At an influential meeting held the other day, Mr Bright, of Gibbs, Bright, and Co., explained 1 the objects of the proposed company, the [advantages it would afford to the Great j Western Company and particularly to Mil | ford Haven, and put before the meeting his | calculations, which had been made after careful consideration, and to the correctness of which he pledged the reputation of his house, and the result showed a very hand- some dividend to the shareholders, after making all reasonable deductions. The fleet is to consist of six ships of 5000 tons register, each to cost £170,000. One is to leave Mil- I ford Haven and one Melbourne every month, and to make her passage in 40 days. It is proposed to make Milford Haven the port of call on the outward and homeward voy. age, the steamers finally arriving at, and first starting from, Birkenhead. Another meeting will shortly be held to take steps to further develop the project."

It is most satisfactory to learn (says the Taranaki Herald) how peaceably the natives are settling down in the Upper Wanganui district. The boundaries of two school districts have been agreed to, and the wood is cut for the school-houses'. The natives are enthusiastic aboutthematter^ and are anxious for the teachers to be with them. The tobacco plantations show a marked improvement on past seasons, and the mulberry trees are in full leaf, and are looking luxuriant. The hops are v*>ry forward and are in flower, from which it is, to be pre* sumei that the island settlements are favour* abje to the growth, pf this pjaufy

The Admiralty, it is said, intends to sup ply the China and Singapore stations with coal from Australia. The Russian Government lias definitely adopted the project of creating a naval port at Balaclava, which will be connected by a wide and de a p canal with Sebastopol. The same State is now having hydrographic sur verys made in the Black Sea and Sea of Azoff by two ships of war, and is establishing thirteen lighthouses in the same waters. An accident of a somewhat alarming nature, but fortunately unattended by loss of life, has occurred in Glasgow. 