MELBOURNE.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1591, 18 March 1875, Page 2

MELBOURNE.

March 12.

There was a great demonstration to-day on tbe turning of the first sod of the Gipps* Land Railway. The winner of tbe first prize in the JNarracoorte Art Union is an hotelkeeper at Scjirsdale, named Kewbourne. . The cargo of sugars ex Annabella, from Mauritius, realised £29 103 to £30 153. The supply of flour not so abundant as it hag been lately. f- ' „..£ * Mr Hines, a letter carrier, has been? sentenced to three months' imprisonmerit|Jfor

stealing letters. .7 ' The Otago City Loan tenders we*e' xall below the minimum, and none were accepted.

A meeting, convened by:circular, declared in favour of a graduated larid tax for revenue purposes upon all holdings over 1,000 acres. A public meeting, held in the Town* Hall, decided on a Gothenburg Relief JEW. Twenty-six families are known to be left destitute. McMecken, Blackwood and Co. headed tbe list witb £100.,'.'.. .

McLean, South Australian sqrjitter, has been promised consideration to an applica- t tion.f or a lease of two million acres pf land in the mallee country, not inaccessible fot; grazing purposes. Sales of Hennessy's brandy 7s 2d ; Eleme raisins have advanced id. Dr Crane, Bishop of Sandhurst, who left by tbe Californian mail for^JNew York- on February 5, brings a community of nuns. There are fair entries fortthe Ballarafc races ; and there are fourteenJacceptances for the Grand National Steeplechase.

There is no alteration in thecup betting. Good progress is being made with the Gothenburg Relief Fund. ,J Breadstuff"s unchanged. There.has been a large sale of congous and fancy teas, at good prices. A London telegramstatesthat kerosene has risen ie New York 2d ger gallon. The Hon. J. F. Burns, PostmasterGeneral of New South Wales, had made an agreement with the Postmaster-General of Victoua, subj-ct to ratification by the two Governments, respecting the mail services. They propose to make the Suez and the Sai Francisco services alternate as soon as possible. Victoria will give every facility in her power for the rapid transmission of, the Suez mails from Melbourne to Sydney, overland or coastwise, as New South Wales may choose, and correspanding f aciMes are to be afforded to Melbourne by Sydney. The , Postmasters bave further agreed to establish a telegraphic money order system;between the two colonies ; and to approve .of arrangements for signalling vessels at Gabo Island. Mrs Black, wife of a bailiff at Wentwprth, has obtained a verdict of £450' against the Government for injuries sustained by her at Spencer-street railway station. . . . At the cricket match, Ballarat v. Tasmania tbe Ballarat men bad first innings, attdscored 108. The Tasmanians made 97. TheßaUarat team commenced their second lMlllgS and,y lost two wickets for 19 runs. '_. •",.. Five-thousand cases of kerosene (Devoes) have been sold at Is 2d; Diamond, «idHay holders are very stiff. 77 7 MELBOURNE RACES. Hurdle Race :— Welshman, 1 ; Gunter, 2; Shamrock, 3. . : -. , _ . Ascot Vale Stakes :—Maid-of-all-work, i, , Poiuter. 2 ; Turn o' the Tide, 3 ,; Brunswick Stakes :—Calumny, 1; but- ■ line, 2 ; Benjiroo, 3. ~.','' o St. Leger :—Melbourne, 1; Stockbridge, L Keilor Stakes :—Light-of-Day, 1 5 LM" line, 2-; Gloom, 3. - Visitors' Stakes :—Cyclops, 1; Shena,;^,; Poodle, 3. ■■■■■■ n 'I Hopeful Stakes:- Edith, 1.; Caontchonc, 2. __ , iv J Sires' Produce :— Maid-of -all-Work, 1,. Canterbury, 2 ; Fraternite, 3. _ ";',, Hospital Stakes :— Newbold, 1; Imperial. 2 : Attraction, 3. : ". . Australian Cup :~Lurline, 1 ; WooUamay;, 2 ; Benjiroo, 3. _. -A'A Hurdle Race :—W. F., 5 ; Sir Wm. wry 2; Gunter 3. ' . ■ a\: £100 Plats :—Poodle, 1; Prince, -f. Castoff, 3.