AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Colonist, Volume VIII, Issue 770, 10 March 1865, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

A branch of the Bank of Queensland is about to be opened in Toowoomba. Thirty-two head of horses were lately stolen from the vicinity of Warwick. The animals have since been recovered, and one of the thieves apprehended. A singular case of suicide is mentioned in the Sydney Morning Herald : —"A Chinaman was found suffocated in a grave dug inside his gunyah, at Long Point, Macquairie. The deceased constructed a large box over himself, filled with earth. The box had a false bottom with a string attached, which he pulled, and so the earth fell upon him and buried him. The unhappy being had been deserted by his countrymen, as he was suffering from some skin disease. He frequently expressed his belief that should he die none would bury him, and that the

native dogs would destroy his body." Sir J. Fisher, President of the Legislative Council, Adelaide, has declined to offer himself for re-election on account of his age. Cameron, the well-known Melbourne cricketer, has been killed by a fall from a horse. The Shenandoah was placed on the Government slip at Williamstown, Melbourne. She drifted from her moorings during a gale on the Bth of FebruarX, and drove against the Williamstown Breakwater. In the latter part of January Mr. Irvine, at Teapofc Swamp, near Bathurst, was stuck up by two bushrangers with masks on. They stole about £15 in money-

A telegram from Queenscliffe, Victoria, states : — " The Southern Ocean, with passengers, is placed in quarantine, having had thirteen deaths. Fourteen steerage passengers will be landed at the Quarantine Station, and the ship cleared before being released. Aleock and Co., billiard-table makers, Melbourne, offer £500 reward for the manufacture of the first web of cloth suitable to the requirements of their trade. James Clarke and William Sanders have been apprehended, charged with having in their possession bank notes that had been stolen in the Queanbeyan mail robbery. A meeting of persons interested in the formation of a new sugar-growing company is being formed in Queensland.

At the annual agricultural show at Toowoomba samples of wheat shown were the finest ever grown in Queensland.

The Attorney-General of Queensland has given notice of his intention to institute criminal proceedings against the proprietors of the Brisbane Courier, for a libel alleged to be contained in a leading article in that paper on the 10th of January, in which the conduct of the Attorney-General, in his double capacity of grand jury [? juror! and practising as a barrister, is commented upon.

The Late Hon. Richard Heales. —The Ministry have announced their intention to appropriate* the sum of £3000 to the widow and family of the late Hon. Richard Heales. This mark of regard for the memory of one who did so much for the people of Victoria, and was so deservedly high in their esteem, will secure golden opinions for the Cabinet, not only from teetotallers, but from all kinds and conditions of mcc.— Melbourne Temperance ~News.

Heavy Failure in Ballarat.—Messrs. Dunn and Co., of Ballarat, proprietors of the Warrenheit Distillery, have suspended payment. Liabilities, £29,217. The assets show a surplus of £2'),000. Thfi stoppage ig attributable to the difficulty to effect sales, and the large amount of capital invested in the works. Their creditors hare accepted one-third cash, and the balance at three and six months.— Sydney Herald, Feb. 9.

The Melbourne Free-trade League held its first meeting on the 6th of February. Subscriptions in aid of the movement amount to £5000.

At Melbourne, a quantity of American reprints of English books have been seized on the premises of *he Religious Tract Society.

Advices from the Peak Downs Diggings, Rockhampton, Queensland, are very satisfactory. The escort has brought 46,000 ounces! — S. M. Herald, February 7.

In the Victorian Assembly a motion has been carried for the total abolition of the export duty on gold at the end of the year 1866.

Bronze statues, ten feet high, of Burke and Wills, have been successfully cast at Melbourne.

The exports of the colony of Queensland, during the year ending 31sfc December, amounted to £1,247,000. The imports to £2,267,000.

The Australasian Insurance Company have declared a dividend of 10 per cent, per annum.

The blacks about Ipswich, Queensland, are becoming rather troublesome.

Dr. Hobbs, M.P., has inaugurated an effort for the establishment of a grammar school in th« city of Brisbane, Queensland, ■with every prospect of success.

The Chief Secretary of Victoria has given notice of the intention of the Government to introduce a "bill to amend the Banking Currency Act.

It is said there is a probability of H. H. Stephenson bringing another team of English cricketers to the colonies next season.

Excellent Financial Condition of South Australia. —An Adelaide telegram says :—" Th<e revenue returns for the quarter and the year ending' 31st December last, show an increase of rerenne for the year 1864 over 1863 of £144,000, and for the quarter £43,800. Of this increase, £72,000 is on the sale of lands. The balance of revenue over expenditure is £149,000."

A new Land Bill for Victoria is passing through, committee in the Upper House of that colony. Several amendments have been made, the principal being the reduction of the periods during which. lands shall remain open for free selection from three* years to one ; and the increase of the amount of law! optional for sale by auction from 200,000 to half as. million acres yearly.

The Customs' authorities at Adelaide, notify tbajft masters and second mates of foreign going ships, aracß masters and first mates of vessels in the home track*, will not be allowed to clear unless they hold certificates of competency. ij Theee Bushrangers were captured by the police I in Queensland, on the night of Sunday, 19th of Feb. They are supposed to be the men who robbed Garbutt's station, near Mudgee, some months ago. j They have been brought up at the Police Court and remanded.

Duty on Grain in Victoria. —In *he Lower House of Assembly at Melbourne on 15th Feb., theGovernment carried the duty on oats and barley '3dper bushel, and on vinegar 6s. per gallon. This last? article it was supposed was to be exempted. It is considered almost certain that the new tariff bill for Victoria will be rejected by the Upper House-

Splendid Yield by Quartz Crushing.-—Afr Golden Point claim, Wentworth, New South Wales,, the crushing of 30 tons of quartz has yielded 15 cakes of 20 lbs. each, 300 pounds weight of gold, valued at; £12,600 sterling.

The New Zealand Bonds in the Australian Market.—A Melbourne telegram informs us tbj»fr the New Zealand Debentures for £250,000 as a teß»--porary loan, and which had been placed in fbet Australian market for sale, have been tendered for hi Melbourne at par—the limit fixed. Considering it<& present depi'ession of the money market, the pariseel may i-o considered satisfactory. P^tP.tfENTS OF KEROSINE AND TOBACCO TBOOT New York. —Considerable shipments of kerosene and tobacco are advised from New York. The only vessels that sailed .during the month for the Australian colonies were the Isabel for Sydney, -with 3000 cases of kerosene and 103,000 lbs. tobacco, and the Stranger for Melbourne, with 3000 cases fcerosene 178,000 lbs. of tobacco. Six vessels are reported loading for the Australian ports. No shipments of breadstuffs are advised of.— Sydney Herald 11th Februaiy.