MELBOURNE.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1994, 26 May 1875, Page 2

MELBOURNE.

May 20.

The Government intends to fit out prospecting parties to explore the auriferous regions of Gippsland. The tender for the final works- in connection with the new Governmenti House has been accepted at £1O,7CD;:: •." The Key. Charleß Clark commenced the new services at the Athenaeum; on Sunday, to an enormous congregation. ; .. Among the first measures introduced next session will be bills to amend the land laws, and to provide further railway exteniion. • ; Mr Bentley, late 1 manager, 1 and Mr Hughes, accountant, of the Bank of New South Wales, Beechworth, have been committed for trial on several charges of misappropriating bank money. .. . The police made a raid on the Corio Hotel, at Geelpng at 1 o'clock, on Sunday morning, the 16th, and captured fifteen young men gambling. ■ Eight were fined £5, and the landlord summoned for £250. Mr W. H. Gresham,. ship-chandler, of Sandridge, left with two men in a skiff to visit a ship in the bay, on the 14th, and has not since been heard of, but the skiff and oars were washed ashore, and it is supposed the three have been drowned. ".".'.'.■'.-■■ Mr David Gannon is Catholic candidate for the election at Ararat. T Joseph Brior,. a carpenter, at Carltpn, has been arrested for the murder of his wife Joanna, by strychnine. The inquest has been adjourned for analytical evidence. : A correspondent of the Argus writes (in reference to a statement of Mr Angus Mac Donald, Xakanui), that he knew three men at Launceston in 1856 and 1857, who were called Arthur Orton, Roger Tichborne, and a thipd called I Happy Jack. : ; _ # The newEoman Catholic Archbishop of Sandhurst, at Iris installation; on vthe 18th, attacked the Education _Ac fc. The ; arrived" on the 15th with four days later news from Europe. . - -■ SYDNEY. May 20. James Kossitter, mercliant, has assigned

his esiate. The debts are £17,000; assets, £7,500. / • The Queensland Treasurer has given notice of a resolution empowering the Government to .enter into contract with any company, with head-quarters at Brisbane, for communication with different parts of the colony, the subsidy not to exceed £10,000, five steamers to be maintained.

T. aid J. Skinner have failed. Liabilities,' £37,000 ; assets, £13,000. *■ . At Mackay, a man named McSherry, on returning home, found his wife drunk, beat her to death, and then surrendered to the police. „ ... A machine-hand at the Herald Office named Midderway, was. dragged into the machinery,-and crushed to death. " The Chevert sailed from. Sydney with the New Guinea scientific expedition on the 18th. The vessel was accompanied to the heads by the Ministry, a large number of citizens, aud Mr Anthony Trollope. News from the Palmer goldfields states that good gold has been got along the rain gullies, but there are no new rushes. The influx of Chinese continues.

The Premier gave a very favourable reply to a deputation of Dr Camrn and others, urging the annexation of New Guinea by the Imperial Government. He promised to consult his colleagues with a view to representation to the home Government.