AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 1115, 21 October 1874, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Melbourne, October 15. The Pera arrived six days before her date, which necessitated the Albion leaving for tho Bluff on the same day as the Tararua for Hokitika. Mr Yogel at once arranged with McMockan, Blackwood and Co., who offered every facility, that the Tararua should take the Westland, Nelson, Wellington, and Taranaki mails, the Coorong the Hawke's Bay mails, and that mails for Otago and Canterbury should go by the Albion. Mr Yogel also applied to Bright Brothers, who courteously agreed to detain the Hero at Sydney, to allow timo for the Wentworth to carry up the Auckland mails. Tho Hero will probably leave Sydney with thesa mails late on Saturday evening. Although Mr Russell has come to an understanding with the New South Wales Government as to the Californian service, it has not yet been reduced to writing. Mr Russell returns to New Zealand by the Hero. The Macgregor has been chartered for the Californian service, and arranged to call at Auckland for the New Zealand mails. Mr Yogel remains m Melbourne until the .departure of the next mail for Europe. On Tuesday he visited the Assembly during its sitting. Sir James McCulloch's amendment on the Customs Duties Bill was disposed of after one night's debate, amd rejected by a majority of 20. During the discussion, Mr Francis expressed himself opposed to the 20 per cent, duties. Mr Francis has resolved to resign his seat for Richmond. It is stated that Mr Cohen, Commissioner of Customs, shortly retires from political life. Agitation is proceeding as to opening museums and picture galleries on Sunday. Subscribers to the Athen-Bum have resolved by a large majority against opening that institution. Councillor James Gatehouse has been elected Mayor of Melbourne for the ensuingyear. Husler is committed for trial for the murder of his wife. Unusually hot weather is being experienced m all the colonies. A coach accident has occurred near Warnambool, and several passengers were injured, one severely. The wool sales opened satisfactorily. A shipment of pure Cotswold sheep for Busby and Co., Auckland, was made per Hero. The new steamer Somerset, with the Torres Straits mail, arrived five days before her time. Miss Isabella Carandini was married to Mr Cotterell at Sydney yesterday. The New Zealand mare Lurline is still much fancied and is doing good work. She is well backed for the Cup. The Coet Logon, French corvette, "arrived yesterday, en route for New Caledonia. Owing to difficulty m obtaining a suitable site it is unlikely that Blondin will perform here, but will proceed to New Zealand and California. A number of American wool buyers arrived per Pera. They only left Boston 53 days ago. McMeckan, Blackwood, and Co. are building two new steamers, of 1200 tons, on the Clyde, with a guaranteed speed of thirteen knots, for intercolonial trade. Madame Arabella Goddard, who is being enthusiastically received m the large inland towns of Victoria, will positively leave for New Zealand on the 24th instant. Her agent, R. S. Smythe, is a passenger by the Albion. COMMERCIAL. Wheat, very firm, 6s 4d to 6s 9d ; flour selling freely at £13 ; oats firm, supplies short, at 5s 4d to 5s fid. A demand exists for salad oils. Devoe's oil oflered at ls .Id ; dried fruits and new teas are moving off freely. A meeting of the creditors of Samuel Macgregor,'stock agent and auctioneer, has been called. The liabilities are £60,000. Stdnet. Governor Robinson has reached Fiji. Letters state that interviews with Cacoinbau are likely to result satisfactorily. Joseph George Blind was the man murdered at Bathurst. A man named Harrison has been committed for trial. The mail reached California two days late, which detained the City of Melbourne until the 12th. Adelaide. The Governor's only daughter aged 3 years, died from the effects of accidental scalding. The Government scheme for the Murray railway has beeen carried. Wellinoton*, Monday Evening. The tenders received at the Public Works office for the southern contract of the Timaru and Waitaki railway are as follows : —Accepted - — George Pratt, Timaru, £18,544. Declined—Joseph HadTfleld, Christchurch, £20,426; David i Proudfoot, Dunedin, £21,238; Walter Fuller, Christchurch, £22,766; John Brogden, Wellington, £23,770. _ His Excellency Governor Fergusson will, if he can, arrange to visit Adelaide on his way to Europe. The Marquis of Normanby is expected to arrive here m a few days after Governor Fergusson proposes to leave, namely, on the 26th or 27th. The Admiralty Court sat to-day. The Strathnavar case was not advanced a stage, owing to Mr Allen, counsel for plaintiff, refusing to accept Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday as days fer hearing evidence. The case will probably not be heard till next year, as hi 3 Honor's time, with the exception of a day or so, will be occupied till the Christmas vacation. In the event of the plaintiff failing to prove his case, the defendants will claim £40 per^ day demurrage since the arrest of. the ship. The rules of the forthcoming prize firing are as follows : —The qualification for representatives remains the same, though the minimum score is increased for cavalry from 63 to 68 ; for infantry from 80 to 83 points. The cavalry representatives must be selected by December 12 ; the first selection of infantry (viz.,

district or company representatives) by November 21 ; colonial representatives by December 19. The number authorised for cavalry is reduced from 7 to 6, and 1 armed constabulary ; the number of infantry from 43 to 36. The present champion will have to qualify this year. The colonial meeting is to take place at the Thames late m 'January next. For cavalry there will be an extra match of ten shots at 300 yards. The 200 yards match is increased from seven to ten shots. There are now 62 shots for the cavalry championship instead of 49. The infantry matches for the championship are increased fiom 69 to 114 shots, by addition of a match of ten shots at 500 yards, and one of seven shots at five ranges, between 200 and 600 yards. Running and Rapidity matches are expunged. Skirmishing is retained, but instead of scoring being by individuals, the competitors are to be divided into squads, and the prizes (2) will be given to the squads making the highest aggregate scores. All-comers' matches : the first is for large bore rifles only ; the second is for any weapon. Range prizes have been introduced. The competitions for district prizes remain the same. The Cadet prizes are similar to last year. Prizes are offered for Artillery and Naval volunteers, for Armed Constabulary, and for Native Contingents. Tuesday Evening. H.M. Blanche leaves this evening eit. route for England. In Banco to-day, Judge Johnston refused to grant a rule nisi for reopening the Steele v. Hutchison case. Auckland, Monday Evening. The criminal action for libel brought by Mr Fraser, Resident Magistrate, against the Star, occupied the Supreme Court all day, and was not concluded. Tuesday Evening. The brig Pakeha, from Oamaru, reports encountering fearful gales on Saturday the 17th October. About sixty miles east •f the Barrier it commenced to blow and rain. The wind backed into the southeast, rising to hurricane with tremendous ■eas. At about 10 a.m. that day, while the ship was hove to, a fearful sea broke aboard, smashing the fore hatch and galley and knocking the long boat out of the chocks, carrying away a part of the bulwarks and loosening several stanchions besides doing other damage; The ship lay on her beam ends six hours, and m great danger, the sea sweeping everything before it. At about 1 p.m. the gale broke and died away suddenly to a calm, leaving a high confused sea m which the ship rolled heavily, it being imposssible to keep steerage way on her. Oil Sunday, the weather being threatening, and the ship lying very much to the lee side, a quantity of the cargo was thrown over to lighten her, when she righted herself. The gale then moderated. Captain Wood says, that if the gale had lasted a few hours longer he could not have kept the vessel afloat, as the crew were completely worn out by their exertions. The Star libel case occupied all day. The jury are now considering their yerdict. Alexandra, Monday Evening. A number of Kuiti natives, en route for Waiuku, for fish, report that great destitution exists among the KLingites. Nelson, Tuesday Evening. The schooner Craig Ewan, from Mauritius to Lyttelton, 59 days out, sugar laden for Edwards and Bennett, of Christchurch, put m here this afternoon to repair damages and obtain provisions. She experienced tremendous weather. She^ was struck by heavy seas, which carried away bulwarks and flooded the cabin. The water destroyed everything m it, and spoiled aU the provisions. For many days the allowance was a halfpound of bread per man per day. She will refit here before proceeding. Christchurch, ,Tuesiay Evening. Mr Deßourbel reports : — Buyers — National Insurance, 28s 7d ; National Bank, 68s ; South British, SOs ; Standard Insurance, 9s ; Colonial Bank 12s ; Bank of New Zealand, £17 17s. SellersNational Insurance, 29s ; National Bank, 70s ; South British, 51s ; Shipping Company, 10s ; Standard Insurance, 10s ; Colonial Bank, 12s 6d. The Dioceßan Synod met to-day.