AUSTRALIAN INTELLIGENCE.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9, 30 January 1869, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN INTELLIGENCE.

Hie iararua, "winch arrived on Wednesday evening, brought Melbourne and Australian files to the 16th instant. "We make the following extracts : — VICTORIA. The most rapid passage from England to Victoria ever accomplished without the aid of steam, has just been made by the new Aberdeen clipper Thermopylae, which reached Hobson's Bay a few days ago, after effecting the voyage from laud to land in sixty-two days. Tho now long-continued drought in Victoria appears to be assuming serious proportions. Grass has almost everywhere either been oaten or burned up, the water-holes and creeks aro dry, and the flocks in many parts aro in consequence said to be at starvation point. Bad as things are in Victoria, however, they seem to be even worso in New South Wales. In the north-western portion of that colony several runs have been abandoned, tho sheep are dying in thousands, and general despair seems to have taken possession of the community. Another nugget weighing 2-iozs. was found recently at Q-odfrey's Creek, a place which lias already yielded a largo number of good-sized nuggets. For instance we read in a local paper that " a lad about sixteen years of age, who had never used the pick and shovel, started to try his luck as a miner at Godfrey's on last Monday week. When he returned to dinner the same day he took home a 16oz. nugget." Politically it would seem, after all, as if tho Apostle of Free Trade, Mr. Langton, had been right in his calculations. The Customs revenue for the year 1868 shows a falling oft' as compared with 1867 of £100,000. Just the amount named by Mr. Langton, by tho way. As a compensation, wo are told that tho public works show a healthy increase. The Government have their now Land Bill fairlj' under weigh, and this will probably occupy the atention of the Assembly during tiio coming sitting of Parliament. In the Botanic gardens there is just now in flower, for the first time this season, the splendid wuterlily, the Victoria rcgia. The flowers expand only towards evening, and they close again in the morning, before the sun gets high up, so that visitors desirous of seeing the flower should select the early morning hours, or the time immediately before dusk at night. A novel mode of conveying goods is about to be introduced into south Australia. Tho Advertiser says : — We hear that it is tho intention of Mr. Elder to employ a number of his camels in conveying stores to t lie settlers on the Darling and in the Barrier Kanges, bringing buck their wool for shipment at Port Adelaide or Port Augusta, whilst the rivers aro unmiviguble. Tho first expedition, conposed of sixty camels, under charge of Mr. Acraman and native Jemadar, will leave Port Augusta for the Barrier six weeks hence, and will convey from twelve to fifteen tons of goods, bringing back a similar quantity of wool. A mini named Lloyd has been murdered at Kirkstall, Belfast, by his wife. She inflicted five frightful gashes with an axe on tho back of his head. He rallied a little for a few minutes, during which, he accused his wife of murdering him. Mr. William Hutton, a Fquatter at Mount Kose, has narrowly escaped death, through handling greasy wool with a scratched finger. A large consignment of trout fry have arrived safely from Tasmania, and have been liberated in the Van Yean. A new journal is to be published in Melbourne, under the name of the Daily Telegragh. Tho National Bank has followed the example of tho Bank of Victoria in empowering tho directors to advanco on mortgages. Tho Government steamer Victoria has been paid off and laid up. The Tornado's passengers are still in quarantine, fresh cases of typhus having occurred. On the other hand, no fresh cases of small-pox have occurred, and the only patient remaining is convalescent. At Brighton a passenger train ran into a goods train near Princes Bridge. Twenty persons were injured, but none very severely. Tho Government avo engaged in passing a new Lund Bill. Great reductions in tho Volunteer Force are Drojocted. Mr. Chealo, manager of the St. Arnaud Gold and Silver Mining Company, on returning to the mine after dinner on Wednesday, the 13th January, was met by one Andrew Vair, who shot him in the abdomen. Mr. Chealo fell, pierced by two bullets fired from one barrel of the double-barrelled gun, and died an hour afterwards. At tho magisterial inquiry to-day, a warrant was granted for Vair's arrest. He is a Scotch miner, and the motive for his crime was a quarrel with the unfortunate man whom he murdered, and who had an interest in the silver mine at which Vair was employed. He lay in wait for his victim among tho scrub, not far from the mine, and when Mr. Cheale approached, stepped out suddenly and said, " Arc you prepared to receive this ?" As he spoke the words he presented full at Mr. Cheale's breast a double-barrelled gun, almost instantly discharging both barrels and killing the unfortunate man upon the spot. Then the murderer ran away into the scrub, and bo far as is at present known, has not been seen since. His height is about sft. sin., ho wears a light brown beard and moustache almost all over his face, his teeth are broken in front, he walks with a slovenly gait, and speaks with a broad Scotch accent. NEW SOUTH WALES. Mr. M'Cauley, the ex-magistrate at Wellington, who was charged with committing a rape, has been discharged. U.M.S. Rosario, from Auckland, has been docked preparatory to being over-hauled. Gloncoe and the Barb aro the favourites for the Sydney Cup. Tho statement of tho revonuo for the past year shows un increase of £27,000 over 1867. Tickle, who assisted in the forgery of a cheque for £1,500 on the National Bank, has been remauded to Melbourne. General Chute has sailed for Now Zealand to ! make an official inspection of tho troops stationed there. Tho Government have been defeated by a majority of two on Duncan's Pension Bill. Scab has broken out in tho western district. A bushranger, captured near Bourko, has been identified as Rutherford's mate, Pearson. Ho has been remanded for a week. The proposed Intercolonial Agricultural Exhibition has been postponed to tho first week in May. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. The Darling mail has been " stuck-up " by bushrangers. At the Barossa diggings, wash-dirt has been found 110 feet below the surface. The Land Bill has passed the second reading in tho Council. The Legislative Assembly have refused to sanction the Chief Justice's leave of nbsence. A dastardly attempt has been made to burn down i tho Redruth Post-oflice, by putting into the letterbox a quantify of hot ashes and mutches. QUEENSLAND. The Financial Statement shows last year's revenue to be '-780,000, being an increase of £111,000 over that of lSf>7. White men have been seen among tho natives at Carpentaria, but no communication has been had with them. Seasonable rains have fallen, and the settlers are bringing their flocks back to the stations. The Chamber of Commerce hii« declared its approvnl of the proposed Customs Union. One. of tho bushr.mgers who "stuck-up" the Oympio coach a few days a«ro hns been arrested and identified by Mr. King, of the Bunk of New South Wiiles, who wus a. passenger by the coach, and who fired four shots nt tho marauders, compelling them to retreat. The prisoner has a jiuusliol uouuil in tho abdomen, which proves that Mr. King's revolver did more than frighten the robbers.