INTERCOLONIAL,

Otago Witness, Issue 1585, 8 April 1882, Page 10

INTERCOLONIAL,

(ROUTER'S SPECIAL.)

Melbourne, March 30th. The brig Alexandra has gone ashore in the neighbourhood of Warrnambool Bay, and has become a total wreck. (Per Merchant Shipping and Underwriters' Association.) London, March 20fch.— Arrived : Ship Wairoa, from Wellington December 7th. March 31st. Arrived, last evening: The Union Company's steamship Tlingaroomfi, from tho JJlufF. Fears arc entertained for tho safety of i,hc ship Loch Mario, 1581 tons, which lefl Gnoloiip: for London on October 29th last, and in now lE>Q days out,

Another death from erysipelas has occurred in the Melbourne Hospital. Melbourne, April Ist.

The Victoiian revenue returns for the quarter ended 31st March amount to £1,540,000, being an increase of £114,000 compared with the corresponding quarter of last year. The revenue from Customs increased during the same period by £96,781; that from excise duties by £21,142 : and from public works by £15,247. The revenue for the nine months ended March 31st shows an increase of £435,500

April 3rd. M'Closkey, manager of the Bank -of New South Wale's at Richmond, in the south-eastern suburbs of this city, attempted to commit suicide, to-day by shooting himself. Heavy rains have fallen to-day in most parts of this' Colony; and the water-famine, it is now hoped, is at an end. (Per Merchant Shipping and Underwriters'

Association.) London, April Ist.— Arrived : Ships flermione, from Napier ( December Gth) ; Pleiades, from Lyttelton (December 28th) ; Veteran, from Oamaru (December 26th) ; Piako and Pleione, both from Wellington (December 31st.)

April 4th. Arrived: P, and 0. Company's steamship Indus, , with the inward Suez mails, dated London, February 24th ; also, Alhambra, from the Bliiif

Sydney, March 30th.

March 30th.

The schooner Prima Donna, 85 tons, in ballast, has been totally wrecked at Bondi, on the coast, a, few miles south of Sydney. Five of the crew were drowned, but the captain, was saved. ', Intelligence has been received here that Lieutenant Luckraft, of H.M.S. Cormorant, has been murdered by the Natives of New Hebrides. No particulars of the outrage are yet to hand.

1 April Ist. Now-Zealand wheat is quoted at 5s 6d per bushel ; New Zealand oats, 3s 8d ; maize, 6s (id per OG lb. The .revenue of New South Wales for the March ''quarter amounted to £1,075,000, being an increase of £282,000 compared with the corresponding period of last year. The railway receipts show an increase of £131,000, the land revenue of £29,000, and the Customs of 1 £33,000.

i , April 3rd. The following further intelligence regarding the recent murder of Lieutenant Lucraft, of H.M.S. Cormorant, is to hand. At the time j of the occurrence the Cormorant was visiting | Espiritu Santo Island (one of the New Hebrides), for the purpose of punishing the j natives concerned in the massacre of the boat's I crew of the labour-schooner Isabel, with whom was i the date Mr L. ,H. Mair, Government , agent. , In November last Lieutenant Lucraft had landed with a party of seamen, and sue- j cessfully arrested one of the islanders who had taken part in the outrage ; but while he was being taken by a guard to. the, boat, the native struck -one of the seaman,, who retaliated and killed him. A fight ensued with the islanders, in which Lieutenant Lucraft. lost his life. The Sydney Evening News in to-day's issue states that the nine seamen; who were with Lieutenant Lucraft at the time of his death have been placed under arrest. ' . , , , • , , , , ' April 4th. , The Colonial Treasurer has communicated with the New Zealand Government -with reference to the. missing ship, Minydon, >of which nothing has been heard since she; sailed , from Newcastle for Ly ttolton, with a cargo, of coal, on February 11th,, requesting .that, a steamer should bo despatched to search for j her. It is feared that she' has foundered at j sea. The statement of the Sydney Evening News regarding the arrest of nine sailors of H.M.S. Cormorant, in connection with the death of Lieutenant Lucraft, at Santo Island, is' now declared to be without foundation. Beyond the fact that a strict investigation has been ordered, nothing further has transpired. The reticence of -the officers is severely criticised by the Press of this city. Adelaide, March 31st. Another charge has been preferred against Barker, Hicks, and Forsyth, for conspiracy to defraud the Australian Mutual Provident Society. ' Wheat, per bushel, 5s 6d to 5s 7|d. Market steady. Town flour, per ton, £13 10a ; country brands, £12 10s to £13. ■ April Ist. j The South Australian revenue for the quarter ended 31st March amounts to £571,000, an increase 1 of £52,836 compared with the corresponding period of 1881. Brisbane, March 31st. The Marquis De Ray's steamer Genal, with the remaining Italian colonists, has arrived at Cairns from New Ireland. All on board are in a state of destitution. The captain died on tho passage to Cairns. Communications are now passing between the Government of this .Colony and that of New South Wales with a view to organising relief for the distressed people. Perth, March 31st. H.M.S. Espigal has arrived at Fremantle from England.