LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

West Coast Times, Issue 1009, 16 December 1868, Page 3

LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[by ei,ecteic telegraph.]

(From the Argus.)

NBW. SOUTH WALES. Sydney, Dec. s'h. ' The Kifle Association's prizes were presented to-day to the successful competitors by Mrs Watldy, wife of Colonel Waddy, in the presence of the volunteer corps and many of the general public. The R.M.S.S. Geelong, with the Eng^ j lish mails, cleared the Heads this morning i at ten o'clock. ! Dec. 7th. j Parliament re-assembles to-morrow. It i is stated that the Opposition are doubtful about meeting the new Ministers with a j vote of want of confidence, and it is veiy , probable they will allow them vo develope i their po icy before trying conclusions with them. The Government and their supporters dine together to-night at the Par-liament-house refreshment rooms. The Corporation of Sydney have voted £1000 as an allowance for the mayor during the ensuing year. Great preparations have been made for laying the foundation-stone of the Catholic cathedral to-morrow, and it is expected the ceremony will be witnessed by a very large assemblage of the clergy, laity, and general public. The general entries for Tattersall's animal races, to come off on the Ist of January, promise an excellent day's sport. There are thirteen entries fbr_the Maiden

Plate, and the same number for the New j Year's Gift. For the Selling Stakes eight ! have been nominated. i The Clanalpine from California, brings j a full cargo of breadstuffs. j A rule ?iitti has been granted for a new j trial in the case of De Beer v. Hiordan. j A : arty of nuns have arrived by the ship Owen Glendower, from London. The flour market is very dull, and the prices of breadstuff's generally have a downward tendencj'. There is a great demand for dried fruits j and choice samples meet with a ready sale. Dec Bth. Parliament re-assembled to«dny, afier the adjournment for the Ministerial elections. In the Legislative Assembly, after j . the Speaker had taken the chair, the Hon. Mr Robertson, the Colonial Secretary, rose and made a Ministerial statement to the House. He said it was the intention of his hon. colleague, the Treasurer, to introduce the Estimates on the following day, and the Government had come to the determination to limit the business of the present session to voting them and passing the Appropriation Bill. He denied positively that the Government were in possession of any documents substantiating the statements made by Mr Parkes on a recent occasion to hi* constituents at Kiama, to the effect that the Government had evidence of a Fenian conspiracy^ Mr Parkes soon after rose and gave notice of a motion of want of confidence in the new Ministry. The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the new Cathedral drew an immense concourse to-day. The Ai chbishop and a great number of the clergy assisted at tlm ceremony which wan a very imposjug one.

Mr Causdell, late of Tasmania, was admitted to the Sydney bar to-day. The full Court have granted a rule nisi against the Pastoral Times, for a criminal libel on Mr Jones the Police Magistrate at Deniliquin. The conviction of Rj'an for cattle stealing, at Deniliquin, was confirmed.