AUSTRALIAN COLONIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 3602, 28 May 1873, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN COLONIES.

[ijT rIE NEW ZEALAND PKESS A LOCUTION.] Mklboi i;.\k, May 22. Parliament was opened by the Governor on the 13th. There was a large attendance. Tho Duke of Genoa was present. The Speech made only casual mention of an ocean 111:.il service, but promised that the whole proceedings, with the action of the Government, will be shortly laid before the members. A number of measures are promised, of a most important character—among them are, the Electon.l Bill, Constitution of the Upper House, Postal Measure, and Mining oil Private Properly. The Address in Reply was moved by Montgomery, seconded by Murray Smith, two new members, and after some brief remarks from Messrs. Duffy, Berry, Francis, Langton, and W. C. Smith, it was agreed to. The Assembly immediately proceeded to business, and'several of the promised measures have been introduced, and advanced an initiatory stage.

The Government positively declined to entertain a new mail service, unless terms were agreed to at Conference. The Chamber of Commerce and the Mercantile community support the Government. It is stated that New Zealand wiil go with Victoria. The New Zealand loan is a complete failure. Out of £342,000 tendered for, only £4100 taken up at minimum, and in Sydney only £500. The Barcda's passengers, after fourteen days' detention in quarantine, were released. The steamer was quarantined at Sydney upon arrival ar the Heads. On the outward voyage it was reported that the small-pox had again made its appearance aboard in the person of the second officer. The Baroda is again quarantined, and mails, &c., sent down by a steamer to the Heads. After a alight detention, the vessel sailed. Cable between Penang and Madras broken on 11th instant. Since then occasional messages have been received from England by the Associated Press via Siberia and China. The divorce case, Villenuve Smith against wife and Armstrong, co-respondent, was concluded after six days' hearing. The jury found that the respondent did not commit adultery as alleged, but petitioner had committed adultery with Mabel Johnson in New Zealand, end with Florence Fenian, and that he hud acted with cruelty towards his wife. The case caused great scandal, and the tables were completely turned on Smith. The Governor has been visiting the Murray district, and proceeds to Ballarat. Felix Kabat has been found guilty on two charges of forgery, and sentenced to eleven yef's on the roads. Three executions have taken place,—Smith and Brady, for the Woragee murder, at Beechworth, and Pierre Borham at Castlemaine. The steamship Northumberland sailed on the 17th, full of passengers. The Alhambra arrived early on the morning of the 21st, and the Rangitoto with mails a few hours later. Both encountered bad weather. The Bvron sailed for Dunedin on the 22i:d. Oats are very saleable at 4s 6d to 4s Od. Good stout in quantity. There has been little doing in sugars, but the market is firm at a little below late quotations. Large business has been done in spirits. Otard's, and Hennessy's brandies, and JDKZ Geneva, dull. Brcadstuffs dull. Wheat, 5s lOd io 5s lid. Prime samples flour, £13 10s to£l4 ss. Adelaide wheat, firm 5s to os 7d. New Zealand Bank shares rjld at £16 10s. Portion of New Zealand loan being taken up at minimum. May 22, noon. Cable communication is still interrupted. The Baroda sails this evening. The case of small-pox is serious. All on board have been vaccinated. Several intending passengers declined to go until the next steamer. Sydney, May 22. A terrible tragedy occurred abroad the ship Rifleman, on the high seas. A German named Stuvart Krauss murdered Langmuir in his cabin, and attempted to murder the officers by poisoning the bread. He is now awaiting trial. Cain, ex consul at Nankow, has been arrested on an Imperial warrant, charged with embezzling £20,000. Bishop Selwyn of Melanesia has arrived, end proceeds to Auckland by the b.s. Hero. Browne, late proprietor of the Culgong Guardian has been sentenced to six months' imprisonment for iibel. Samuels proceeds per Hero to Auckland, en route for America. Arrived. —May 17—Celestial, from Otago ; May 19 —Energy, from Auckland. Adelaide, May 22. Mining excitement continues. Satisfactory intelligence from the Northern Territory.

Governor Muegrare has chartered a vessel at Natal, and is eipectcd to arrive at the end of June. Tasraaniar. Parliament meets on the 17th of June. Garibaldi, Italian frigate, with the Duke of Ger.oa, is now at Hobart Town. Newcastle, May 22. Arrived.—May 19 —Alice Cameron, from Auckland ; May 20 —Elm Grove, from Ljttelton ; Cv.tuj, from Wellington. Sailed.—May 10-Sovereign and Scotsman, for Lyttelton ; May 11—Hachael Cohen, for Napier; Australia, for Timaru (wrecked, bb reported by the Scotsman) ; May 12 —Lyttelton, for Dunedin ; May 13 —Velocidade, for Auckland ; May 14 —Duke of Edinburgh, for Dunedin.