Violent storms, occasioning great loss to life and propeity, have occurred on the coast of Great Britain. Thirty-four wrecks were reported in one week, making a total loss for the present year of 1,388. The steamer Ontario, 3,003 tons, valued at £120,000, was wrecked on her first voy age, twenty miles from Yarmouth. The crew were on the wreck four days. The crew of the Great Yarmouth lifeboat refused to render assistance unless guaranteed £500, the serf being so tei'rimc. The crew of the Ontario were eventually saved. Great difficulty has been experienced in obtaining seamen for the British fleet, owiug to the new regulations issued by the Admi ralty, denominated the Somerset discipline. Earl Russell has refused to allow the war ship Sacramento to coal at Dover, she having previously coaled at Plymouth within three months.
The directors of the Messagories Im periale line of mail steamers express their readiness to co-operate on most liberal terms with the Victorian Government, in the event of the latter placing steamers between Galle and Melbourne for conveyance of mails, &c.
The Army and Navy Gazette states that there is no truth in the report that the War Office intend withdrawing any regiments from New Zealand at present.
Two severe shocks of earthquake have been felt in the North of England.
A great fire occurred in the Belgrave-road, London, on the 16th inst. ; the damage is estimated at £100,000. Smith and Co.'s pa tentent wheel works were totally destroyed. The distress in the cotton districts is in creasing. One hundred and thirty-five thousand persons are out of employment, and are in receipt of relief.
A series of extensive official frauds have been discovered in the Bankruptcy Court.
