LATER AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4272, 28 November 1874, Page 2

LATER AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

THE ALHAMBRA AT HOKITIKA. [Press Telegraph Agency.] Hokitika, Friday. The Alhambra arrived off this port on Thursday afternoon at half-past two o’clock, and was tendered, but the despatch boat did not return to harbor until to-day. She left Melbourne on the afternoon of the 21st instant, and made the run, with strong southerly winds and fine weather, in four days twentytwo hours. She brings the following passengers for W ellington The following are passengers for Wellington per Alhambra : —Mr. and Miss Bridges, Mr, and Mrs. Johnston, Messrs. Levin and Sooular She has also 85 tons cargo, II steerage passengers,?and I<7 tons cargo for all ports. The Alhambra brings the following intelligence : VICTORIA. Melbourne, Nov. 21. The Assembly has at last disposed of the Local Government Bill, and passed all the estimates excepting the vote for the police. A despatch has been received from the Imperial Government similar to the one received in Sydney by the last mail relative to contributions from the leading Australian colonies and Fiji towards the expenses of' governing Fiji. The Government will take no action in the matter without consulting the Assembly. Mr. Francis leaves for England by the mail steamer Rangoon. It is believed that Major Pitt and Captain Machell will go to England. The steamship Northumberland has arrived from London in fifty days. A new full-powered steamer, the Osyth, left London for Melbourne on the sth instant. The sittings of the Presbyterian Assembly have been characterised by scones. The Home Mission Committee reported against the Rev. R. K. Ewing' being admitted as a hiuiister; but the_ Rev. A. Robertson, a member of the committee, assisted at his induction at Beechworth, and was ordered by the Assembly to be admonished by the Moderator. He denied the jurisdiction of the Court, and treated the citation with contempt. The Assembly by resolution deprived him of his ministerial functions.

The convict Weeohurch has been committed for trial on the capital charge of assault with intent to commit murder. The railway has now been opened from Creawick to Clones.

His Honor Judge Molesworth visits Hew Zealand next month for the benefit of his health. His Honor Judge Barry has made an example of two passengers (?) by passing sentence of six years’ hard labor on the roads upon them. Bloudin still continues bis performances. He has met with most unfavorable weather, A telegram from the New Zealand Bonn and Mercantile Agency Company, dated the 17th instant, states that 7000 bales of wool have been sent to the manufacturing district. NEW SOUTH WALES. Sidney, November 21. Humors are current to the effect that Sir James Martin is likely to resign the Chief Justiceship, for the purpose of resuming his practice, and re-entering political life. Newcastle Shipping. Arrived : November 17th, Result, from Wellington. Sailed : IGth, John Bull and Maitland, for Lyttelton ; 17th, Ben Nevis, for Auckland ; Glimpse, for Dunedin ; Hopeful, for Lyttelton ; 20th, Australind, for Wellington. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. Adelaide, November 21. The war steamer Barracouta has arrived. Labor is scarce. • Men are receiving from £5 to £5 OS. per week, at piece work. Mowing and reaping have commenced. The yield is expected to average fourteen bushels. TASMANIA. Hobaetton, November 21. A farewell dinner has been given to Governor Ducane. He delivered an excellent speech on the relations of the colonies and the mother country, and the evils of protective tariffs. The ladies of Tasmania presented to Mrs. Ducane a casket containing 151 sovereigns.