DUNEDIN, Friday, 7.55 p.m.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXIII, Issue 2719, 15 August 1868, Page 5

DUNEDIN, Friday, 7.55 p.m.

Melbourne advices have been received here to August 7th. The Earl and Countess of Belmore have been visiting Melbourne, Ballarat, and Sydney. Mr Verdon, tho agent of tho colony of Victoria, has sailed for England in tho Somersetshire. The Sladen Ministry have been entertained at a public banquet in Melbourne. 350 persons wero present, and Mr George Harker was chairman. The General Assembly was to meet on the 7th August. A solemn mass has been celebrated for the repose of the soul of Dean Hays at St Francis's Church. The Ministry have been entertained at public dinner at Sandhurst and Ballarat. The action of Moffatt against the Argus has been settled out of Court. Gold has been discovered in a creek near Sale. The district is favorably spoken of. The import markets are dull. Flour, £17 to £18 per ton, but no large transactions have taken place at that price. Maize is quoted at 2s 6d per bushel. The 6tate of the grain market has not improved since the arrival of last mail. Bishop Quin, of Sydneyj leaves next month for home. The Queensland steamer brought 4700 ounces of gold. A protest by the British Consul and others has been signed against tho Fiji Trading Company. Business has slightly improved. Sales of Hennessy's brandy, 29s per case. Flour quoted at £16 ; Tasmanian, £17 ; country brands — beat Adelaide, £19. A public meeting has been convened by the Mayor, to be held on Saturday, to consider the probable results of the Waterworks and County Bills. ■