AUSTRALIA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 715, 7 September 1870, Page 3

AUSTRALIA.

<• (From the Argus, Aug. 15 to Aug. 27 inclusive.) Captain Beal, late of the Wonga Wonga, has obtained a verdict of £200 damages against the Californian mail contractor, for wrongful dismissal. In the Tasmanian Legislative Couucil, the address in reply to the Governor's speech was agreed to after a short debate, during which, in reference to the withdrawal of the troops, Dr Crowther eaid, as the Imperial Government had taken away the military, they would Boon have to withdraw the Governor or pay his salary. The friends of Mr ifenry Squires and of Madame Escott will be p'eased" t > hear that they have been making a professional tour through the State of New York with marked siicceßs. Mr Squires seems to be an especial favourite, and some of his American critics pronounce his voice to be not at all inferior to that of Brignoli when that celebrated tenor was in bis prime. The prospectus of the " Melbourne Commercial Association " has been forwarded to us, from which we see that it is proposed to establish an association under this title, which will be a kind of club and benefit society, and will act as mediator between employer and employe. Before this sbeet (Aug. 22) reaches our readers Victoria will have seen the last of its military garrison, for the ship Corona, having on board the Victorian, Tasmanian, and South Australian detachments of the 2-18 th Regiment of Royal Irish, stood last night engaged to sail at daylight this morning, and they leave behind them only the members of the staff at head-quarters to represent Her Majesty's army. It is possible that Mr C. E. Farrell, the accountant of the National Bank at Geelong, may return to the scane of his former labours earlier than he perhaps anticipated. There seems to be strong reason to believe that he took his passage by the Alhambra for Fiji. And now it appears by a telegram that the Alhambra has put in to Newcastle — it is to be presumed for coaling purposes — a visit not foreseen by the passengers. Should Mr Farrell be on board he may meet with invitations to return that he will find it difficult to decline. The report of the registrar-general on the vital statistics of Melbourne and suburbs during the month of July gives 361 as the total of deaths, 212 being males, and 149 females. The deaths under five years were 141, and over five years 220. The proportion of deaths to the estimated population is 2 01 deaths to 1000 persons living. The deaths in July exceeded by 38 the numbers in June, and by 99 the average of July during the pre -. yious 10 years, which, even allowing for the increase of population, gives a very high rate of mortality for the month. About three months ago an individual arrived in Melbourne from New Zealand, and introduced himself to the criminal class and others as "Flash Bob, the New Zealand detective." On the strength of his pretensions he obtained board and lodging on credit, but afterwards, throwing off his disguise, he took openly to living on the money earned by a number of women of the town. On Friday, however, he began a more dangerous game, and forged and passed a cheque for a small sum ; but the fraud was discovered, and on Saturday, Detectives Mackay and Daly arrrested him on a charge of false pretences. From advices by the George Vuna, which had arrived at Sydney from the Fijis, it was ascertained that the Koh-i-noor had arrived, and Mr Butters had an interview with the creditors of the Fiji Company. After examining Glenny's accounts, he promised payment of all claims. Intelligence had been received that Mr Norman, formerly of Sandhurst, who was supposed to have been drowned, had been captured by Nasavusavu, who killed him seven days after, and cooked his body. A white man named Maloney was reported to have been murdered at Sgotoko Novosa. The tribe attacked the settlement on the northern coast of Viti Luvu, and massacred 370. Many others are missing, and only about 100 escaped. The United States steamers Pocahontas was expected at Levuka. "An instance of extraordinary canine sagacity," says the Hobart Town Mercury, " came under our notice a few days since. Some eight or nine months ago a gentleman carrying on business in Hobart Town missed a dog on wbich he placed considerable value, and all endeavours to trace it proved ineffectual. On tbe arrival of the City of Hobart from Sydney, last Friday morning, the owner of the dog bad occasion to meet the steamer immediately on her hauling alongside the wharf, when, much to his surprise, the dog whose loss he had so long regretted leaped from the steamer, and testified its joy on again seeing its master by indulging in every conceivable antic, after which he made his way borne. No one on the steamer claimed the dog, which makes his reappearance under suoh circumstances all the more remarkable." Some stud sheep from Tasmania have bean exhibited for the last two days at Messrs Clough and Co.'s wool stores in Collins-street west that will repay inspection. These sheep are from the flocks of several celebrated Bheep breeders in Tasmania, and are on their way to the Sydney Exhibition. Conspicuous among them for his superior qualities is a ram named "King Billy," the property of Mr David Taylor, which for fineness of wool, length of staple, and thickness in the pile would be very difficult to equal in the colonies. Two four-tooth rams, the property of Mr John Taylor, show tbat King Billy's descendants inherit a large portion of their sire's good qualities. Mr James Gibson has also a fine four-toeth ram, which was exhibited at Skipton last year. Mr 11. W. Blomfleld also sends some pure merinoes, resem-

biing in character the famed sheep bred by Mr ! J. L. Currie, Mr Jame3 Stewart 'sends two j rams and two ewes bred from imported stock of the Hampton Court breed ; thuy have their admirers, but while the Tasmanian flockmastera can produce such animals as King Billy, they do not require the introduction of foreign blood. Many of the animals are in miserably poor .and on 'that account entirely upjfit for exhibition. c . The event of the day yesterday (Aug. 23) in the departure of vessels from Hobson's Bay was unmistakably tbe sailing of the screw steamship Alhambra from Sandridge for Fiji, with upwards of 100 saloon and second cibin passengers. The Alhambra, after her recent extensive overhaul and refit, was placed on the berth for Fiji, and filled up rapidly, and so well has the venture thus far succeeded that it is intended to despatch her again in October next. In her extensive list of passengers will be found several names well known in commercial and other circles in Melbourne, and not a fewof these intend settling in Fiji; at all events, for the present. A number of those proceeding by her, however, have only gone for an excursion trip on the score of health, and others, as they themselves flippantly phrase it, " for the fun of the thing." We understand from Messrs B. R. Mathews and Son, of the F'ji Land and Shipping Office, that moat of the passengers booked by them are shareholders in the Polynesia Company, and are going down to settle upon the lauds they hive become entitled to by the company's charter, for which they hold land warrants for country and town lots to select from on their arrival in the islands. Amongst the passengers were Dr Macartney, M.L.A., and Messrs W. H. Brewer and Henry, the committee appointed to act on the company's behalf in Fiji. From noon yesterday until the time the Alhambra hauled off, quite a cloud of visitors had gathered, not only on the vessel, but also on the pier in her vicinity, and the enthusiastic waving of hats and square cambric, accompanied with the exciting and inevitable " three cheers," as she moved slowly away from the pier, was something surprising. The Alhambra, in addition to her living freight, took a large general cargo. It may be mentioned that she left here in charge of her popular commander, Captain John M'Lean.