LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 232, 9 February 1869, Page 3

LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS

[by electric telegraph.] Hokitika, This Day, 10 a.m. ' The Alhambra „h as., arrived from Melbourne, having left that port on Feb. 3. .Melbourne, Feb. 3. . The address of tJie Hon. MkMcCrae, Minister of Public Works*: is published. There is no opposition to his returfl yet. A. gfeat fire took pdacfe at Talbot* on Jan. 27.. (fhe) Bfarik of Australasia, arid seven stores' on $catidinafias crekceiitj were burned. ... -' Intense heat has prevailed, doing damage to fruit and other growing ,crops. Thunderstorms have been frequentj \yith.'cppious, rains. : lenders are invited ,in the Gazette forthe Ocean Mail Service, via the Cape of Gfood Sope. Mr , Angus McKay is gazetted a member o{ the Board of Education. Intelligence has been .received from, Captain Gilmore, to the effect that the Tasmanian submarine. cable ia nearly completed.. The steamer Investigator has been purchased for laying down the cable, and is expected to reacfh Tasmania in all March. 'a . ) Ministers have officially visited; the Bailarat ;and Colibari waterworks. < The early prosecution oft the works isi .promised. :'" ' • r ' : ' '_■''■ •''•'•' - • [A horrible murder is reported frojn Spring Creek. ..The paramour .of\-a^ • woman named - - -Thompson : ■■>■. cat her and aftetWams ; bpmmi'tted| .suicide. ' ..',.. >: ju .„... u V,.jh ,V i ' An action. :ba.3 , been raised^agaihsij the >. Hospital hy.ia mari fnam^d Donaldson, fpp f imprbpfei'; Ireat^ ..m^en^ 'by^hich"ifc'''iß)';^jßg6j^^e^st a leg. Damages are laid afc £500. " ' ' ; • c Tliiß Telegraph office; and, the Post office' are amalgamated urider one; i superintendent. : .. 'y' ;V '"' ;, ' j /-.G-pvernment debentur^sfot£^qb,pQ(J at 5 pen cent, for pubiio, ; svorfcs, will be offered for tender in the -colony oii Feb. 9. • '■■■>> ■r.:.-:i"x .?;■ .The aeelong Woollen Oloth i Comj. pany have placed a loanfof £7-0(30 pn the market, at 7 per cent. ■-:-.•• ,j *Dr McCrea has officially acknowledged the existence of, small pox. There haye beep. . . two deaths near Heidelberg, three fresh cases tberq, and two in Melbourne. ■ ■■*;_; ' ' .'. The p&ssengers of the Tornado were released from quarantine to-day. "... The case of Bateman v. Moffatt has been sent home on appeal to the Privy Council by last -mail.*Mr Hargood, manager of tho Theatre, Royal, has sailed for England to obtain additions to his company. ...-.'•* Several persons have been committed fpr trial at Camperdown, for evasion of the Land Act. The P. and O. steamer Bombay sailed on- Feb. 2, with a large freigjit in specie and gold. . ,Vi. ■: A quantity of Queensland tiriiberr— the first importatiourr-realispd, .good prices atauction. ■ • The annual Synod of the Church of England was opened, ye_tei , day. A) The trial of the merchants charged with defrauding theCustomsdschanged from Caßtlemaine to Melbourne/ '' : „ The Su'uken Vessels Becovery Company is xe-organised. - : Andrew Weir, who murdered Mr Cheale, is not yet captured. He was seen among the Q-rampian ranges. . . The waterworks controversy between Mr Higinbotbam and Mr Christopbersori has already cost £10,000. ' At the first sale of ostrich feathers, from birds belonging to thjp' Acclimatisation Society, good prices were realised. The schooners Ella and Eva grounded on entering the Gipps Land lakes. . .'■ The following dividends have been declared: — Land Mortgages Banfy 10 per cent ; Bank of Victoria, 10 jper cent ; Geelong Gas Company, 10 iper

cent J- .Maritim^^nd_ General Credit .Confpany, lOpeiTceritT"^"" *--—^~ ; * 1^ w\ prppos&d Vto fe-o>ganise the Gipjis Latia St'eatof N&vigatioii Company. •---■ Late rains have "giv"en a great'impetus to mining at Spring Creek. The new steamer Maori is laid on for Auckland. ~"*r - -y Tittle, charged 'with forging a cheque for £1500 on the National jßank, has r J>een coMmitted "ifpr trfoli : .The Bank teller positively identifies jthe prisoner. ■ Trade generally is sound and active;. Flour is dull at £12, 105. New wheat' is quoted at 5s ' 6ci. ' Fine 'malting .barley is wanted at ss ; feeding^kinds are neglebfed at 3s Gd. VNewj Zealand, oats are selling at 4s 3d; speculation jis dying out. Maize is in fair deriiarid &H~sp -Imported malt; is meglected^at llis -#_.-' Tea's ■'- aVi Ixnbharigedl tin sugars, second houses are supplied, - and the market is quiefct -* Jr^ .spirits, brandies are bringing former rates. Geneva (proof) is more active. Considerable sales of kerosine have beeq made at Is lld.. Candles are hotfso firm j sales have been made at 12£ d. Bacon, hams, and cheese have slightly advanced. During the week 800. tons of flour passed tbe Customs' for export to England. - - •-. ,<-- ■ " Sydney, Feb. 3l Father Quinliven has been drowned at Port Macquarie while- bathing. • The Assembly has voted onemonth's. supplies. Mr Martin's resolution-- I—censuring1 — censuring the Government for reappointing Mr Duncan of the Customs — was' lost b^y a majority of sik; '■*'-"' *-*—.- <.1 A commission has been appointed to enquire into the alleged abstraction of Government papers by ihelEx-P_6niiierf Mr .Parkes. ' " ' ' " ; An official inquiry into the conduct of the Detective Police force has dis-/ closed serious mal-practices. The Carcoar . Qoaoh,-has beea stuck up, and & burglary was dbrfimiitod at Clear Creek. Slattery and Bantley, two old convicts, have been arrested, .andTiafe Vpharg6d wi|h;V)hiyiH^;Jcommitted both offences. The Fenian conspiracy enquiry is ended. ( ■■■?. A. Refreshing rains have fallen all over -the colony* . ; „:•-,,. k L ?Dr mchell>n 3ia } <^l^riisfc, d.cd r <>i» Jan. 31. Some one, unknown, attempted tp assassinate a Mrs Pine, at Mudgee. Rutherford, bushranger, has been captured on^ffie L'aghlfijf^rairgjßß. A .^ Greville, late mkfiager'of the Joint-J Stock Bank at Forbeß, has been committed for trial on a charge of lembez? zlement. The Penang has arrived from California with ' a cargo of! bfreadstuflW She reports that the Lyster Opera Troupe had reached San Francisco safely. Signor Antoni'tfiid -'c&i'Jthe passage. Wheat was declining in price at San. Francisco. Choice sample's Were quoted at 1 doi. 80 cents to 1 doi. 85 cents ; inferior at 1 doi. 65 cents to 1 doi. 75 cents. Flour was dull at 4 dols. 75 cents tp 5 dols. 75 cents. The follpwing dividends, have been declared : — Clarence and ißichmoud Steam Company, 10 per cent ; JointStock Bahk,~B per" cent y Newcastle Wallsend Company, 2j. per cent; Australian Steam Navigation Company, 10 per cent. Peak Downs Copper Company,: 10 per cent; - Wool sales have been active, with a slight,advance on finer sorts, 'i Flour iand I wheat "are t stagtian ti' Mar feel L's brandy, is X. quoted 'at 8a; rum at 4s. The cargo of : teas ex Trisk 'sold at f till rates. r -- -.-:■.,*;■..-■ Adelaide, Feb. 3.; Severe damage, was. 'paused by j a thunderstorm, on^ Jan.' 2&j at' Glenelg and! Brighton- ' A Bu r yey of the reservoir shows that there, j 3 p n ly two months' supply of water. ' ! ': ' '' : ' - ! ' l: : ' The Land Bill has passed both houses. A compromise was effected between the two Chambers. Parliament was prorogued on Jan. ,^ ! '"'V. : .. ! ;':'"'- : v''';-:.- , ;:;''.;:. ; :'' : ,, ." Captain Bagpt has resigned his seat in the Legislative Council. > There were boisterous gales and high tides on Feb. *!/ X; 1 V The City Corporation nas' struck a shilling rate. No proyisipn is made for lighting the city. "' * The Bank of 'Adelaide h&s declared a dividend of siXjShillings per share.

Missent, a well-known itorekeeper f A*Sp6sqil>,by ofi^to-dßto£»=*ps»© dnce c&*£eM[]b# brf.fc* fj one shilling — was carried in the Assembly. *A '■' X'Y'.T Flour is quoted' at"£l2 for town and £10 10s for country brands. Thero Ijave been4arge transactions-ill wheat dhr 4s : 2d /ftfr fehipfaenjfe_ Wis now quoted at 4s &&. ** •v. . : - pI: X B_tiSßAN_:; Feb.' 3^o . The Ministry has been reconstructed, i Mr^tzGerald retires from the Treasury^ and is succeeded by Mr T. B. Stephens. , . Mr : Hodggo^ i V MmSM ef Secretary; Mr ; Macalister '" is Minister ,of Public .Worfci : , Mr Taylor ia Minist^ ojf LandaM f Fj.TJJI f , .Parliament is adjourned till Feb. lft '"' ' "'' ' " :1i ' '■'"'■