LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1840, 29 June 1874, Page 3

LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN PRESS TELEGRAPH AGENCY.] Melbourne, June 20. After a long debate, the Constitution Amendments' Bill was read a. second time in the Assembly by 48 to 28. Only one member was absent, which is unprecedented in the Colony. It is likely to finally pass the Assembly, but will be reected by the ; Council. Long discussions took place on recent appointments in the Land Department, ■which resulted in a large majority in avorof Government. A Criminal Law Practice has passed a Statute, to enable steps to be taken against anyone guilty of embezzlement in other British possessions. James Balfour was elected yesterday for the southern Province in the Council by a large majority. The estimate of expenditure for the year Famounts to L 2,343,794, including over L 400,000 for education. Instructions have been sent to England for plaoing the Government 4 per cent. loan on the market. Mr McLean, with Major Ropata, has visited several institutions in company with the Governor. The Major has published notes of his career. A second trial of Ruperti Green for the Queen street explosion case is now proceeding. A fire at Warnambool destroyed property valued at L7OOO ; mostly insured. The tender for repairing the ship John Kerr has been accepted for over LIO.OOO. George A. Kit, clerk of the Public Works Department, has been committed for trial for stealing a cash-box from the office. Efforts made to raise subscriptions for a second experiment of Harrison's meat process failed. Frauds on the Customs by means of salted invoices were brought under the notice of the Assembly. The Government promised to have the names of the offenders published. •The handsome sum of LIOOO has been subscribed by the school children of various parts of the Colony in aid of two disabled boys. The weights for the Melbourne Cup have been published. New Zealand — Lurline, 8&t 111 b ; Calumny, 8Bt ; Papapa, 7st 51b ; Wainui, 6st. The mystery regarding the missing young lady from East Melbourne, is not yet cleared up. The failure of Pickersgill and Co., wine and spirit merchants, with liabilities to the amount of L 5900, and several other small failures are reported. A proclamation has been issued to quarantine all vessels from Lyttelton, in consequence of small-pox. Mr Curtayne, manager of the Union Bank has been fined LlO for disobeying an order under the Matrimonial Causes Act, in neglecting to give up a sum of money in the Bank. It was contended that the Bum of money was not goods or chattels. The case has been appealed against. Syi>NEY ; June 20. The proposed release of Gardiner and other bushrangers has given rise to warm discussions in the Assembly. A motion of protest was only rejected by the casting vote of the Speaker. The House sat till half-past eight yesterday morning. Several scenes took place, but no result was achieved. The Cyphrene, with the Californian mail, reached San Francisco on the 13th June. Twelve convicts had been exiled during the year by the Californian mail steamers. The Government had agreed to grant LIOOO to the Corporation to meet financial difficulties. Mrs Cohen, wife of the Bhooting saloon keeper in Pitt street, was accidentally killed by the discharge of a gun. Parliament will be prorogued next week. Brisbane, June 19. The Council has negatived a Bill for the abolition of non-vested schools ; and in the Land Bill the Assembly carried an amendment againßt the Government allowing selection by a bonafide servant The Deceased Wife's Sister Bill ha passed. Adelaide, June 19. Two no-confidence motions have been negatived. A Bill has been introduced for the interchange of colonial products. Several vessels are chartered to convey breadstuffs to South Africa.