LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 134, 15 March 1873, Page 2

LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Melbourne, Thursday. March 6. An extensive fire occurred on Monday night lust, on (lie premises of Messrs Connell, Watson, and Hogarth, wholesale grocers, in Flinders-lane. They liad the largest stock of any in the trade in the colony- It is \ alucd at £73,000, find it is insured for £69,103, divided pretty equally amongst the various insurance oflites, A further amount of £10,500 the firm neglected to renew on some expiring policies It was fcarod at one time that the premised of Mcwrs Banks Brothers would besacrificod, but tho^fire was kept within Messrs Connell and Co's premises. Damage by water to the oxtcnt of about £3000 was done to Messrs Bunks and Co's stock. The fire waa witnes"=oJ by thousands, and the sight* was very grand, the itoio being lilted with spirits and > other inflammable material. £337,000 worth of debentures have been oaireelled' and burnt, and the amount has been re-invested in a newiloan ; the subscribed stock as trust funds. Mr Reynolds has had several interviews with Mr Francis I w ith reference to the Californian mail sen ice. It is not, however, likely that it will be sotfled until it lias b*en< correctly ascertained about the decision of the • American Senate relative to the granting of a subsidy. Sir .Tames Fergusson has engaged the Rev. James Hore, of Perth, Western Australia, as secretary and domestic ehapVn. A murder was committed'at Emerald Hill on Tuesday night. A man iiamtd Caroline stabbed another named Stephens. Tbc prisoner has been committed for trial. The New South Wales Government have received a telegram from London • w hich states that Earl Kitnberley will not decide the terminus question until the proceedings of the Intercolonial Conference have been received.' Hii Exccll'-ncy the Governor was well received at Buthurst. A contract has been accepted for the Queentlajitl mail service from Singapore to Brisbane. It will be a nine-knot service for £20,000. Clancic has been sentenced to death for tho Carl murders. The schooner Challenger arrived here as a prize to the Basilisk, having Polynesian divers on board without a license. The Italian frigate Vieton Picfiani left for Auckland on the 4th inetant. The- Intercolonial cricket match lias been poitponed on account of the weather. It will bo resumed to-morrow. The ship Otto Antonio, from -Baker's Island to Cork, put m to-day la a leaky condition.

Adelaide, March 0. Good accounts continue to be received respecting the reefs in the Northern territory. ° Largo alnpmontsoi" whe-vt* continue to be despatched toLondon. Commercial: Flour and wheat continue very scarce. For prime dualities of wheat 5s 7d is readily paid. Flour, £12 13s to £13. Oats very firm ; feeding «ell at 3s 3Jd. Sugars are suffering, as holders will not sell under an advance. Candles have advanced ; they are now firm at 12Jd In Adelaide wheat is sell ng at Is 91J per bushel, with 1 a firm market. Shipping: Sydney—Arrived on March 2nd, John Knot, from Lvttelton. Leslie, Ngnrlmnga, Klleu, and Helenn, fiom Wellington. —Newcastle ; Arrived on the 2rd instant' the Cantabre, Lyttleton. Sailed on the 3rd, the Heversham for Well.ngton, and the Derwent for Auckland. —Hobart Town-: Sailed, on the sth, the Swordfish, for DUnedin.