt was
under the command of Colonel Leslie, of the 40th
Regiment, and consisted of 20 men of the Royal
Artillery, 18 of the Royal Engineers, 294 of the
40th, and 9 of the Naval Brigade—in all 341 with
two guns. During the action the garrison was
reinforced by 80 of the 12th Regiment, under the
orders of Captain Miller, and 150 of the 12th Regi-
ment, commanded by Captain M'Gregor.
The attack commenced at half-past three o'clock
a.m. on the 23d of January a storming party of

the enemy having crept up through the fern and
effected a lodgment in the ditch on the left face of
the redoubt, and having a strong support about
100 yards in their rear, as well as a line of skir-
mishers on all flanks of the redoubt. The plan of
the enemy appeared to be to keep down the fire of
our men on the parapets by their support, and
by their line of skirmishers while the storming
party scaled the left face of the redoubt.
The British force was under arms previous to