AUSTRALIAN GENERAL SUMMARY.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 779, 15 October 1873, Page 1 (Supplement)

AUSTRALIAN GENERAL SUMMARY.

Melbourne, September 30. The motion of want of confidence, re Mount and Morris, terminated in favor of the Government by 40 to 25. An amendment, regretting the circumstance, without censuring the Government, was lost by 32 to 29. Mr Stephen's action is universally condemned. Sir James M'Culloch has arrived. Sir <J. G. Duffy intends to revisit Europe. The Hospital Sunday in Melbourne brought nearly L 4.000. The second jury in Mrs [Shannon's case disagreed and was discharged. It is considered the Education Act has broken down. 'J he English Opera Company continues to draw crowded bouses. It is rumored the British Government have esolved to annex Fiji. Greathead's remedy for diphtheria is being used successfully. Lapidist is favorite for the Derby at 4 to offered and taken. Horatio stands at 6to 1 for the Cup. The Alfred Graving Dock is completed. The miners' strike at Clunes continues. Sydney, September 29. The Lambton miners threaten to strike. The Ministerial dinner to Government supporters takes place this evening. The last season's wheat crop amounts to 2,899,000 bushels. The Marine Board will re-model the Pilot Service. The Chief Justice has finally retired from the Bench. The English import and export trade with the Colony has considerably increased. A shock of earthquake has been experienced at Goulburn. The Lighthouse Conference is now sitting. The schooner Prompt, has sunk in the harbor, The r§c*h.o«e.Ben voliojii dead

A despatch has been received from Mr Vogel, confirming Mr Ruesell's arrangement.

Adelaide, c eptcmber 29. A large gold-carrying reef has been found thirty-five miles from Southport. Large numbers are proceeding there, but food is very short at the reefs.

The I ondon Telegraph Company propose, through the Government, to reduce the tariff one-half for a subsidy of L 30.000 ayear. Wheat is scarce at 6s 7d.

Launceston. The Ufracombe Iron Works commence smelting immediately.

Auckland, October 4

The Tower Hill has arrived from Newcastle, after a rapid passage of eight days. She brings later English Cablegrams. Two old colonists—Messrs William White and John Fairbairn—have challenged the Hev. Dr Lang to a public discusrion of the missionary land transactions. Dr Lang has left for the '1 bames.

Alexandra (Waikato), October 3. All the Haubau aristocracy appear to be visiting us. " Princess ' Sopbia is now at Kopua; Ahipene, Kiku Hanaru, and Taku Te Rau are in the settlement. It is most amusing te find each one take credit to himself for Tawhiao's visit here, it being well known that he came nnknown to anyone. The stat. ment that Tawhiao was intoxicated is flatly contradicted, there being good evidence to the contrary. It was Btated this morning that a short time since, Pekanui, the new propbet, asserted that Tawhiao would visit Alexandra in less than a month, and that in three he would be living amongst them (the Pakehas?). Tawhiao himself, when here, asserted that he would come and see Te Morehu (Wiremu Te Wheoro) in the Waikato shortly.

Later.—The prophet Pekanui, and a party of Ngatimaniapoto, have just arrived here. They are not very respectable-looking, nor is the prophet either. They want to see Mr Mackay here immediately.

Melbourne, October 1.

In the Assembly Mr Grant, on his want of confidence motion, accused the Government of having acted illegally, and said the law officers of the Crown set the law at defiance. He referred incidentally to maladministration of postal and other matters. Mr Stephen replied that he regretted the indictment against Mount and Morris had be?n laid under the old Act instead of under the modt rn one, and thought that under the circumstances Judges should hare passed a sentence of four year*, as in Levingers case then nothing further cou'd have arisen. He stated the Home (rovernm*nt had been apprised all through of the difficulty. Don Juan is heavily backed at 100 to 8 for the Melbourne Cup. Mount and Morris are reported to be at Schnapper Point awaiting a ship to leave the Colony. Every effort is to be made to facilitate the building of ships for the Californian service The first steamer of the interim service is to leave Sydney about the 16th December for Fiji, Honolulu, and San Francisco. COMMERCIAL. Martell's 1869 brandy, 10s ; large sales of Hennessy's at 93 3d to 9s 6d ; Otard's, 7s 9d; Jules Robin's, 7s 6d. Stout, 3d to 6d per bottle dearer. Breadstuff's heavy. A telegram from Clarence quotes brandies at 9a 3d. Great excitement in Melbourne in consequence. An immediate advance to the rates above is quoted. Corn sacks, 12s 44d. At Sydney brandies animated, and purchased in bulk at 9s, and case 30s to 32*. Aucklaxd, October 6. The Hero arrived this morning after a five days' run from Sydney, having sailed on the night of the 30th. She brings 63 passengers and a full cargo. Hokitika, October 4.

The Okarito mailman arrived to-day. He brings no definite news from the Haast rush. A miner met parties going to the rash and gave a dreadful account of it. He said he had sunk four holes near the prospectors and got nothing. The steamers have not yet returned from the Haast. More definite information will be received shortly. The present news is not considered decisive. Auckland, October 6. Mr Williams, the English Consul, is a passenger by the Dauntless, from Samoa. He reports that rich quartz reefs have been discovered there abmt three miles from the port. Count Steinberg has returned to the United States, having interviewed the chiefs. The natives generally wish for American protection. October 7.

Captain Beaton, who is awaiting trial for barratry of the schooner Florence, escaped from gaol, but was recaptured. Mr Thornton, landlord of the Royal George Hotel, attempted suicide by cutting his throat with a carving knife, and lies dangerously ill.

Hokitika, October 7

The inquest on the late fire was held at the Empire Hotel to-day, and a verdict returned that the fire arose accidentally from the foulness of the parlor chimney. The jury added a rider, praising the efforts of the brigade and citizens. Volunteer Stonebridge is highest scorer for Hokitika representatives at the Intercolonial contest. Volunteer Ross second. Wellington, October 6.

The Provincial Councils of Auckland and Taranaki have been dissolved. The writ for the election of a Superintendent for Auckland was sent up on Saturday per Ladybird.

Several resignations of members of the House of Representatives are spoken of: among others that of Mr A. S. Collins, of Nelson.

'I he immigrants per Douglas, for Napier, leave by the Luna to-day. The remaining immigrants will be released from quarantine to-morrow.

The races have been fixed for the 7th and Bth of March.

The William Tapscott weighed one anchor yesterday, apparently in readiness for a start. Captain' Moresby, of H. M.S. Basilisk, (presented a cassowary to the Botanical Gardens, Wellington. The Go vernor paid an official visit to H. M. S. Pearl to-day. The Pearl fired a salute. Both vessels manned their yards. The Supreme Court criminal sittings commenced to-day. Judge Johnston, in his charge, congratulated the Colony on the passing of an Act for the regulation of prisons. He said further delay in the introduction of a system for the classification, industrial education, and personal amendment of prisoners would be culpable. He hoped the Colony would profit by the lessons emanating from the International Penitentiary Congress recently held in the Inner Temple, London, and published in the volume of transactions of the Congress. Judge Johnston detailed the result of the labors of the Congress, and gave a summary of the paper contributed by Sir Walter Urofton of the system introduced into Ireland, which has three stages, and had stood the test of sixteen years' experience, and had proved a success. There was only one case for trial, that of Blatchford and Nelson, for perjury. Blatchford was found not guilty, and Nelson pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to a fort* night's imprisonment,

Christchurch, October 6

The criminal sessions «f the Suprem Court opened this morning. The calender includes the following cases :—Forgery, four; embezzlement seven ; unnatural offence, two ; man-slaughter, one ; horse-stealing, two ; bigamy, two; sheep-stealing, one; housebreaking, one ; breach of the Marriage Act, one ; larceny as a bailee, one ; total, twentytwo. Judge Gresson. in his charge, said it was deplorable that there should be so many frauds at a time when all workmen conld find employment at highly remunerative wages, and pointed out that many men earned sufficient by working half time to keep them; while other* who worked full time were able to spend the evening at public-houses, wasting their substance, injuring their health, and leaving their families in a worse position than if their wages wem Jower. Personally he thought the forgeries and embezzlements which bad been so frequent lately were attributable to money spent in self-indulgence, caused by abuse of the high rate of wages. At the same time he did not desire to see wages reduced below what employers could afford, but he would like to see frugality and a desire to acquire means by workmen encouraged. October 7.

In the Supreme Court yesterday, Thomas Preston, alias Williams, for forging and uttering a cheque for Ll 2 10s on the Bnk of New Zealand, was sentenced te four years' imprisonment; George Rood, for forging a cheque for Ll4O, to three years'; John Edward Taylor for forging an order for boots, four years'; Thomas Sutton, for forging a cheque for Ll9 5s on the Bank of New Zealand, one year; for larceny as a bailee of L 4 lis 1 Bd, an additional year; George M'Kay, eighteen months for bigamy ; Charles Mathews, five years for horse stealing ; Alfred Drain, five years. The health of the immigrants, ex Punjaub, is improving rapidly. No further cases are reported, and the ship will be admitted to pratique to-day. Grahamstown, October 6.

Dr T.ethbridge, who was received into the Catholie Church, 1869, was yesterday, at the early communion in St. George's (Church of England), publicly received back into the Church of England. Subscriptions are being raised to defray the expenses of the cricketing team to the South, and of the Volunteers to the Intercoloinal Rifle Match. Both are being well supported here.

October 7.

The share market is more active to-day. Caledonians have advanced from Ll3 15s to Ll4 108. Several other stocks show an upward tendency. A telegram has been received from a former resident of Grahamstown from Port Darwin. He says the diggings are a failure, and he returns by the first opportunity. •New Plymouth, October 6. The Ironsand Company has fixed upon a site f< r the furnace.

Mr Parris has concluded negotiations for the purchase from the Natives of a block of land at the back of the mountain.

The Natives returning from the Parahaka meeting speak of Te Whiti as a fanatic, and deceiving. Te Whiti's influence i« gone. Cromwell, October 6.

The Cromwell Company, Bendigo, cleared up at the end of last week, with a result of 20 Viz , from between 70 and 80 tons of stuff. The Cromwell escort takes down 3,0380z.

Brunette won tbe LIO handicap on Saturday. Maori Chief won the Hospital Race of Lls.

Wanganui, October 7. It is reported that Mr Tribe, M.H.R, is about to start a newspaper here.

The police have captured a young man named Robinson, who is charged with a rape on a girl eleven years old.

Wellington, October 7.

The William Tapscott's new crew refuse to work.' They say the vessel is not seaworthy. Napier, October 8. Out of eighty-five immigrants per Douglas for here, twenty-seven were nominated. The remainder found employment by 11 a.m. to-day. Hokitika, October 8.

The Titan arrived from the Haast last night, and the Waipara this morning, tbe latter bringing back Warden Tizard. Many diggers have returned. The news from the rush is unfavorable.