NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA. Brisbane, 27 August.

Otago Witness, Issue 877, 19 September 1868, Page 21

NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA. Brisbane, 27 August.

The cargo of Tasmanian flour, ex Sea Bird, from Laundestoc, was sold by auction, slightly damaged, at from LI4 to Lls per ton.

Some quartz reefs have been discovered near the road from Brisbane to Oxley. Some trials have proved that the quartz contained gold in payable quantities. — Age.

28th August. In consequence of the adverse vote in the Assembly last week, and the refusal of the Opposition to proceed with other business, the Ministry have determined to appeal to the country, and His Excellency the Governor hsa adopted their advice, and dissolved the House. The new writs will be immediately issued, — Arcni3.

4th September.

The coming elections are not at presenc exciting much interest. Cobb's coach was stuck-up when three miles out from Gympie by three armed men, who robbed the passengers and plundered the mails, and then decamped. Mr Power, of Melbourne, and Mr Thatcher, the vocalist, were two of the victims who were relieved of their money and valuables. — Argus.

Maryborough, 27th August.

Thirty tons of stuff have been crushed from the Perseverance Reef, which have yielded in the aggregate 170oz of gold. There is much distress still prevailing amongst the unemployed miners who have arrived from the other colonies, in numbers far in excess of the requirements of the mines here.

A man named John Bradley, a Victorian, said to have been formerly well known on the Gold fields, shot himself, and died almost immediately.

28th August. The news from the Gympie diggings is very much to the same effect as we have haa lately. Some miners are doing very well, whilst those who cannot get gold find it impossible to get any remunerative employment. Three fine nuggets have been found at the Kilkivan rush, one weighing 108 ounces, another 70 ounces, and the third 27 ounces. Some new reefs have been opened up with varying results. — Age.

QUEENSCLIFF, 30th AugUßt.

The barque India, from Hobart Town to Geelong, arrived here last night, and brought the shipwrecked crew of the barque Omagh. The following report of the wreck, is supplied by the master : — The barque Omagh, 326 tons, from Newcastle, bound to Adelaide, on 26th August, struck on an unknown sunken rock on the east side of King's Island, in lat. 39deg. 48min. S., lone. 144deg. 14min. X., Sea Elephant Rock bearing S.W. half W. distant four miles ; extreme end of bay, S. S.W. The crew were picked up by the barque India, from Xobart Town, bound to Geelong, which arrived at Port Phillip Heads on Saturday night. The rock is not laid down in any chare. The vessel sank in 11 fathoms of water. — Age.

Adelaide, 2Sth August.

In the Legislative Assembly yesterday, a somewhat unusual occurrence took place. Mr Tomkinson, the Manager of the Bank of Australasia, appeared before the bar, and as a Northern Territory landholder protested against the Bill then before the House, as infringing on rights acquired under a previous Act now ia force. The Bill however, passed it 3 second reading. The Water Works Bill also passed the second reading. In the Assembly to-day, the Northern Territory Bill was read a third time, and passed almost without opposition. Mr Strangways carried a motion for a select committee to inquire int© and report upon the working of the staff department of the Volunteer force.

The corn market la without alteration. — Argus. Sheep this week were sold at from 9a to 12s each, and lambs at from 4s 6d to 7s each, — Age.

29th August.

The corn market has subsided into a state of absolute dullness, and no reliable quotations can be given, there being no transactions beyond the wants of the trade. — Argus.

A. Belect committee was appointed by the Assembly to-day to inquire into the disorganised state of the Volunteer Staff Office. 3 1st August.

Business generally has been very dull, and breadstuffs quotations, in the absence of sales, are quite nominal. Wheat is quoted at from 6s to 6s 9d, according to sample. There is some inquiry for flour at from LI7 to LlB per ton. A discovery of silver ore is said to have been made in the Wallaroo diatrict, and several claims have been taken up. — Argus.

2nd September.

The provisions of the proposed new Scab Act are anything but satisfactory to the pastoral tenants, and they are now getting up a petition against the measure. Mr Goyder, the surveyor-general, has declined to tender for the survey of the northern territory. The Government announce they will receive tenders, up to October Bth, for the survey of nearly half a million acres north of latitude 18deg. The news by the mail has had no effect on general business. The corn market is very inactive ; wheat is quoted at 6s 6d to 6s 9d, and flour at Ll7 to LlB.

3rd September.

It is rumoured, on apparently reliable authority, that a payable goldfield has 'been discovered, at Jupiter Creek, near the Meadows, and already 200 licenses are said to have been issued.

The Estimates were 1 laid on the table* yesterday, and the Treasurer will make* his financial statement this evenings Tha estimates of expenditure show a reduction of L 17.000 in the various Government 'depart* ments. -nn. The corn market is remarkably quiet. 4th September. In the Legislative Assembly last night the Treasurer in his financial statement an* nounced that the deficit at the end of this year would amount to a total of LI 93,000, which he proposed to make up from the £n» migration Fund. i It is reported that cinnabar has been die* covered near Adelaide. — Argus. The advertisements are out calling for tenders for the survey of the Northern T«r» ritory. Tenders to be received till the; Bth of October. Breadstuff's continue very dull. There is no improvement to note in the wheat market — Age. j ■ Sydney, 2nd September. The Gem, schooner, haa arrived from Fiji.' ' She brings dates from Levuka to the; 6th of August, a n engagement had taken place with a tribe of natives in the interior. It appears that a dispute had arisen between thjse natives and a British s»-ttler who had taken a conveyance of land from one of the chiefs. The right of this chief to alienate the land was disputed,- and the settler threatened by the natives. He had therefore applied to theconsul, atwhoseinstanceandthafc of the King, the Commodore determined to send up a small f orne by way of demonstration. The Challenger's men and the Rewa River settlers accordingly proceeded to chastise the refractory Natives, who resisted. Two of the settlers were wounded ; one of them, Mr Creelman, had a severe wound ia the neck, which it was feared would prove fatal, but he is recovering. The British burned the village, and the Natives retired. H.M.S. Challenger, with the Commodore on board, had left for the Eastern Hebrides. The Charybdis had been ordered on a cruise to the Fijis. 3rd September* The Mirzapore brings a cargo of sugars. At the wool sales to-day there was a good deal more spirit evinced, and the biddings were decidedly brisker. Messrs R. F. Stubbs and Co. sold to-day, by auction, 2400 chests and half -chests of tea, being che balances of the cargoes ex Catherina and Emma, from Foo Chow (last season's teas), at from L 6 lls to LI 10s per chest. A large attendance of the trade was present, and the competition was good. — Age. In sporting circles there is little change in betting. Orlando is considered a certain winner of the St Leger ; Melancholy Jaquea is more in favour for the Derby. The price of coal haa been further reduced. The s.s. .blackbird has been loaded at 8s 3d per ton. Wool sales are more active. New greasy brought 54d to 6|d; hand-washed, 64d to lsWild Wave and Fawn have bean scratched for the Derby. Kaiser iB more fancied since his gallop to day. Last month's yield of gold is the largest monthly yield during the two years. Maize is quoted at 2i 7d. H.M.S. Brisk has sailed for England. 4th September. A serious railway accident happened this morning. The nine am. up-train, on approaching the Sydney station, came into violent collision with a number of trucks that happened to be on the line. The engine was c ipsized by the force of the concussion. Th« passengers were very much shaken, but otherwise sustained no apparent damage. Two of Judge Cheeke's horses, The Friar and Emeral i, were much injured. The Friar was entered for two races to-morrow at Randwick, and Kmerald wa3 intended to run for the Tradesmen's Plate on the following Saturday. Daring the excitement consequent on the collision the engine-driver and stoker disappeared. In consequence of the rivalry among the nvning companies at Newcastle, the price of coal has been reduced to 8s per ton.— Argus. The excitement arising out of Mr Pa- ken's statement still continues, and a portion of the public believe that there is a secret organi. sation resembling the German Vfihm gericht in existence. The Roman Catholic Archbishop assures his peop'e that a very little time will serve to establish truth and right, if they will be quiescent The Protestant Association condemns the calling a puolio meeting, and especially such as the late abortive meeting, which was convened anonymously. The question will be discussed in Parliament next month. Coquette continues to maintain her position, as first favorite for the Derby, at 5 to 2, which price is freely taken. Offers am made to lay 5 to 1 against anything else. Fenella and Ragpicker are well, but Melancholy Jaques looks very shy. Kaiser and Marksman are neither of them so firm as they were. For the Metropolitan Stakes, Tim Whiffler and The Barb are equal favorites at 5 to 2 against either, but 7 to 1 can readily be obtained against any other horse in the race. The betting on all events is,' however, very dull. Maize is firmer to-day at 2s 6d par bushel. k

Arrived : Ellen, from Launceston, Considerable discussion has lately arisen about the postal question, and differences of opinion are expreaed amongst comnurcial men as to the relative value of the two postal routes, namely, that by Panama and that by Torres Straits. The latter ia advocated, by the Cham er of Commerce, but the Panama has lately gained much in public favour.