AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1158, 7 February 1874, Page 12

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[By Telegraph.] Melbourne, January 31st. The steamer Tartar, for the new Californian service, has arrived in the bay this morning from Hong Kong. She is a very fine vessel, and appears well adapted for the service. Mr Vale, who has twice occupied the position of Minister of Customs, has delivered a valedictory address to his constituents. He is about to proceed to Europe. The Alfred Graving Dock is finished, and is ready for use. The steamer Otago takes the next mail to the Bluff. The Governor has proceeded to Gipps Land. He will be absent eight or ten days. A branch of the National Fire and Marine Insurance Company of New Zealand has been established here under the management o Mr Francis. Pilot Nicholson, who grounded the Pera with a pleasure party aboard, has been cautioned to be more careful in future. Information has been received that a black woman has been murdered on the Murray. The perpetrators of the outrage reside in Victoria. The Governor of Tasmania, Mrs Dv Cane, and Earl Donoughmore visit Governor Fergusson at the end of February, and will be absent from Tasmania for tw > months. The Claus-Rekel concert party leave for New Zealand on the 11th February. Signor Biscaccianti proceeds per Alhambra to make arrangements. The Rev. J. Shaw, of New Zealand, was preseut at the Wesleyan Conference. The English Cricketers play at Bathurst to-day, and next week they will play in Sydney, against the combined teams of Melbourne and Sydney. Large supplies of wheat have poured into the Melbourne market from New South Wales, and from, the country districts per rail. The Tartar discharges cargo here before proceeding to Sydney. The ship Essex has returned to Hobson's Bay with loss of mainyard. Wheat is now easier at 6s Id to 6s 3d. Flour parcels are offering at £14. Oats are very scarce, and much wanted — buyers, 5s 3d to 5s 6d. New Cape barley, 4s lOd. Large sales of sugar continue at current rates. Considerable sales of Geneva hays taken place as high as 15s tid. Hennessy's brandy, premier, £1 Ss 9d refused. New ales are coming forward, and £9 is asked for Bass and Marrian brands. A telegram from Foochow, dated the 26th of January, says: — "The tea season has just closed." 102 bales New Zealand flax were sold at £17 to £19 per ton. Kauri pine logs sold from ISs 6d to £1 3s 6d per 100 feet. Tookey's fourth issue are wanted at £12. Galvanised iron, £1 13s lOd. Sugars sell very freely. 10,000 bags have been sold, lealising— Counters, £34 ; whites, £36 to £38 10s. Auckland, February sth. The steamer Victoria arrived to-day from Sydney. She left on the Ist, and brings additional Australian news to that brought by the Alhambra. Sydney, February Ist. There have been great floods in the northern districts, causing immense destruction to crops and other property. Four houses have been washed down at Maitland. The Triennial Parliament Bill has passed both Houses. The Assembly has voted a month's supply. Hathfrone, the bushranger, attempted suicide in Goulburn Gaol. It is supposed that he is the murderer of Baxter, who was found dead near Bland.

The Government has presented a steam launch to the Basilisk, to facilitate the survey of New Guinea. Tho Anniversary Regatta caused good sport, though a gale was blowing. The same morning a Binall boat was capsized down the

harbour, and Mr Chatts, a clerk in the Works department, and two other friends, were drowned. The bodies have not yet been recovered. The rush to the Endeavour River still continues. The s.s. Mikado, from Dunedin, arrived at Sydney on the 27th ultimo ; and since discharging, she has been docked, and was to leave for New Zealand on the 3rd mat. The s.s. Tartar takes the Australian mails to Kandavu. Melbourne, January 28th. A young woman, named Mary M 'Gibbon, attempted to drown herself by jumping off Princes Bridge. Assistance was rendered by several men, when a young man named Wade, who was unable to swim, lost his life, but the woman was saved. The Coursing Club has engaged Mr Warwick as judge at their next meeting. They pay him £300, and his passage out and home. A Melbourne testimonial valued at £700 has been presented to Mr Bagot, the Secretary of the RaciDg Club. The question of a Homoeopathic AVard in the Hospital has been postponed. The Chines dispute has been settled. Sir Gavan Duffy proceeds to Europe by the March mail. Mr Higinbotham, Engineer-in-Chief, proceeds to America and Europe by the March Californian mail.

A married woman, named Sarah Salmon, has committed suicide, by hanging herself from a bed-post. She was of unsound mind. Oidium has appeared on the vines in the Geelong district. The Rev. Mr Cape has been elected President of the Wesleyan Conference. A prisoner, named John Edgar, after serving a sentence of six years, for rape, has been discharged, on the ground that it was a case of mistaken identity. The following players leave to-morrow for Sydney to play in the combination cricket match :— Cosstick, Cooper, Conway, Gibson, Carr, and Loughnan. A warrant has been been issued against George Morris Drummond, for embezzlement from the Provincial and Suburban Bank. The amount missicg has not been ascertained. The s.s. Pera proceeded down the Bay with a large party, including the Governor and Ministers, to celebrate the inauguration of the Victorian Mail Service. She struck on a shoal off Brighton, and remained there an hour before getting off. The Melbourne Gas Company has declared a dividend of 8 per cent. A man named Andrew Blocklam has cut his throat while suffering from the effects of drink. Parliament has been further prorogued to February 2Sth. The National Insurance Company's dividend is S per cent. Brisbane, January 31st. Great damage has been done along the coast to the northwaid by a terrific hurricane. | The ketch Hibernia has been wrecked, and the James Paterson struck on Masthead Reef at midnight, with all sails set. The wind was blowing strong at the time from E.S.E., and weather thick. She lay very well till daylight, when efforts were made to get her off, but all attempts failed. A tremendous surf was rolling in, and the ship bumped heavily, but she held together bravely till the tide rose and drove her higher up the reef, where she now lies dry at low water. No lives were lost. On Friday a number of volunteers faced the breakers surrounding the ship. The chief officer, with two passengers and three of the crew, succeeded in reaching the Pilot Station. The pilots at Keppel Bay report a fearful hurricane, which did considerable damage at ' the Station, partially unroofiug houses, blowing down the flagstaff, and washing away the jetty at St. Lawrence. The Pilot Station was nearly destroyed, and the wharf, with a quantity of goods, disappeared in the creek. The Telegraph and Post offices were blown down, and the telegraph wires for some miles destroyed. Trees for miles were shivered and uprooted.