AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1161, 28 February 1874, Page 12

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Telegraph.]

Melbourne, February 14th. It is likely that Parliament will not be prorogued till 12th, March. On the morning of the 9th, a small box, containing an explosive compound, was sent to Mr Maxwell Reynolds. In the act of opening it in the presence of his old partner, Mr English, it exploded. Mr Reynolds was killed and Mr English injured. The police are endeavouring to trace the mystery. An inquest has been opened, but adjourned. A boiler explosion has occurred in East Melbourne. No one was injured, but the buildings are shattered and in ruins. The Corporation have adopted an address to the Duke of Edinburgh oh the occasion of his marriage. The Buckley will case is still proceeding. The Attorney-General for the Crown says he will prove the will to be a forgery, and that the claimant Maher forged it. Maher came from Wagga Wagga. Sir Gavan Duffy has declined a demonstration in Sydney. He goes home in April. Professor Esmaroh's mode of preparing the limb so as to prevent loss of blood during an operation has been tried at the hospital, and proved very successful. Madame Goddarcl leaves India by this month's mail for the Colonies, and will afterwards visit California. Blondin has asked permission to perform in one of the public reserves. The request is not likely to be granted. The Volunteer camp is to be held at Sunbury at Easter. In the cricket match, All England Eleven v. Twenty-two of Bendigo, the local team scored 90 in the first and 165 in their second innings. The Eleven made 154 in their first innings, thus leaving them 102 to win. The game was resumed to-day. The weather is very hot. The Government Gazette contains a notice revoking the proclamation prohibiting the introduction of live stock from New Zealand. The dock is now completed, and the Nelson •will be taken in next week. Another legal manager is missing from Sandhurst, with defalcations. Latest Mauritius news state that two vessels are loading for Dunedin. Wheat, 6s 6d to Gs Bd. Oats, feeding, 5s 7d ; milling, 5s lOd. Sugar is moving off freely. Candles are in moderate request. Geneva still attracts attention ; saleß at 14s 3d. Oilmen's stores are in good request. Salad oils are advancing. Tookey shares— Sellers, £12, full share.

Sydney, February 14th. The Deceased Wife's Sister Bill has passed in Committee of the Assembly. The Hume mystery still continues unsolved. Mr Todd of Adelaide states that Hume had not time to do all hb asserts, and proofs are adduced that he never met WarBurton's party. Hume remains still at Brisbane, A girl named Ooleman, while tending Bheep near Tamworth, was violated and choked. The perpetrator yet remains undiscovered. Several wrecks have occurred to the northward during the recent heavy weather. The advices from Palmer River are satisfactory. The country was flooded, as the wet season had set in. There were about 1600 diggers on the ground, and nearly as many more en route. Provisions are frightfully dear ; and no meat, fresh or preserved, can be obtained. The blacks are very troublesome. At Gilbert the telegraph Btation was invested and barricaded ; but no firearms are obtainable. The Tartar took a large mail to California,

She carried about forty passengers. The Governor visited her before she sailed. The Anglican Synod has closed.

Launceston, February 14th. The riots are over. The Government decline to stay the collection of the railway rate. Strop won the Launceston Cup, and B]ue Peter the Handicap.