LATE AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 16 December 1880, Page 2

LATE AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(PER STEAMER AT AUCKLAND.) NEW SOUTH- WALES. Sydney, December 9. It Is understood that the Mayor has instructed the Gity Engineer to sink pipes in the, sand at Botany Bay .to ascertain the depth of water beneath the surface, as there are fears of drought and a short supply of water.

The divorce case Dibbs v. Dibbs and Blair was concluded on Tuesday. The jury were discharged without agreement. Mr. ffarley made an'eloquent address. The Emerajd is under orders from the Commodore to proceed' to the Florin da Islands. , She. takes an interpreter, and will demand thei murderers of Bower. Beyond this, nothing has transpired of the movements of the vessel, , • , ,

At a Cabinet Council held yesterday, all the were present. It is rumored that proposals fpr Ministerial changes under consideration, as also the question of - appointments to the Upper House. At the Temora goldfields, Lewis com--menced puddling on Tuesday from his own claim, Lower Temora. Thirty lo.ads gaye 50og 18dwt, inclusive of nuggets weighing , over.. 13oz ,and several others weighing up to 3ioz. A load of picked out -wash-dirt rajs.ed an actual result of 2oz per load. At Bafchurst, the dead body of a woman; name unknown, has been found in a wheat paddock. The Coroner -gave a decided opinion that the woman had been strangled, and ravished. Articles were, found near the body from the police hope to obtain a clue to the guilty parties. The ground in the vicinity gives evidence that a struggle had occurred. Thpre were portions of torn qlothjngj and

an umbrella lying near, smashed to pieces. VICTORIA. It is likely that another prosecution in the sealskin jacket case will be instituted against Cornish, notwithstanding that he asserts that the jacket had been previously worn.

The Hospital Committee on Tuesday severely censured Dr. Newman in connection with the case of Annie Martin, and exonerated the matron. Two other charges will be. investigated by the .Committee directly implicating the same doctor. In the Legislative Assembly yesterday, a passage-alarms occurred between, Mr. Berry and Sir Bryan O'Loghlen. Mr. Berry said the Government would rather go over to the Opposition than submit to insult and humiliation from the member for West Bourke. Sir Bryan O'Loghlen referred to the policy of the Government as a jellyfish policy. Colonel Scratchley'3 term having nearly expired, arrangements have been made to continue his services for another year. All the other colonies are willing. Replies have been received from Queensland,. Tasmania,; and Western Australia, accepting invitations to the Conference. Official replies from Sydney and New Zealand are waited for. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. It is reported that some merchants intend refusing to pay rates under the new border duties arrangements by simply tendering the duty under the tariff, and, if fined, taking steps necessary to compel the collector to receive it. QUEENSLAND. The Premier has published a letter addressed to the leader of the Opposition by the British-India Steam Company in reply to a telegram sent by the former. The letter expresses regret that an important minority is opposed to their contract, and made a promise of arrangement connect the oolouy with other countries otherwise. He would do all in his power to conduct a thorough mail service, and so secure the approval of all parties, The colony intends to commence a service of direct steamers from London of not less than 2600 tons instead of 2000 provided in the contracts. Mr. Griffin published his reply to the Bi'itish-India Company, and concludes by stating that it was not unlikely lie would be in London within a few days of the receipt of his letter.