AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1160, 21 February 1874, Page 14

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Melbourne, February 7th. The Governor, after an absence of more than a week, has returned to town, having explored the Gipps Land district in company with the Minister of Lands. Bishop Perry proceeds to England next mail. He intends to resign his Episcopate. . The Church Assembly has constituted the Colony a Province, and has raised the | Bishop's stipend to £2000 a year. Terrible murders are roported from near Avoca. A boot and shoo maker, named Porter, cut the throats of three of his children, and hung himself to a rafter in his house.

Mr W. J. T. Clarke's will has been proved. His Victorian properties are worth over a million and a half. Mr Joseph Clarko has been left the New Zealand properties. Tod, the Union Bank teller, has received a sentence of four years' imprisonment, the

woman Armstrong receiving six months' imprisonment. An insolvent debtor named Sloman has been arrested on board the Essex at the Heads.

Owing to the riots at Launceston, Governor Ducane will probably postpone visiting New Zealand.

A collision occurred at the Heads between the Essex, in charge of Pilot Leighton, and the barque Palace, at anchor, with damage to both sides.

The Land Department is making a vigorous crusade against dummyism. Mr John Hunter Kerr, an old colonist, is dead.

Mr Tait's M 'Callum Mohr won the Geelong Gold Cup after a splendid race. The steamer Great Britain took for England over 600 passengers.

The approaching elections are beginning to excite attention. The Chief Secretary has stated that the Government policy will contain no uncertain sound, but will be unrnistakeable.

The firm of D. S. Campbell and Co., wine merchants, has suspended payment. The liabilities amount to £10,000.

February 7th. The Church Assembly propose to increase the Bishop's salary to £2000.

Todd, the Union Bank defaulter, and his paramour, have been convicted of embezzlement, and the former sentenced to four years' imprisonment.

The Government has surrendered the Sydney tobacco that crossed the river before the Border Treaty was annulled. The Law Officers consider the detention illegal, The jury have returned a verdict, and £10 damages, against Archdeacon Slattery, of Geelong, for assault. Wheat is firm, 900 bags having been cleared at 6s Id. Central Vineyard brandy, quarters, 6s 6d ; Associated Vineyard Co.'s hogsheads, 6slO&d. Large sale of Javasugars, at full rates ; teas, ex Tartar, 1800 packages, Is 3d to Is 9d ; maize, 6s ; market bare.

February Bth. It is anticipated the Border Revenue will be very small for the next six months, as the squatters at Riverina are fully supplied. Captain Stanley, Admiralty Surveyor, reports that great changes are taking place in the West Channel, about the Pile light to the right of Royal George Bank, Queenscliff. A splendid shipment of valuablegreyhounds has arrived for Tasmania.

Dr Valentine has applied for a mandamus to compel Bishop Bromby to prosecute the Rev. Mr Barkway for Ritualisticpractices, but the Court has taken time to consider before giving judgment. The Government intend to reduce the railway fares 20 per cent.

A coach accident has occurred near town, and a girl, named Ellen Johnston, has been killed, and others severely injured.

Sydney, February 7th. The cricket match between the All-Eng-land Eleven and the Combined Fifteen is not concluded. The first innings of the AllEngland was fiuished for 170 runs. The chief scores were — M'lntyre, 55 ; G. F. Grace, 26 ; Greenwood, 23 ; Jupp, 24. The Combined team made 98 in their first innings. B. B. Cooper was the chief scorer, with 18. In the second innings — W. G. Grace, not out, 56 ; Greenwood, 20 ; Jupp, 12. Three wickets down for 91 runs. The English Eleven won the match against Bathurst easily.

Mr Stephenson, the editor of the Wagga Wagga Advertiser, has been horsewhipped by a gentleman named Willan, a solicitor, for a scurrilous article which appeared in the above journal.

The Assembly has not yet passed the second reading of the Electoral Bill, though they have debated on the question for five nights.

The English cricketers have not created a favourable impression, particularly the gentleman portion of the team.

The floods are subsiding ; but they have occasioned immense damage to the crops, and loss in live stock.

His Excellency Governor Weld left for Melbourne on Thursday evening. February 9th. At Newcastle a man named Wilcox has been drowned on the beach behind the Hospital. He has been a patient. It is suploosed he committed suicide while labouring under temporary insanity.

In the cricket match All England v. Combined Teams, the English players in their second innings made the splendid total of 236 runs. The Australians only scoring 90, the All England eleven won by 217 runs to spare. The crowd crossed the ground, coming in front of the Pavilion, and gave hearty cheers for the players. The English players left at 10 p.m. for Melbourne, but previous to their departure a number of their personal friends met at the Metropolitan Hotel, where they were staying, and wished them God's speed in brimming cups until the time came for going on board. (Latest Unpublished. ) Sydney. Mr Hume reports seeing 15 camels near the telegraph line five months ago, which he supposes belonged to Major Warburton's party, whom he belioves to be lost. The Sheep Disease Act contribution has been reduced to 10s por hundred. An accident occurred to a boating party in the harbour. A young man had his arm shattsred by a gun explosion. Adelaide, February 7th. The Wosleyan Conference liasjcarried a resolution, that it is desirable that the Conference be composed of an equal number of ministers and laymen.

At the Ministerial banquet at Port Pierre, the Attorney-General stated that Law "Reform and Education would be the two chief subjects dealt with next session.

Wheat is quoted at 6s ; the market is quiet and firm ; buyers offer 6s ; sellers are unwilling to accept. Flour easy, £1 3 ISs to £14 ss. Adelaide, February Bth.

The Evangelical Alliance have set apart Sunday, 15th February, for a harvest thanksgiving service. Last week's exports (breadstuffs) amounted to 3000 tons.

Dr Schomburg shipped a quantity of blue gum plants to the Northern Territory, being a specific for fever.

Brisbane, February 7th. The news from Northwards shows immense losses by the late hurricane. Andrew Hume, who was despatched by the Sydney Goyernment in 1872 to search for tiaces of Leichardt, and to recover relics of the expedition, has arrived by the steamer Boomerang. He reports that he found Olapan, Leichardt's second in command, with the blacks at the head waters of Steward's Creek. Glapan was getting very decrepid, and anxious to return to civilised life, but was prevented by the blacks. Clapan wrote an account of the failure of the Leichardt expedition. It appears that Leichardt's party, after a struggle with the leader, left him, when pushing on to the north-west coast. Olapan at the time was searching for water, and when he returned he found Leichardt insensible, and the camp broken up. The horses and mosb of the equipments were carried off by the men. Leichardt died five days after meeting Clapan, who can point out where Leichardt's remains are. The say that Leichardt's ineu made for the settled districts in South Australia, but were killed on the way by the Natives. Hume has in his possession Leichhardt's quadrant, a watch, and about seventy- five pages of Leichardt's records. February Bth. 143£ tons of tin have been received from Warwick this week. Hobart Town, February Bth. One hundred men are to be tried for bhe riots. Lattnceston. The Government are arranging to quell the riots. The mob perambulated the town, and broke windows and fence. 0 . Special constables have been sworn in, and 100 sent from Hobart Town.