LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Colonist, Volume XIII, Issue 1279, 28 December 1869, Page 3

LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By the arrival of the Rangitoto yesterday, from Melbourne, we have the following intelligence:— Melbourne, Dec. 20. Dr. Eeatherstone and the Hon. Dillon Bell sailed for England, in the Avoca, onthe 7th inst. Eighty-one Anstralian diamonds fetched, at auction, from two to ten guineas. I The quartz specimens found near Lyttelton were tested at Sandhurst, and yielded an ounce to the ton. The flying squadron sailed for Sydney on the 7th mat.; over a hundred deserters were left behind. The Government intend appointing experts to prevent the perpetration of Custom House frauds by false invoices. Mr. Moore, formerly official assignee, is appointed comptroller of Savings' Banks. Taggart, telegraph operator at Castlemaine, has been killed by an excursion train. Mr. Whiteman is appointed Government "iwhip." ; E. M. Isaacs, formerly Solicitor-General of New South Wales, has beenjadmitted to the Victorian Bar. At Blanket Flat, Day leaford, Thomas Blakey has been stabbed to death by his wife, who has been committed for trial for wilful ! murder: ' , Sydney, Dec. 18. < < Markets quiet; flour lower tendency. |, j Large arrivals of sugars from Mauritius. i j A storm passed over the city on Thursday; | much damage done. The ketch Comet sunk 1 in the harbor. i j Elections turning out favorable for Oppor sition; strong sectarian feeling evoked. t Dr. Lang ia going to England. 1 ; Sydney Kennedy has been elected Mayor. ! Mr. M'Cullo«fc, Magistrate at Dubbo, has b«eD killed while kanguooing. CapUin Aw»y Mriomly fiqtiredv

Denis M'Kinlay has been sentenced to two years, Boger and.O'Brien to fife years, and Shaw to biz years. . Hilliard, of the Custom House, Bockhainpton, has been arrested on afresh charge of embezzlement. Archibald's conviction, in connection with Halh'gan's murder, has been confirmed. Hi» execution is to take place on the 22nd. The Flying Squadron arrived on the 12th. Mr. Lackerstein has become insolvent. The Meteor has. arrived from Foo Chow Foo, with 6616 packages of tea. The Agricultural Society have determined %o offer 125 guineas,, foi the best practical scheme for water supply. At Armidale, a heavy storm has destroyed 4700 bushels of wheat. 105 sheep were killed by the lightning. . * On Dec. 17, the schooner Prince Patrick came into collision with the brig Drover. The Prince Patrick became a total wreck on North bland, her crew having a narrow escape. On Dec. 16, the Governor gave a ball to the officers of the Flying Squadron. Mr. Hill, of Grafton wharf, has suspended payment; and Messrs. Feahey and Co., drapers, are insolvent. Adelaide, Dec. 18. The South Eastern Railway Bill to the Victorian boundary at Mount Gambierhaa been read a second time. The Willunga flax mill opened. Wedd's mill at Mount Barker, has been destroyed by.fire. On December 14, the heat was intense, being 108 in the shade. The Hon. Mr. fttran'gways is very ill.