AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3799, 8 May 1873, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

Melbourne, May ] . Telegrams have been received in all the colonies from Earl Kimberley, stating that aB the colonies were not unanimous on the question of the Suez terminus, and as there was no time for consideration before the termination of the present contract, the P. and O. Company offer to continue the service for two years at the present rates, or tlrree years at an annual reduction of £12,000 ; steamers to call at Glenelg. In any case Victoria will not accept, but nothing will be done until the meeting of Parliament, which takes place this month. Sydney at once accepted, the term of three years. The Duke of Genoa had a public landing. He has visited Ballarat and other places. Human fingers, evidently severed, were found in the stomach of a fish caught in the bay. The yacht Secret has been wrecked inside the harbor, and one life lost. A heavy gale prevailed along the coast. The German ship Alarous has been released from quarantine, but the paasengers are still at the sanitary station, where they will remain till Monday. The Theatre Royal proprietory pay a dividend at the rate of eight per cent, per annum. Several cases of suicide and accidents have occurred. It is rumored that there will bo opposition to the Government on the meeting of Parliament, but it is unlikely that anything serious will occur, as this is the last session before dissolution. Spensley has resigned his seat for Portland. He is absent in England. SHIPPING. Newcastle. — Arrived, April 27th — Prospero, from Lyttelton. Sailed — 28th, Alarm, for Bluff Harbor ; Ben Nevis, for

Lyttelton ; Thomas and Henry, for Port Chalmers ; 29th, Formosa, for Port Chalmers. Melbourne. — Arrived, May Ist — Sarah and Mary, from Greymouth. The Gleaner has cleared from Greymouth and will sail again shortly. The Agra, from London to Canterbury, was spoken in lat 33 S. , long 2G W. Commercial. — Large sales of sugars have been made at an advance. Mauritius news advises that all grocery sorts are in the hands of shippers. The market is bare of whites, which have been sold at an advance of 2s to 2s Gd per lOOlbs. Oats are very scarce, and extra prices are obtained, 3s 9jd to 4s o£d ; wheat has also advanced ; 6s is asked in Adelaide, but the price is 5s 3d. Sydney, May 1. The Hon Saitl Samuel has been appointed by the Government as representative to Washington to arrange the Californian service. He leaves by the next steamer. Wenlworth's remains have arrived from London. A public funeral takes place on the 6th inst. Two members of the suburban Catholic Church were publicly excommunicated last Sunday for marrying during Lent. The Bank of New South Wales paid a dividend of 15 per cent. Governor Ducane is still on his visit. The Marine Assurance Companies have unanimously resolved to support the movement to raise the London rates. Chisholm's estate has been sequestrated . The liabilities are £56,000. Sydney, May 1. Ann McAney pleaded guilty to murdering her husband. She has been sentenced to death, as has also Murray, aged 18, convicted for manslaughter. A white woman, six feet high, has been found amongst the Keppel Bay natives. She cannot speak English, and is supposed to be a survivor of a ship wrecked there in 1857. The weather is moderating. The Newcastle Bell Buoy was shifted across the harbor.