AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4024, 11 January 1875, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Melbourne, January 4th. Parliament having been prorogued, there is political quietude, and the last ten days has been almost entirely devoid to holidaymaking. As usual, country visitors have streamed into town, and town visitors into the country, by thousands, during the Christmas and New Year holidays. All the places of amusement have heent crammed, and Blondin, who is about tovisSs New Zealand, has performed to ten and twelve thousand at a time since He reduce! his prices.

Governor Bowen left for Europe in t6e mail steamer on the 31st, and will not return, until July or August. - *- Sir Redmond Barry has been sworn in as Acting-Governor until the arrival of Sir WithamStawell by the next mail steamer, expected here on the 9th inst.

Mr Benjamin Williams, an old colonist, and a member of the Upper House, is dead. The Rev. Charles Clark, who leaves far Sydney to-morrow en route for AucklandL has severed his connection with the; Alberfe street Baptist Church. ■■..'.-'.■

The Intercolonial cricket match resulted in a victory for the Sydney eleven by sne wickets. Kelly, for Victoria; made the highest score—B6, and Bannerman, for New South Wales—Bl. It was an excellent match, and largely attended.

At the New Year Day race meeting Wbllamai won the Midsummer: Handicap, and Lapidist the Canterbury StakegS " ■'- Sullivan the murderer stni^continuea ia gaol awaiting departure to NewfZealaud. 7 A sea serpent is said to havefjseen seenTjy those aboard the Carlisle Castle" on. her outward voyage in lat. 45 deg., 12 W. A conference of Statists is about beihe held in Hobart Town. -.-.-•■-t--•>?

Sydney, January 4th. Two bush carpenters quarrelled during a drinking bout, and one took-a>butcher's knife, and while the other was irfebed, ripped him up. The murderer surrendered^ The elections in the various districtsIhave been nearly completed; r.i;i The immigrant ship Gauntlet wal dismasted off Moreton Bay. : r ■ Five men were drowned at Mackay by tne capsizing of a boat. .