AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 59, 13 June 1874, Page 11

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Melbourne, June 2.— After an interesting debate the address on the Governor's speech was carried without division. A Bill for a reform in the Council was read a first time. The O'Ferrall frauds continue to bo the subject of much debate, and will lead to further investigation. De Graves has resigned his se.it in the Legislative Council. Taylor, Balfour, Thomas, and Smith are candidates. Tue Government is unlikely to join in the Customs arrangement with the other colonies. None of the bodies have yet bceu recovered from the Duke and Timor mine. The tender of £139,767 has bneu accepted for new Government offices. In the action for libel ogninst the € Licensed Victuallers' Gazette ' tbe plaintiff received £250 damages. A vessel of 300 tons was seen bottom up between Cape Howe and Kent's Group. Governor DuCane returned to Tasmania to-day. The firm of M'Callnm, XpIH and Co have suspended payment. The direct liabilities are £36 000. Th« South Channel was' lighted for the first time last night. The Nubia was enabled to come up> The 'Argus' has made arrangements to get the result of tho English Derby through fOPf 0P publication on the same morning. The cable company anticipate the news will occupy an hour in transmission from London to Melbourne. There is only the weather to contend against. The cable was lately broken between Singapore and Batavia. It has tince been repaired. StdneT, May 25.— At the sham fight liplcl at the encampment on Saturday, the umpire* decided in favor of tlip attacking fo-ce. This morning his Excellency the Governor and the rnembors of the Ministry proceeded to the camp by special train. The Alexandra beat the EUora from Melbourne by 1 4 hours, and the Dandenong by 12 hours. A boy belonging to the training ship Vernon was drowned to-day alongside the vessel. Colonel Contenlev, another Communist prisoner, escaped as a stowaway in the stenmer Egmon*. The Government have carried the ratification of the Californiau mail contract without division. The Commodore has sent a complimentary letter to Captain Graiuger for getting off the steamer Ma3grec;or, and bringing her h?ro. The French barque Charles AnguM-e was wrecked in. Torres Straits ; also the Blue Bel l , a schooner in the pearl -fishing. Adelaide, May 25.— The Rifle Match on Saturday against Victoria was won by the South AiutraHin ream by 15 points. Tha respective scores were .-—South Australia, 747 ; Victoria, 732. Fer« fiusson made 80 ; Leonard, 81 ; Madley, 6G ; Bosisto, 53 ; Weidenbach, 85 ; Scott, 83 ; Morcom, 75 ; Hic'ts, 74 ; Bakea, 70 ; Schunka, 75.