AUSTRALIA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 552, 25 February 1870, Page 2

AUSTRALIA.

Melbouene, Feb. 19. Parliament was opened on Feb. 15. The a.ddress in reply to the Governor's speech was carried by a majority of six. The Opposition is disunited. A violent altercation occurred between Mr Gr. P. Smith and Dr Macartney. The former said he would kick the latter. They afterwards met in the library, when Smith struck Macartney a violent blow in the face; Smith apologised on Thursday night and the squabble ended. . Mr Bryce Eoss, formerly goldflelds correspondent for the Melbourne Herald, shot himself on Feb. 13. Mr Akhurst sailed for England in the Kent. . Mr Henry Ferguson, an old resident at Prahran, is committed for trial on a charge of killing Henry Freeling during a fight. . . James Egan, squatter, au old colonist, is dead. The English pedestrians commenced work last Saturday. They visited Ballarat and. several other places, and defeated colonial runners on all occa* sions. Tom Thumb and his wife with a theatrical company arrived by the mail steamer. v -. He intends making a tour through jthe colonies. j Ah Te, ' a Chinese lunatic, cbnfined at Yarra Beud, stabbed a warder named Christopher Banks. The decision of the Supreme Court, which awarded damages to Bateman, for injuries inflicted through the careless driving of Mr Moffat, squatter, has been reversed by the Privy Council. A proposition is mooted for a pension to Captain Norman's widow. . . Mr Longmore has given notice of his intention to bring in a bill authorising the payment of members. ' The mail steamer Malta arrived on Feb. 16. ; ■> The Gothenburg. arrived from New Zealand on Feb. 15.

The Io and Waterman sailed for Greymouth on Feb. 16. The import markets are dull. Breadstuffs are languid. Flour is quoted at £1] 10s to £12. Wheat is dull at 5s to 5s 2d. Maize is quoted at 3s 6d; oats at 3s to 3s 6d ; and barley at 4s 3d. Medium brewing crystals have declined £1. Tobaccoes are rising. Teas are very dull. Quicksilver is in demand at 2s 4d. Kerosine oil is firm in consequence of the probable loss of the ship Confidence, bound to Sydney with 7000 cases. The wool sales are brisk. Afc last eale 640 bales were sold — greasy, 5d to 7f d ; scoured, 9f d to Is 6d ; fleece, lljd to ls ld. Stdnet, Feb. 18. A man, supposed to be Thunderbolt, has been captured at Ipswich, in Queensland. Prendergast has confessed to murdering Harnett at Brisbane. Mr Parkes has resigned for East Sydney, but retains his seat for Kaiama. The crim con action, Linden against) Baldwin, is finished. The jury awarded £1000 damages. An inquest on the origin of the fire at Flood's store resulted in an open verdict. The jury have returned a verdict of wilful murder in the case of Margaret Boyce. A movement has begun for the establishment of a Marine Board. Tagelman, auctioneer, is committed for trial ona charge of receiving stolen property. The Treasurer has made his financial statement ; he proposes to reduce the ad-valorem duties by one-half ; to repeal the Newspaper Postage Act, and to borrow a million and a-half for railway extension. Mr Dalgliesh died on Feb. 11. Blain, late clerk in the Joint Stock Bank at Maitland, has beeu found guilty of feloniously receiving bank notes, which he was charged with stealing. Salisbury pleaded guilty yesterday to defrauding the English, Scottish, and Australian Chartered Bank, of £800. The Duke of Edinburgh, Albertina, and Tell arrived at Newcastle from Dunedin, on Feb. 14. The Voyager sailed for Dunedin, and the Devaj for Auckland, from Newcastle, on Feb. 17. Flour, ex Bayonnaise, slightly damaged, brought from £9 12s 6d to £9 17s 6d. Adelaide, Feb. 18. Mr Bagot has recovered from his accident. It is rumoured thafc the President of the Council has been offered the honour of knighthood, also that Messrs Ayers and Hurst are to receive the third class of the Order of St. Michael. Parliament will be dissolved shortly. Wheat is quoted at 5s 2d.