The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-07-04 00:00:00

Newcast

ion of a clause
gamation bill making it compulsory
ght up their third-class carriages after dark

to consent to the Eli,

• SINGL-LA.R DEATlL—Amongst the passengers who
escaped from the wreck of the Eroslano was a Mr.
Knight. As he was sinking, his wife caught at him, and,
in her convulsive agony, bit him in the shoulder. She
sunk to rise no more ; he was saved, but has just died
from the effects of the wound on his shoulder.

A TOWN ON FIRE.—A fearful scene' might have been
witnessed in the little town of Olney, Buckinghamshire,
on Tuesday afternoon. A fire broke out in its principal
street, and the wind blowing briskly, and the houses
being thatched, nearly sixty dwellings were burnt to the
ground, the conflagration only stopping at the end of the
street. Many of the poor inhabitants lost the whole of
their furniture , and between three and four hundred
women and children had to take shelter during the night
in the national school-room. The occurrence was accidental.

Nzw PLOUGM—At the recent annual meeting of the
Agricultural Association of the Siene•et-Marne, the first
premium was awarded for a self-acting. plough, invented
and exhibited by a small farmer named Brueyr, which,
when set in motion, worked itself to the end of the furrow,
and then, being turned, worked back again.
TIIE EMPEROR OP AUSTRIA, in order to give an
agreeable surprise to the young Empress during her late
visit to Ploschkowitz, had a room in that chateau fitted up
precisely similar to that which she occupied at Possen-
hofen ; and her Majesty even found on a table some fancy-
work which she had left unfinished when she quitted her
paternal residence.

GOLD.—Twenty-five million pounds' value of gold, our
Australian files tell us, have been heaved to the surface in
Victoria alone during the last two years, or rather more
than a million pounds' value per month. Of this, we
are told, about nine millions sterling lies in the banks,
bearing no interest, and consequently producing nothing
for the depositors. The small proportion of three millions
only has been invested in direct purchase of land ; the
balance is in the shops of Melbourne or Geelong, or still in
the hands of the diggers.
SHIPBUILDING AT SUNDERLAND.—There are now
building at Sunderland 94 ships of various burthens, from
150 to 1,400 tons, of all classes, a number of which are
13 years. There are also at that port, launched and fit-
ting. out, 17 new ships of various burthens, the largest of
which is about 1,000 tons, amongst which are several high
class ships.—Shipping Gazette.
BILL STEALING.—The bill, as amended, for the better
prevention and punishment of fraudulent dealings in bills
of exchange and promissory notes, has been printed.
There are seven clauses in the bill, which, when passed, is
to be called " The Bills of Exchange Frauds Prevention
Act, 1854." The object of this measure is to prevent
fraudulent dealings in bills or notes placed in the hands
of parties to be discounted. A person is to be guilty of
felony for obtaining by fraud a signature to a bill or
note, and every person fraudulently appropriating the
money got as discount to be guilty of a misde-

m eanour.
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN COMPANY.—At the meeting of
this company, held on Wednesday, a satisfactory report
was presented. The income for the past year is stated at
£22,438, being an increase of £1,202 over that of the pre-
vious year. A. further increase of £1,176 has been made
to the permanent income since the 31st October, when the
accounts in the colony were closed. During the present
year it is expected that the rental will be increased up-
wards of £2,000. A dividend at the rate of six per cent.
per annum was declared. From the opening of the
navigation of the Murray, a great increase of trade is
expected to accrue to Port Adelaide. At no former
period, it is stated, has the colony enjoyed a greater degree
of prosperity. The railway between Adelaide and the port
is already commenced.
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BANKING COMPANY.—At a meet-
ing of this company, held on Tuesday, the dividend de-
clared was at the rate of 14 per cent., and the report and
accounts were unanimously adopted. The chairman, in
referring to the progress of business, stated that it was
based on sound operations, and that the amount proposed
to be distributed had been legitimately earned. In
answer to questions it was mentioned that local improve-
ments are being carried out, and that the colony will be
much benefited by the completion of railway facilities.
Through the absence however, of an adequate supply of
labour, public works cannot at present be vigorously pro-
ceeded with.
THE EMPEROR AND TUE CONJUROR.—The travelling
"wizard," Professor Anderson, at a recent performance
in Glasgow, told his audience that—" Many years ago,
when Louis Napoleon was in London, and his fortunes
were not in the ascendant, he had the honour of lending
the prince £5OO. He had been most honourably repaid,
and in addition to this, the Emperor had just now invited
him to visit Paris, an invitation which he intended to
accept, his only regret being that it would compel him to
abridge his season in Glasgow by at least twelve days."
The Emperor, it appears, has seen this statement as
reported in a local paper, and thought it necessary to
give it a public contradiction ; at any rate, a letter
appeared from M. Mocquard, "Le secretaire de l'Empe-
reur, Chef du Cabinet, in the Times of Tuesday last,
stating that " l'Empereur n'a jamais connu, jamais vu, le
Professeur Anderson ;" adding that his Majesty declares
this formally, and desires that his declaration may receive
the necessary publicity.

BRITISH hiPOB T 8 •I
TO AMERICA.—It appears from a
Parliamentary paper that the declared value of the pro-
duce and manufactures of the United Kingdom exported
to the United States and British possessions in North
America in each of the last seven years, was as follows
United States. British Possessions in
North America.
1847 £10,974,161 1847 £3,233,051
1848 9,564,909 1848 1,990,659
1849 11,971,028 1849... 2,280,883
1850 14,891,961 1850 3,235,051
1851 14,362,976 1851 3,813,707
1852 16,667,737 1852 3,065,364
1853

Tmi SULPHUR TRAWL—It appears that the prohibition
by the King of Naples of the export of sulphur to the ports
of the belligerent powers is confirmed. The importance of
this article as regards the manufacture of gunpowder is
trivial, the quantity used for that purpose not exceeding a
fiftieth part of the total annually taken by this country.
It is in a multitude of manufacturing and chemical
operations that its deficiency will be felt, and in this re-
spect the interests involved are so large, both in England
and France, that it may be assumed the measure will com-
mand the immediate attention of the respective govern-
ments. The yearly value of the trade to the people of
Sicily is estimated at nearly half a million sterling, and it
employs about 100,000 tons of shipping.
AN INDIAN PANIC.—The Czar's ships in the Eastern
seas have excited quite a panic. Calcutta, Bombay, Singa-
pore, and Hongkong have all been overhauling their forti-
fications, and preparing to give the Russian Admiral such
a reception as his visit would deserve. In Bombay we
have been particularly active. Artillery and Sappers and
Miners have been brought down from Poonah, guns have
been mounted in every practicable position, and furnaces
for red-hot shot placed ready for action. All these pre-
parations would, however, avail but little were the Czar's
squadron to make its appearance in the harbour, but of
that there is no danger. The fleet, under the command
of Sir James Stirling, will soon clear the seas of the Rus-
sians. The Russian squadron only consists of five vessels,
the largest of which is a 60-gun frigate, and the smallest
an 18-gun corvette. The natives are, nevertheless, very
much alarmed. Many of the wealthier have already buried
their money and their ornaments, and are prepared to
start up country on the first alarm. The Marwarries and
some of the native Soucars have ceased altogether invest-
ing their money in the banks or other local institutions,
and declare that as soon as the Russians arrive every rupee
in the place will be seized. The fright would be simply
ridiculous, were it not so much calculated to create a fool-
ish alarm in the place. The Russian fleet in the Eastern
seas has not a single steamer among its vessels, and any
three of the Indian navy steamers would soon give a
good account of the enemy, even were every available
Russian ship sent to Bombay.—Bombay Telegraph.

FRIGIITFUL HuazicAxs.—The Indian Mail brings
fearful accounts of the ushering in of the monsoon in Bur-
mali on the 23rd April by a tornado, which extended
several hundred miles into the interior and occasioned
much loss of life on the Irrawaddy and its affluents. A
fleet of 35 boats left Moulmein on the 19th ult., having on
board the head-quarters of the 38th Madras Native
Infantry and the third of a company of European Artillery
for Sitang and Shewgeen. They were caught, it seems, in
the terrific gale of the 23rd., when about thirty miles
below Sitang. One boat's company have reached Pegue,
and reported that the " bore" came mountains high, and
'caused the whole of the rest of the fleet to disappear.
Lieut.-Colonel Johnstone, who was proceeding to join his
regiment at Tongoo, being in a good boat, weathered the
" bore" and the wind, and got safe into Sitang, where,
however, he was robbed of all he possessed by the Burmese.
He saw, it is said, ten boats, with men in them, go down.
What has become of the other twenty-five boats is not
known. The Burmese, however, were of opinion that
many of those missing when the accounts left might yet
turn up from creeks in which they had sought shelter.
"In Rangoon," says the Bombay Chronicle:—"Barracks
and houses were unroofed, the Government bazaar was de-
stroyed, trees were torn up, and, from the quantity of rain
which, fell the foundations of many houses were loosened.
One native schooner went down in the river, and the Pluto
steamboat, which was proceeding from Moulmein to Bassein,
with 300 troops on board, was seen making signals of dis-
tress. From the latest news we gather that this boat had
been able to put back to Moulmein, but with the loss of
cargo and guns. The head-quarter detachment of the Bth
Irregular Cavalry that marched from Prome have had to
come back. They returned on the Ist, having found the
whole country two feet deep under water. The troops are
healthy, and the condition of the province of Pegue is
decidedly improving. 'Large and flourishing villages are
springing up, and the capabilities of the country are excit-
ing great expectations.' "
AUSTRALIAN ROYAL MAIL STEAM NAVIGATION COM-
PANY.—The general meeting of the above company was
held on Wednesday, at the London Tavern. The report
stated that £43,210 had been paid on account of the last
call of £2 per share, which, added to the amount received
on account of the vessels chartered by government, had
greatly relieved the difficulties in which the company
were involved. The ships under charter to the govorn-
ment were the Victoria and Sydney. The Australian,
which had gone on shore at the Cape of Good Hope, had
arrived, and not appearing to have sustained any impor-
tant damage, would be repaired and offered to govern-
ment. The board had been unable to adjust the accounts
with the contractor of the Adelaide and Victoria. The
chairman said that the Australian had been offered to the
Admiralty, who had stated that they did not want her, but
he nevertheless thought that they would have her. The
total sum owing was £41,998, to meet which there were
assets to the amount of £48,394. There were 6,245 tons
of coals at Golden Sound, which it was estimated would
realise £15,000; gold freights, amounting to £2,000;
colonial debts, about £5,000, and goods £1,600. The
ships were valued at £183,900, and divided on 37,876
shares there would be about £6 12s. 6d. per share. The
adoption of the report was carried. A resolution to the
effect that all shares unpaid in two months time be
forfeited, was, also proposed but subsequently with-
drawn,,aqd the ingter left in the hands of the directou.