AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4406, 3 April 1876, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

We take the following from onr latest exchanges : -

Messrs DuffielJ, of Adelaide, have received a telegram from London stating that bleached wheat was worth 2s less than bright wheat. '■

Reports have reached Cooktown of the discovery of a splendid pearl fishery 100 miles in extent.

Letcers from the Far North (South Australia) speak oE the drought as likely to be very severe. .-...■,• Anot er " black mail" scandal has leaked out at Adelaide, and a second writ will be issued against Mr James White, M.P. Benjamin William Campion, a solicitor in g.>od practice at Lauac'eaton, has levivhted, and it is reported that his defalcations are considerable. It has bean ascertained that he left in the Sumatra y and a warrant has been issued for his apprehension. His estate has been declared bankrupt.

The Hon. Thos. Elder, of Adelaide, has received a telegram stating that the celebrated horse Gang Forward will. be. shipped by the Invercauld, sailing this month. A hundred Union. Bank shares have been sold in Sydney at £55 each. , A property in Collins street was sold at £600 a foot, and allotments in Melbourne suburbs, which a few yars ago were bought for £Z or £4 per acre, have been sold at £200 and £300 per acre; : The Argos says:—"ln reference to the charge made againat Sjessrs L.: Stevenson' and Sons, merchants, Flinders Lane, of defrauding the revenue by furnishing false invoices to the Customs, we are informed that the person—a discharged,,servant of the firm—who originall}' preferred the charge, has made a statutory declaration of its truth, in which he States that invoices' have been furnished by Messrs Stevenson to the Customs which under-stated the value of goods imported to the extent in some cases of 25 per cent. The declaration has been placed in the' hainds of the Collector of Customs, #ho ia investigating the matter. Messrs Stevenson, we understand, have expressed their anxiety to the department that the fullest inquiry should be ma le, so as to clear up the matter beyond doabfc, and have placed every facility in the hands of the Customs authorities, for the inspection of their, bosks and invoices. The person who has made the charge was, we are informed, refused a reference bythe firm on being dismissed from their employment.

The Chinese claim to levy customs in Macao harbour. The Portuguese resist, and have occupied it in force. War is imminent if the other Powers do not interfere.