AUSTRALIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2929, 30 May 1870, Page 3

AUSTRALIA.

Bluff, May 28. The s.s. Eangitoto left Hobson’s Bay at 3,30 p.m, on May 23, and passed the Heads at 7 p.m. the same day; passed Swan Island at 4.30 p.m. next day, and experienced light S.W. by W. winds and fine weather; passed the Solanders at 5.15 a.m. on May 28, and arrived at Bluff Harbour at 11.10 a.m.

Passengers : —For Dunedin Mr Richmond, Mr and Mrs Cundell. For Wellington —Mr R. Shoad; 25 in the steerage.

Cargo:—Dunedin, 63 tons; Lyttelton, 47 tons; Wellington, 51 tons. Melbourne, May 23. The financial debate terminated in the Legislative Assembly on May 19, when several votes were passed without opposition. The Government have accepted the and O’Grady, amounting to £305,000, for the construction of the entire works on the North Eastern Railway.

The murder of Mr Walahe has caused general consternation. An inquest was held on May 19, but was adjourned to May 23. Supple maintains a coo), calm demeanour. He regrets that Smith was not killed. An influential committee has been formed to collect subscriptions for Mr Walshe’s widow.

The Governor gives no Birthday Ball this year. Thomas H. Jones, late of Wellington, has been arrested on a charge of bigamy. The complainant is Amelia B. J. Crosbie, of Wellington. Mr Finner has resigned the Secretaryship of the Polynesia Company. Messrs Eeed and Butters proceed to the Fijis shortly, as Special Commissioners from the Company to settle the American claims against Thakombau.

The commissioners appointed at a public meeting held in Wellington, re the San Francisco mail route, have arrived.

Ah Pew was hung this morning at Caatlemaine.

James Moore, a storekeeper at Talbot, has been charged with having criminally assaulted a female servant. Alexander Watt, ex-gunner of the Harry Smith hulk, has hanged himself.

James Gook, ironmonger, Armstrong street, Ballarat, shot Mrs Moss, wife of a tinsmith, dead. He then blew out his own brains.

The Tararua arrived on May 21, also the Kate Conley from Grey mouth. The Prosperity sailed the same day for Hokitika. The Eoyal Mail steamer Avoca sailed yesterday. Among her passengers were Mr Badcock, of the Bank of New South Wales ; Mr Yan Amstel; and M. Lessignol, French Consul at Bombay. The Challenger is refitting at Sydney, and will afterwards sail for Wellington. Trade is steady, but prices generally are flat, and an uneasy feeling prevails. The quotations foi breadstuffs are unchanged, and little is doing. The Yictorian Sugar Cortpany have reduced their prices £2 per ton all round. Sugars are dull, stocks being heavy, but reduced prices are unlikely. Teas are in moderate requeit. Kerosine is firm at 2s 10|d. Aitkon, of Warrnambool, is insolvent. His liabilities are stated at £16,000, and his assets at £II,OOO. Sydney, May 21.

The Balmain Begatta committee intend to offer a prize of £IOO, for a four-oared gig rale, to be open to all the colonies.

Heavy rains aie still falling. Becent boisterous weather has caused several disasters among toasting vessels. Mr Campbell Begistrar of the Insolvent Court, is dead. The sentence df death on Wakefield of Bathurst, for the murder of a shepherd, has been conmuted to imprisonment for life.

A Highland jrigade of volunteers has been formed (ately. They paraded to-day, in full drtss; for the first time. The annual TJiiversity commemoration took place Ito day. There were about 1000 spectators, and his Excellency Earl Belmcre was present.

The agitation in favour of the Permissive Bill is increasing.

Arrived— Constate. Honolulu sugars) ex Wonga Wonga, fetched the following prices:—Yellows, £36 10s to £37 5s ; rations, £27 10s to £29. Adelaide, May 21. The Governor has formally opened a Bushmans’ Home. The Government have declined McKinlay’s offer to execute a flying survey for a telegraph line to the Northern Territory. A man named Sedgeley has been convicted of manslaughter. Wheat is quoted at 5s 4d, and flour at £l2. The grain dealers have resolved to introduce the cental system on July 1.