AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1162, 7 March 1874, Page 14

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[By Tbllgkaph.]

Melbourne, February lGth. The English won the Sandhurst match, with soven wickets to spare. A fracas- occurred on the ground after the stumps had been drawn, between Mr Grace ami Mr Bruce, the president of the Club. It was caused by Gr.ice uot having attended the luncheon. After some words had passed, Bruce offered to apologise if he were in the wrong, but Grace replied that Bruce was no gentleman. Bruce then said that G race was I a(1 d blackguard. Grace thereupon rushed at Bruce, and a fight was only prevented by the intervention of tho bystanders. February 20th. The match, between the All-England I Eleven and the Victorians was resumed today. The English score, with that from yesterday, was as follows :—: — G. Grace 8 Greenwood 1 Gilbert 11 •Tupp 17 G. Grace 40 Oscroft 11 Mcliityro 27 Humphreys, not 0ut.... 20 Lilly white 40 Bush 0 Southerton 0 Sundries 12 Total 18(5 The Victorians in their second innings made 92 for 11 out. The Crown has closed the evidence in the Buckley will case. Gun-, reported as dead, has turned up.

February 2lßt. The date for the. dissolution of Parliament will be fixed on Monday. A number of candidates have already announced their intention of soliciting the suffrages of various constituencies.

Steps are being taken to raise a testimonial for presentation to Bishop Perry on his de- ' parture for Europe after having for 28 years presided over the diocese of Melbourne. r The inquest in the Reynolds case has [ bepn again adjourned, the detectives be- '" lieving that they have obtained some clue as to the senders of the box of explosive com- . pound. The evidence for the Crown in the Buckley Will ease has concluded, as far as witnesses are concerned. The Attorney-General un- '_ dertook to prove that the will had been a forgery, and that the claimant, Maher, was the person who had forged it. The evidence already adduced goes a long way to support ] the statement. " The Nelson :s to be docked on Friday „ next. She will be the first vessel taken into ' the dock. i The Stock Exchange has been dissolved. It is stated that Mr Justice Williams" one } of the five Judges of the Supreme Court, visits England in J~une. Negotiations are still proceeding with the L Victorian and South Australian Govern- . ments for the reduction of cable messages. Mr Todd, the Superintendent of Telegraphs in South Australia, suggests £3 for ten words, and five shillings for every additional word. [ The will of the late William Robertson, the well-known squatter, has been proved, under £294,000. [ A meeting has been held with the view of ' formiog a settlement in New Guinea. Several cases of drowning have lately occurred. Two attempted suicides have been re* ported. The tide of fortune has now turned in favour of the English cricketers, who at last have victory on their side, their opponents, however, being only local players. Commercial business rather dull. Wheat little offering, at 6s Id to v's 3d ; oats, jS t lw Zealand prime, 5s 6d. Agents for Tenant's bottled ale announce a reduction. Consider- ; able sales have been made. There have been , large sales of Hpnnessy's brandy in cases. Sugars in good demand. The gold returns show a falling off. Sydney, February 20th. Hume's storyaboutLeichhardt's expedition < turns out to bo a swindle. He lias arrived , here without relics, or anything to support - his stoiy, and says that the relics, manu- i script, &c. , have been lost or stolen. t February 21st. " The Government have decided to improve c the Cncular Quay on Selfe's plan, not Mo- ". liarty's, as it is consideied best, r The population of Palmer Eiver numbers \ 2000. Provisions are very scarce. The riveis 1 are flooded, and impassable. The Hon. Mr iceJy, member for the Upper % House, has died. Adelaide, February 20th. : Major Warburton has arrived safely in j; Western Australia. The paitj' hud been tor some time without provisions, and were forced to eat all the camels but three. A Warburton and his party have travelled y over 900 miles of hitherto unexplored country. so o Hobart Town, Februnry 21st. I The boiler of the river steamer Little Nell 2 exploded. Eight Jives were lost. Three 1> others who were aboard were seriously in- 'J jured. The steaniei was running between S Launceston and Georgetown. n

The barque Wynand, loaded for London, became a total wreck on the Kith, half a mile from Eddystone Point. The crew were saved. The cargo, mostly insured, was all lost.