(Special to Press Association.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1456, 11 October 1879, Page 9

(Special to Press Association.)

Melbourne, October 2nd. The betting for the Melbourne Cup is :. Secundus, 100 to 15 ; Sweemeat, 100- to 8 ; Wandering Jew, 100 to 5. Nellie, Falmouth, and South Hamilton, are favourites for the Derby.

October 3rd; The revenue returns show a decrease of nearly £34,000 on the quarter, and nearly £65,000 on the year. Batavian telegrams report that sugarhas advanced 303 per ton. Foochoo telegrams state that a 20 per cent, advance has taken place on common teas, and, lO> per cent, on medium. Eleven and a-half million pounds have been shipped for Australia.

Flour, £12 15a ; wheat, 6a 3d. A prospectus has been issued to charter a Bteamer to convey a party of 70 travellers for a trip through Tasmania, theMiddle Island of New Zealand, and New South Wales in 50 days, starting from. Melbourne in the middle of December, the c^ost to be £80 each. October 7th. Mr Thur3ton, Colonial Secretary fo* Fiji, has been appointed secretary to theHigh Commissioner Jor Polynesia — nofc Commissioner, as reported. He holds the appointment in conjunction with his. present office. Sir Arthur Gordon has no intention of resigning the Commissionership. The rain is encouraging the hope that the Victorian harvest will be double that of last season.