We have had no mail arrival since our last, but the P. & O. str, Bangalore left Hongkong, with the English mail of 16th October, at noon yesterday, and is expected on Monday morning.
A homeward mail leaves to-morrow, by the P. & O. atr, Geelong.
The following Reuter's telegrams have been received during the, week, Germany is establishing an Imperial Bank.
The Amsembly: have met, but the proceedings were merely formal, all parties being agreed to defer Constitutional discussion until Jam Bismarck, in speaking in Parliament, declared that his policy towards Aleace-Loraine was solely guided by the interests of the Empire.
There is no public news of interest to report by this mail. The -Iocal event which has attracted most attention, has been the anniversary of St. Andrew, which was celebrated with the annual dinner, at the Club, on-Monday night, by between forty and fifty members of the St. Andrew's Society and a large number of guests, The dinner menu included not only the honoured and savoury ''chieftain of the pudding race," but numerous other dishes dear to Scottish palates, and collection of viands besides which would have made the venerable. mother of Scot-cookery, Mistress Margaret Dodds, of the Cleikum Inn, St. Ronan's, hold up her housewifely hands in amazement, The toast list which succeeded the dinner was spoken to with great humour and ability by the various gentlemen to whorh the discussion of its elements was assigned, and was interspersed with songs appropria ty, and was brought. bortly after the wee short oer," with " Auld Long Syne." A fall report will be found elsewhere.
A numerous audience assembled on Tue day ovening, in the Masonic Hall, to listen toa lecture on "California," by Geo. F.
Seward, Esq., U.S. Consul-General, being the firat of a series of eight to be given during the present winter, under the ices of the Shanghai Temperance Society. ©. P. Blethen, Esq., president ofthe Society, occupied the chair. The lecturer touched discursively upon the magnificent scenery for which the State of California is famous, its climate, minerals, agricultural and horticultural products its rapid increase in population, educational and social institutions generally, its railways, &c. The lecture was couched in language at once forcible, picturesque, and graceful, and was frequently appiended. At the close, a cordial vote of thanks to Mr. Seward, was proposed by W. H. Medhurst, Esq., H. B. M. Consul, seconded by Dr. MacGowan, and carried with acclamation.
The first Paper Hunt of the season came off on Saturday, and was won by Mr.
Turnbull, 'A report will be found elaewhere.
The Shanghai Gymnasium Athletic Sparta were held on the Cricket Ground on Monday. The programme contained fourteen events, and the number of entries for each, rising as high in some instances as 19 and 20, gave the best guarantee for good contests. Through the courtesy of Captain Kraft, the splendid Band of the U. 8. flagship Hartford was on the ground, and as the weather most favourable there was altogether a very successful meeting, which will be found fully reported on our " Amusement" page, The lower ofice of the Harbour Master's Department has now been transferred from the hulk Ngapuhi to the premises of the late firm of Messrs, Morice, Behnke Ca., at Pootung, the Customs having purchased property there suited. to their requirements. The. Ngapuhi has been sold to Chinese, we believe, and la to be broken up.
J"; The barque George Washington, while being towed on Friday afternoon towards the Pootung shore, took the ground when a-little more than half-way across, just clear of the fairway. A further attempt was made to got her beyond the shipping on Saturday morning, three tug-boats being called into. requisition; but their combined efforts were of no avail, and about noon one of the chain slings parted, carrying away the spar it was attached to, which necessitated the slacking up of the ini The sunken vous re-slung, an operation which will take some two or three days in her present position, Wo hear that the sum paid by the China Steam Navigation Company for teamer Paris, was £32,000 sterling.
The str. Mongol, at 9.30 a.m, on Friday, while swinging to the ebb tide, took the ground with her stern, and the current swung her bow down the river, dragging both anchors home. The steamer fell athwart the hawse of the U.S.S. Ashuelot, carrying away the latter's bowsprit, figure ad, éo., starboard cutters and davits, and damaging'the rails for some distance.. The Ashuelot veered away her cables, but the starboard one being foul of the Mongol's anchor, hind to be slipped ut 45 fathoms, having first been buoyed. Several cargo boats Inden with cotton and other freight were alongside the Mongol at the time of the collision, and we regret to hear that Chinese boatman on board one of them was crushed to death, while several others received severe bruises, One man was taken on board the Ashuelot and attended to by the doctor. Several of the cargo-boat men were also knocked overboard by the force of the collision, but they were soon picked up, none the worse for the ducking. We hear that the captain of the Mongol went on board the Ashuelot, and acknowledging the responsibility. of vessel for the consequences of the accident, expressed his willingness to ettle all claims for damage. The Mongol after lying across the stream for some two or three hours, was towed into mid-channel upon the first of the flood tide, with the assistance of the tugs Folelin and Samp-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.