LATE AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1319, 10 March 1877, Page 10

LATE AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

{Per Arawata, at the -Bluff.) (FROM OUK MELBOURNE TELEGRAPHIC CORRESPONDENT.) Melbourne, March Ist. " state of things arising out of the charge ol corruption against the Speaker has been the principal topic of convewation during the week. Mr BeTy's reply to Sir Charles M'Mahon was of so extraordinary a nature that persons of all shades of politics wondered how it was possible that the Speaker of the Assembly could accept it as an apology ; but, from "the •letter addressed by Sir Charles. M'Mahonto Sir James M'Oulloch, it se.ems that he does not consider the apology at all Eatisfactory, and received it acting upon the advice of the gentlemen he had previously consulted. . Sir Charles can do nothing now, but has promised if elected to refute the calumny on the floor of the Assembly. 'Mr .Berry has- past his slanders abroad utterly regardless of the consequences, and the Chairman of Committees .has politely ; declined to accept any such doubtful apology as Mr Berry has offered. But although many days have elapsed, the- leader of the Opposition has not thought" fit and proper to reply to Mr David's letter, and'so for the present the matter stands. Parliament has been prorogued 'to the 3rd of April, and it is expected that the dissolution rrill speedily be announced, and that the general election will take -place about the middles of April. Candidates are holding meetings nightly in all parts of the country, and Mr Berry, as Chairman of the National lief or m ancl^ Protective League, is keeping the pot boiling by attending- the Liberal gatherings. The Free Trade League is also active, and their organisation extends to all parts of the Colony. Professor Pearson has been mentioned as a candidate for two or three constituencies, and as be lias preferred polidcs to his position as head master of the La lies' Presbyterian Colle-«, be kid decided, upon a gentle hint from the Principal to abandon his scholastic position at the cud of Juno. A Board, consisting of the Locomotive Superintendents of Sydney, Adelaide, and Brisbane, is just now sitting iti Melbourne to report upon the colonial manufactured engines cupplifd by the Phoenix Company at, Ballarat, and which were taken strong exception to by the titiitineer-in-Chief. Sir William Gregory, after spending about a

month here, has preceded to Sydney, ~ He will return to Ceylon by the next mail steamer. '. ; After a trial extending 6ver three days William Hastings has been found guilty of the murder of his wife at Frankston, and sentenced to death. The evidence was purely circumstantial, but was well pieced together, arid formed a tolerably clear chain. From the evidence of his daughter, aged fifteen, it- -was shown that improper relations had existed between herself and her father singe she was nine years old, and this fact was a cause of quarrel between the prisoner and Ms wife. The prisoner, since his condemnation, continues to assert his innocence. \ . The submarine cable is once more interrupted, and just at a time when important news is looked for.' So far, we have no information as to the extent or nature of the damage or the time that will be occupied in repair. The combination match, N. S. Wales and "Victoria Twelve v. All England .Eleven, ia arranged for the middle of March, and is ta extend over four days. The following will probably compose the team :— Victoria : Allah,Cooper, Midwinter, Kelly,' Blackham, and Horan. N. S. Wales : D. Gregory, E. Gregory; E. Bannerman, Thompson/ .Spofforth, and Garrett. Evans, it seems, declined to come, which will be a great pity, but he may yet be prevailed upon. Mis absence will "deprive the match of some of its importance, and much 'of its interest Spark and Calamia are the leading favourites for the Australian Cup ; Sultan and -Barmaid for the Newmarket Handicap. The_ship. Grandee, which arrived last week from New York, < reports having come into contact with- an iceberg during >the;;voyage7 She sustained some damage, but fortunately escaped safe and sound, : " , On Monday iast four men. were conimitted for trial "at Belfast for fire-raising onstations. It seems that these fellows had- gone about wilfully vyith lighted sticks setting fire to every, thing they came across. They succeeded in doing damage to the amount of LIO,OOO. | ' Frank Tribe, the latest of the long list' of | bank defaulters, has been dealt with sum I marily, and sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment, ' Bailey and Cooper's Menagerie is now on a provincial tour, and it would appear that they are doing a good business. At Stawell on Monday a stupid fellow put his r hand into the lion's den, and the lioness quickly caught at it and stripped off all the skin. It was fortunate for him that he .did" not lose his arm.' Ifc.ia stated that while in Melbourne the circus took over LIO,OOO in the month. They do not complain of the business since they have been in the Colony.' " ' ' " , , ■/, < Italian "Opera Company have proved a very capable troupe, and are nightly increasing in public favour. Since, the t first representations the houses have been very fairly attended." " Les Danicheff " still • holds- its" own 'at ' the Opera House. Miss-Minnie Walton is'at present suffering from illnesa^and'eanaot perform. The Academy of .Music continues to enjoy a fair share of thß public patronage. , t /'\ "Heavy rain set in last night, and ii; has b'e'eri general throughout the Colony. In Melbourne the streets iwere running rivers. * The rain was much wanted, and will do a great deal of good. Rain, is still very badly wanted iv the .back country! where cattle and sheep' are .dying. by thousands. . " * '\\ r,~u;ty. . <m., •■>!..> Business has lately been very' quiet.- > Whea£ still keeps up in price,! andiffoaowiquoted at • 6s 8d to 6s 9d. Sugar continues in demand, ,at y.erjr f nil rates. -;-,, „ ,'...• „{7l'"" '_ Messrs M'Meckan,'. Blackwoqd, and C 0.,, have' made important' reductions in' freighVaridi passenger rates 'between Melbourne" and I . all' New.'Zealand ports. ■:, ,s^ y 1 ..--•• ,„ ■;, The Tasmanian Government has. entered into a three-years' contract' with' Messrs M'Meckan and Blackwood for a mail service between Hobarb Town arid' New Zealand! '^l''' ' '' - ' , ;*; * Mr Gregor' -Taylor^' principal electrician- and! representative of the Cable Company/ is a passenger per Arawataw , „ - . , ■ . ■ The Melbourne -Meat Preserving Company are taking advantage of the present low price of sheep,, and their works are now in full opera : ' tion. - ' '-' * ' • . ■ j • ''■ The Bishop of Melbourne is visiting remote parts of his diocese, and appears, to be , well received. , ._ . It is likely that Baiily and Cooper's menagerie and circus will visit New Zealand after their return from Adelaide. '