Jan sen, from Octoocamund, says : “We had splendid weather, and important results were obtained.” At Jaffna there was good weather, and important observations were made.—Lord Hereford is travelling in Ceylon.—Earls,Wicklow and Selkirk are in India ; the latter fell from his horse and was injured, but not seriously.—The diamond-fields at the Cape continue most prosperous. Gold was again discovered at Natal.—The building of steamers at home for the Cape route for India is likely to be totally abandoned. —Press messages in India are now sent at one-fourth the ordinary rate by telegraph.—Prayers were offered for the recovery of the Prince of Wales.—The ship Defiance, from Bombay to Liverpool, was wrecked at Natal,on De cember 1(5. Bank bills, 12 to lljj; Australian coal, 18 rupees. Freights dull. —Telegraphic communication between Nagasaki and Europe is completed, via Siberia.—The Mint is working satis factorily. Hongkong, Dec. 13. Exchange Bank bills, 4 and 5£ on Lon don. Australian coal, to 124 dollars. —Sir Richard Macdonnell has resumed his Governorship. Shanghai, Dec. 6. Australian coal, little or no demand ; no arrivals or transactions. Hankow, Nov. 20. Tea : Arrivals full; few transactions. Exports to Australia to date, 686,7331 b. COMMERCIAL. The money market is quiet; the bank j rate has been twice lowered from to j per cent. —There is a healthy tone in the J stock markets.—Consols are stead at 934. j —The South Australian 5 per cent, loan is | a decided success.—Paraguay and Uru guay have raised loans. There are scores of mining and miscellaneous com panies introduced. Dividends: Trust and Agency of Australia, 20 per

cent. ; South Australian Mining, 5 per cent.; Otago Southland Invest ment. 10 per cent.; Chartered Bank of Australasia, 4 per cent. —The October re turns show a continued expansion of commerce. Railway amalgams!ions are spreading. —The failures are not nume rous.—New Zealand Flax : Very little in market, firm at 34s to 3Gs.—The imports of preserved meats from Australia and other countries have increased 900 per cent, in two years, The value of the import from Australia is expected to reach £600,000. —Tallow : Market irre gular, with fluctuation. Prices: Mutton, 47s to 48s 6d ; beef, 45s to 46s Gd. Stock, 7,789 packages. —Sydney oil : 33s Gd to 40s ; sperm, steady, at £92. Hides : Demand dull, with further decline. Stocks, 11.272. Leather inactive, at slight de cline. 