AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Press, Volume XXV, Issue 3228, 5 January 1876, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

f Per Alhambra via Hokitika. | Melbourne, December 29. The Council on Thursday evening last passed the Bill providing for increased assessment without a division, and the Governor assented to it the same night. Iα the Assembly the chairman of committees ruled that Mr Tucker's amendment in favor of dissolution could not be received, as it did not come within the order of reference to the committee. The Opposition threaten to bring forward another amendment to the Budget when the House again meets on the 11th of January. On that date also attention is to be called to the fact that there are two members of the Government who do not hold seats in the House.

The cold wet weather was succeeded by a few days of extreme heat, the thermometer being as high as 106 in the shade in some parts, but the rain has again come, and yesterday it continued the whole day, putting a stop to the progress of the Intercolonial Cricket Match, which was commenced on the previous day. The Victorians went in first and scored 136 in their first innings—Kelly with 71, and Cooper with 36, being the only double figures. New South Wales had six wickets down for 87 funs, of which Bannerman has made 43, not out. The game is resumed to-day. On Boxing Pay the attendance on the ground numbered about 12,000.

Mr Elliott, manager of the Bank of Australasia, has accepted the general management of the National Bank of New Zealand,

By order of the Government the body of the man Beatb, who was operated upon by Mr Beany for lithotomy, has been exhumed, and a post mortem corroborates all the statements made as to the maltreatment the patient received. An inquest is being held to day. In the meantime several letters have appeared in the papers reflecting on the previous operations of Mr Beany.

The bodies of two newly born infants were fouud floating in the river on Monday. It appears that a double murder has been committed.

The mail steamer Mongolia left Galle for Australia on the 20th. She should reach Adelaide about the the 7th of January.

A woman, named Marion Grant, has been committed for trial for causing the death of an infant through neglect. Dr3 McDonald and Cairns proceed by the mail to attend the Church Assembly at Edinburgh, as delegates from Victoria. BTDNEY. The spread of fever causes apprehension. A scarcity of water has occurred in the suburbs, and some works have been stopped in consequence. During a heavy gale the mate of the brig Perseverance was washed overboard and drowned coming from the Clarence.

A fire occurred at Mori's freezing establishment at the head cf the Darling Harbor. It was insured for £10,000 in a New Zealand office. The loss is estimated at about £3000.

Mrs Martio, hotelkeeper, has been murdered by a man named Pitt, who baa been arrested.

A disturbance occurred at Newcastle during the laying of the foundation-stone of the Protestant Hall between the Catholics and Gvangemen, and the police interfered. A'blackfellow murdered hie girl near Bfcrbes. , -Two children were.burned to death by the explosion of a kerosene lamp at Brisbane, The mother and third child were seriously injured. Adelaide. The Backstairs Passage cable was safely landed on Christmas Day at Kangaroo Island. The steamer Edinburgh returned to Nonnanville on Tuesday.