AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3934, 25 September 1874, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Sydney, September 17th. Messrs Gilchrist, Watt, and Co., the agents for the San Francisco mail steamers, have chartered the Cyphrenes to the A.S.N. Company, and have also made an offer of the Macgregor and Mikado. The Cyphrenes has undergone a thorough overhaul durinf her stay in port. She has left for Newcastle^ to coal, and on her return will take in cargo, &c, for San Francisco. She wUi take the English mails, and Avill leave on the 26th inst. The change from the City of Adelaide is in every way an advantageous one.

Mr. Russell's arrival from Auckland is anxiously looked for both in this colony and Victoria.

The Mikado left San Francisco to date, as the 13th there is our 12th.

Melbourne, September 17th. The Commodore in his report approves of the Victorian Naval training Bystem. After strong opposition, the Tariff Bill, increasing the duties on some artioles from 10 to 20 per cent., was carried.

The Church Assembly have met. The Bishop presided. The report stated that there were at present 42 consecrated churches and 196 unconsecrated, making, with other buildings used, a total of 403 places of worship. £4500 has been offered for Goldsbrough. The miners h'ava petitioned for a reduction of the duty on kerosene and candles, the impost on these articles having been considerably augmented by the new tariff. Business is dull. Currants, sd. ; Tennant's ale, 10s. Breadstuffs are unchanged; maize, 5s ; 14,000 bushels of Adelaide wheat have been sold at os ld.

A Tasmanian youth has been sentenced to death for rape on a woman of seventy. Three more fadures have occurred in Launeeston.

In the estate of White, Mills & Co. the direct liabilities amount to from £12,000 to £ 1 3,000; contingent liabili ties from £25,000 to £30,000. The only available assets amount to about £30,000. The firm is indebted to Peters, Barnard, & Co. for £34,000 for accommodation bills.