LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 690, 28 July 1870, Page 2

LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Victoria, July 9. The late pedestrian match for the 300 yards champion race is still suspiciously viewed. People argue that the odds of 2 to 1, which were so freely offered and laid on Hewitt by book-makers, were not justified by their previous running. So strong is tho public opinion on this point that I scarcely think another match would attract many to the grounds, even although stimulated by curiosity. A crushing of some trial stone at Alfred Town in the Wagga Wagga district has just yielded 22dwt to the ton. The reef is 2ft 6in thick. All the miners have struck work at the United Miners Company, Harrietville. They demanded £3 per week for eight hours' labor per day. The manager, Mr Nau hton, has sent them to work temporarily at this rate of wages, and has telegraphed to town for instructions. Miners have been telegraphed for from Ballarat at £2 10s per week for eight hours a day. The wages at the United Miners Co.'s mine have been for the last three months £2 10s per week for eight hours' labor per day. Previous to that the company was paying £3 per week for nine hours' labor per day. In consequence of the refusal of some miners to submit to a reduction of wages some months back, the proprietors of the Bromley Reef mine were compelled to suspend operations, and discharge between forty and fifty men. The new alluvial rush recorded in our last issue, says the Pleasant Creek News, as having taken place Id the gully which runs from the Wimmera dam to the Scotchman's claim, promises to prove profitable to those who have secured claims on the lines of the fancy ground. Elder and Jackson, the prospectors, report that they are very well pleased with the appearance which the claim presents, according as it becomes developed. At the present time it is impossible to speak with any degree of certainty as to the breadth of the run, or the quality of the cement and washdirt obtained therefrom. It is sufficient for present purposes to know that some specimens of the cement show a good deal of gold, and that an average of seven pennyweights to the load has been washed from the dirt. Mr Jackson says that from experience which he has gained of the ground, he would judge that there were two runs of gold, the better of which is eight feet wide, while for a distance of seventeen feet, the eight feet inclusive, gold can be found. There is, however, a break of apparently barren ground between the two runs. The washdirt and cement are about two and a half feet in thickness. Close to the prospectors, jjeveun ana party oottomed yesterday evening, and it was rumoured that gold had been found by them in similar strata; but on this point we are not certain, not having heard it from the claiinholders themselves. There are now about twenty shafts going down. Yesterday over 200 diggers were on the ground.". A private soldier named Patrick Lynch, belonging to the 18th Eegiment, and engaged as orderly at the Commissariat offices, Russel-street, is required by the police. On Monday one of the officers sent him to cash a cheque for £IOO at the National Bank, and as he did not return inquiries were made for him, but nothing further could be gleaned beyond the fact that he received the money. At ten a.m. on Thursday, 30th ult., the cases containing the meat preserved by Professor Gramgee's process, which were shipped by the Crusader, were opened at the Custom House. There were present the hon. the Commissioner of Customs, the hon. C. J. Ji nner, Mr Tyler, and Mr J. 11. Postle. The moment the first case was prized open a most disagreeable odor was emitted, and when the lid was lifted the stench was unbearable A sheep preserved whole was putrid, the ribs of beef were tainted, and utterly spoiled. Strange to say, a side of pork that was packed with the sheep had a beautiful appearance, and had it not been brought into contact with the mutton, would no doubt have been quite good. The color and condition of the pork proved that the experiment with that would probably not have been a failure, had more care been taken in isolating it from the other meat. As all the meat except the pork was utterly spoilt, the process must still be described as a failure. The libel case of Wilson v. Syme, relating to the publication of certain statements in the leading columns of the Age, came before the Full Court in Banco on Wednesday, when a demurrer to the declaration was argued. The plaintiff in the case is the partner in busines of the hon. Jas. M'Kean, and the statements related to Mr Wilson's attendance in the Land office. After hearing arguments on the demurrer, their Honors reserved judgment. Sydney, July 8. The evidence in the inquest on the body of Mr Charles, a tutor, found dead, with marks of violence, near Morpeth, appears to criminate a person named Johnson, Charles's cousin. In the Church of England Synod, after an animated debate, it was resolved that the appointment of the bishop should, in the opinion of the synod, continue under the sanction of the Crown, as heretofore; the Crown issuing its mandate for consecration. Cowan, of Newcastle, has been committed to take his trial on four charges

of forgery. The bank only loses £6O. Letters from Mauritius state that his .Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh expects to arrive in Sydney at the latter end of August. The schooner Lady Darling, arrived here from Circular Head, experienced violent gales off Cape Howe. The steward and a seaman were much injured, and the vessel lost a portion of her bulwarks. A man named John Grreig, residing at Ulawara, attempted to murder his wife by inflicting nine axe wounds upon her. He had been arrested. Her recovery is quite hopeless. Nine shocks of earthquake have been felt at the head of the Macleay River and at Nambuckra on Saturday last. At auction this day white crystals fetched £4O 10s ; straw crystals, £37 10s to £3B ; yellow counters, £35 to £36; rations, £3O. Dunn's Adelaide flower was withdrawn at £l2. Adelaide, July 8. The defalcations said to exist in Mocatta's bonded store at Port Adelaide amount to £2OOO. Mocatta's clerk is blamed for it, not Mr Mocatta himself. There is nothing doing in wheat today, but prices are firm.