LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume VII, Issue 421, 14 August 1872, Page 2

LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Melbourne, July 29. Mr Webb has telegraphed from New York to Messrs. M'Meckan and Co., Melbourne, that the Dacotah sails on 10th August direct for Melbourne, to commence the new service in October; requests them to advise the Premiers of New Zealand and Victoria. There are large English orders for preserved meats. Another case of suiall-pox is reported at Sandhurst. The Governor’s term of office has expired, but no instructions have been received either as to his remaining or as to his successor. Flour, £ls 10s to.£Ls 15s ; wheat, 6s 3d to 6s 9d ; oats, New Zealand, auctioned at 2s 9d to 3s 2d ; sugars firm. The Theatre Royal Proprietary Company has been formed, with a capital of £24,000. The Mining on Private Property Bill, and the Estimates, are progressing in the Assembly. Ahorse express arrived yesterday from Port Darwin, and reports that the cable is still interrupted. ■' A slight fire has occurred on the Patent Distillery Company’s premises. They are insured in the New Zealand Insurance Company and other offices. H. M, S. Clio has returnad from a cruise to the northward. The Balmain Regatta Committee propose a gig race of £SOO next year, open to the world. August 2. In the Legislative .Assembly, the Treasurer stated that it would not be, necessary by the terms of the Californian contract, for the Government to submit any resolution to the House in refusing to ratify the contract, as it was not their intention to ask the Parliament to v ratify the contract of the late Government. Mr Duffy gave notice of a question as to the intention of the Government with reference to the mail service. A communication from the Agent-General states that the Imperial Government approved of the Coliforniau mail contract, and would grant a subsidy of £20,000. |

£320,000 has been set apart for construction of 84 miles of railway, to be commenced immediately. The government have resolved to send Captain Snell, of the Volunteer Artillery, to England for twelve months, to study the art of heavy ordnance gunnery. It is stated, on the authority of a private letter, that the hon. Mr Gordon, of Mauritius will be the new Governor of Victoria. Scott’s trial, for the Ballarat bank robbery, lasted several days. He made aispleudid defence, but was sentenced to ten years imprisonment. A raid was made on the Chinese gamblers, and the keepers of the house were fined £lO each. A fire occurred this morning at Glasscock’s horse bazaar’. The damage was insured in the Alliance Company’s office. In the action of Dr Lloyd against the Medical Journal for libel, a verdict was given for the defendant. The Mining on Private Property Bill was read a second time on Friday morning in the Assembly. The action for libel against the Herald, resulted in a verdict ef 40s. Commercial. —Business quiet. Wheat, 6s. 6d. to 6s. Bd. and 7s. Quicksilver, 4s. 6d. ; holders asking 6s. Haven brand tobacco. Is. Id. to Is. 2d. Maize, 3s. 2d., a brisk demand. Salt, extreme figures for fine qualities. Sugar is enquired for. Teas command alteration. Sydney, Angust 3. Parliament will be prorogued next week. The Government withdrew the resolutions authorising the arrangement of the border treaty with Victoria, and will make one without Parliamentary action. ' The Government promise next session to introduce a bill making the Upper House elective. , Fresh discoveries of tin have been made. A splendid lode has been struck on the Glen Innes stream. Tin has also been found on the Sydin river. Labor is becoming scarce. The strike of the Newcastle miners has virtually terminated. The men held a ballot meeting last night, and decided to accept fhe proprietors’ offers, and work would very likely be resumed on Monday. Lampton Company have raised the price of coal to 9s a ton. Krohmins Gold-mining Company crushod 154 tons picked quartz, which yielded 6970 ounces of gold. The seamen’s strike still continues. The Hero is still in quarantine, but there is no fresh cases of small-pox. The Government has promised to join other Colonial Governments to erect an Australian anrexe in the London Exhibition. The Peak Downs Copper Company have declared a dividend of 200 per cent per annum ; and Ash Company, 6 per cent. Commercial.—Breadstuffs dull ; flour, 14 to £ls ; wheat, 5s 6d to 6s 4d; twist tobacco, dearer ; iron, £2 higher. In the Assembly, a resolution was carried in favor of a Californian mail subsidy, with restrictions to be submitted to Parliament previous to acceptance. New copper mining companies are forming. Coasting sailors are striking for £(> a month. The schooner Lavina reports that a boat’s crew .was massacred, and the ship taken, but re-taken at the Soloman Group. Several whites and Polynesians were killed. The brig Scotchman, supposed to be lost in the South Seas, has arrived. £35 ss. Adelaide, July 28. The half-yearly revenue returns are satisfactory. A telegram from Mr Todd states that the overland line is progressing towards completion. The ship Dhotllerah, from Adelaide to London, has been burnt in the Pacfic. Her passengers and crew were saved. The Adelaide Insurance offices lose £17,000 by her loss. # Lambing is very uneven this season. Wheat is firm at 5s Bd.; better samples are now offering. The Land Bill was carried. Heavy Josses of sheep have occurred on the Roper from poisonous herbage. A 30oz nugget lias been found at Mount Pleasent. " The smelting of iron has commenced at Adelaide. South Australian flour netted in tiie English market £l2 10s. Flour is shipping for Natal under £l3; wheat, 5s Sd to 5s 9, firm. August 2. Parliamentary unimportant. There is more enquiry for wheat, 5s 9d. offered. Tasmania, August 2. The political crisis continues. Mr Meredith is unable to form a Ministry.