LATER AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 54, 9 May 1874, Page 12

LATER AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Bf the Alharabra, which arrived at Hokitika, on the sth instant, we have Australian news to the 28ih ult., but the English items have been anticipated by the Cyphrenes :—: — The elections concluded last week, and the results are generally sitisfactoiy. , Sir James M'Culloch had an easy victory over his opponents at Warrnambool ; but Sir John O'Shanassy was beaten by a local candiAll tho Ministers are re-elected. The Minister of Mines was the most closely run of any. Langton was returned over tho head ot Sichel, the free-trade candidate. Coppin was returned for East Melbourne with Cohen. . The ' Argus ' in its list gives a majority to tho Opposition, but, as tho Ministerial papers show the result to be the other way, but it is difficult to arrive at the conclusion. _ There aro 14 new members returned this Assembly, and nine who had been in previous Assemblies. Parliament will meet towaids the end of May, when Reform Bills will be introduced. . It has transpired that Mr Francis, Chief Secretary has thrice I declined the offer of hiighthood. I The Now Zealand mails per Alhambra arrived several hours alter , tho Baroda had left the Heads, but the steamship Aldinga remained at the Heads, transhipped the maila, aad naught the Daroda at Adelaide, making the passage in 39 hours. It is stated that Sir Arthur Gordon, Governor of the Mauritius, succeeds Mr Dv Cane in Tasmania. The Satsuma mutineers have been further remanded to allow tho Q-overnment to telegraph Home to the authorities. The barque Naworth, from Whtingaroa, while lying at the Australian Wharf, was found to be on fire, which was, however eoufined to the forecastle and rope locker. A brutal murder has been committed by a G-eroian digger near Beaufort. He struck Dixon, his victim, repeatedly on the head with. a heavy hammer The murderer is believed to be insane.

A number of violent deaths have been reported. Several bodies h»ve been found in the river. The Jason, the first of a new liae of Bteamers, leaves Batavia for the colonies on the Ist of Mi»y. It is understood that the Hon. Angus Mackay, the Minister of Mines, retires shortly from the Ministry, to devote his time to his own business, since the death of his partner in the ' Bendigo Advertiser. 1 It is rumoured that G-eorge F. Webb is to be the new AttorneyGeneral when Mr Stephen is elevated to the Bench. The Pera, with the mails, is expected to arrive here on Monday next, and the Albion takes tho mails on to New Zealand on her arrival.