AUSTRALIA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1477, 21 November 1872, Page 3

AUSTRALIA.

Bitrpp, Nov. 20. The Bangifcofco arrived at 6.30 p.m., having left Melbourne on Nov. 14, and sails for Dun- • edin to-morrow night. Passengers for Wellington — Mr Shepherd, Mrs Gibson. . Lyttel-ton—-Mr and Mrs Langdown. Dunedin — Messrs Moody, Blythe, Hughes, Holland, Hutcheson, Marryat, Mrs Guthrie, Miss Holmes. Melboxtbne, Nov. 14. The Education Bill debate in tho Legisla- • tive Council is not yet finished, bufc the rejection of the bill is anticipated. A bill has passed the General Assembly to increase the Agent-General's salary to £2000 and to limit tho duration of office to three years. Sir James M'Culloch has declined the offer, and rumour points to Mr Langfcon. A bill providing for a fifth Judge of the • Supreme Court, has passed the Assembly. Th6,Chief-Justice has received two years' leave. A Judgeship has been offered to Mr Fellowes. The railway has been opened to Longwood, - and 24 miles of the North-eastern line will be opened on Nov. 18. The Eev.W. Henderson, Ballarat, has been elected moderator of the Presbyterian As- - eembly. '- The sum of £7291 was paid in stakes afc • the late race-meefcing. The receipts were . nearly £6000. Two theatricals — -Alfred Keeves and Mrs Holmes — are dead j the latter died suddenly. Tookeys, paid, were obtainable at £5 103 v new, £3 10s. •Arrived, Nov. 12 — Moa, from Hokianga; Aborigine, from Hokitika ; Warafcah, from .Dunedin. Sailed— lo, for Greymouth. Wheat quotations;arSf7B to Bs. Oats aro in good inquiry up tp'vßs;s^d. Sugars sell well. Trade generally ig ry satisfactory, though not much was dono this week. Sydney, Nov. 13. ■ A Bill to repeal the newspaper postage has passed the first reading. A select committee has been appointed to report on wharf accommodation. Tho French transports Guerriere and Garonne have arrived with 1250 Communist prisoners. During a violent thunderstorm at Eockhiampton a boat capsized and Wildndge, a boat-huilder, five children and a sailor were ■drowned. The narrow gauge railway question is under discussion. Arrived — Afc Newcastle, Nov. 9, Ben Nevis, from Lyttelton; lOfch, Joliba, from Auckland. Sailed — Amherst, for Napier. Adelaide, Nov. 13. Sir James Ferguson enters upon his duties at' New Zealand in March next ; it is nofc settled when he leaves here. The Consolidated Loan Bill will not be proceeded with this session ; meanwhile, Treasury Bills at two years' date havo beon issued. Bird, fche pedestrian, has beon sentenced to 21 days' imprisonment on an unsatisfied judgment. One hundred ounces of gold were shipped from Westcott's mine, Darwin, for Adelaide. The Todd banquet celebration will be held to-morrow. Whpat ia yquoted at 6s 3d; flour, £13 to *14,

ITJNPTJUXISHED iNTEB-CotONIAI. .Adelaide, Nov. 14. The toasts at the Todd banquet include the British Australian Telegraph Company ; commercial interests of the colonies and unity of. the world. Tho Bey — Scott (Episcopalian) has brought an action for defamation of chasacter againßt Styles, his parishioner, for saying that he preached the immaculate conception. The verdict was for the. defendant, 'cofih party paying his own costs. Boneant's Juvenile Offenders Bill, introduc'iing whipping, has passed. ■ . Breadsfcuffs aro unchanged.