LATEST AUSTRALIAN TELEGRAMS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume III, Issue 531, 13 February 1869, Page 2

LATEST AUSTRALIAN TELEGRAMS.

V ! Melbourne, Feb. 3.

The address; p? the Hon. Mr. McGrae, Minister of Public Works, is published. There is no opposition to his return vet.

A great fire took place at Talbot od January 27. The Bank of Australia, and seven stores on Scandinavian crescent, were burned.

Intense heat has pi'evailed, doing1 damau-e to fruit and other growing* crops. Thunderstorms have been frequent, with copious rains. Tenders are invited in the Gazette for the Ocean Mail Service, via the Cape of (rood Hope. i . Intelligence has been received from Captain Gilmore, to the effect that the Tasmanian submarine cable

is nearly -completed. The steamer Investigator has been purchased for, laying down the .cable, and is ,expec-; ted to reach Tasmania in all March.

A horrible murder is reported1 from Spring- Creek. The paramour of a woman named Thompson cut her throat, and after wards committed suicide. j

An action has been raised against j vthe Melbourne Hospital by a man named Donaldson, for improper treatment, by which it .is alleged "he lost' a leg;. Damages are laid at £500. Dr McCrea has officially acknowledged the existence of 'small pox. i There have been two deaths near Heidelberg, three fresh cases there, j and two in Melbourne. The passengers of the Tornado were released-to-day. ' ■••:■■ The waterworks controversy be- j tween Mr Higinbotham and Mr Christophersbn had already cost £10,00.0. • At the first sale of ostrich feathers, from birds belonging to the Acclimatisation Society, good prices were realised. It is proposed to re-organise the Gipps Land Steam Navigation Company. Late rains have given a great impetus to mining at Spring j Greek. '.■■'-■■ The new steamer Maori is laid on for Auckland. Sydney, Feb. 3. The Assembly has voted one j month's supplies. Mr. Martin's resolution—censuring the Government for re-appoint-ing Mr Duncan of the Customs—was lost by a majority of six. A commission has been appointed to enquire into the abstraction of of Government papers by the exPremier, Mr Parkes. • An official inquiry into the conduct of the defective force has disclosed serious mal-practices. . The Carcour'coach has been stuck up. and a bnrg'lary was committed :it Clear Creek. Slattery and Bantley, two old convicts, have been arrested, fi n i are charged with having committed boih offences. The Fenian conspiracy enquiry is ended. Refreshing- rains have fallen all over the colony. Rutherford, bushranger, has been captured on the Lachlan ranges. Gieville, late manager of the JointStock Bank at Forbes, has been committed for trial on a charge of embezzlement. Wheat was decling in price at San Francisco. Choice samples u-t-re quoted- at 1 d<>l 80 cents, to 1 dol. 85 cents.; interior at 1 dol. 65. cents, to 1 dol 7o cents. Flour was dull, at 4 dols. 75 cents, to 5 dols. 75 cents. Adelaide, Feb 3. Severe damage was caused b} r a thunderstorm on Jan. 28, at Glene!"and Brighton. A survey of the reservoir shows that there is only two months' supply of water.

Parliament was prorogued on January 80.

Captain Bagot has resigned his seat in the Legislative Council. There were boisterous gales and high tides on Feb. 1.

The City Corporation has struck a shilling rate. No provision is made for lighting the city. Flour is quoted at £12 for town and £10 19s for country brands. There have been large transactions in wheat at 4s. 2d.' for shipment. It is now quoted at 4s. 3d.