AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1192, 3 October 1874, Page 10

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[By Electric Telegraph.] Melbourne, September 17th. The Commodore in his report approves of the Victorian Naval training system After strong opposition, the Tariff Bill, increasing the duties on some articles from 10 to 20 per cent. , was carried. The Church Assembly have met. The Bishop presided. The report stated that there were at present 42 consecrated churches and 196 unconsecrated, making, with other buildings used, a total of 403 places of worship. £4500 has been offered for Goldsbrougb. The miners bava petitioned for a reduction of the duty on kerosene and candles, the impost on these articles having been considerably augmented by the new tariff. Business is dull Currants, sd. ; Tennant's ale, 10s. Breadstuffs are unchanged ; maize, ss ; 14.000 bushels of Adelaide wheat have been sold at 5s Id. A Tasmanian youth has been sentenced to death for rape on a woman of seventy. Three more failures have occurred in Launceston. In the estate of White, Mills & Co. the direct liabilities amount to from £12,000 to £13,000 ; contingent liabilitiesfrom£2s,ooo to £30,000. The only available assets amount to about £30,000. The firm is indebted to Peters, Barnard, & Co. for £34,000 for accommodation bills. September 21st. Notice has been given of a Government measure to deal with the larrikin nuisance, which will provide for private whipping in certain cases. The members of the German Astronomical party for Auckland Island has arrived by the Durham. The trial of George Butchart, for forgery, is proceeding at the Criminal Court. Shannon has been committed for trial for the murder of Moriarty at Mornington. The Sydney Hunt Club races passed off satisfactorily on Saturday. Admiral Richout has deposed several officers at New Caledonia and sent them back to Prance. In Western Australia a Bill has been read a second time for a new Constitution, and a dissolution has takeu place. The Constitution provides for two Chambers, a nominated Upper House, and a Lower House of 25 members. Sydney, September 17tb. Messrs Gilchrist, Watt, and Co., the agents for the San Francisco mail steamers, have chartered the Cyphrene3 to the A.S.N. Company, and have also made an offer of the Macgregor and Mikado. The Cyphrenes has undergone a thorough overhaul during her stay in port. She has left for Newcastle, to coal, and on her return will take in cargo, &c, for San Francisco. She will take the English mails, and will leave on tbe 26th just. The change from the City of

Adelaide is in every way an advantageous one. Mr. Russell's arrival from Auckland is anxiously looked for both in this colony and Victoria. The Mikado left San Francisco to date, as the 13th there is our 12th. Adelaide, September 21st. The want of confidence motion has been negatived by a large majority. Hobart Town, September 21st. Parliament has been prorogued to the 15th April.