MELBOURNE.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 320, 18 January 1871, Page 2

MELBOURNE.

January 2.—To-day was observed as a general holiday, except by the mercantile ■ houses and banks; there were numerous excursions. January 3.—A hay and corn store, in ] Elizabeth-street, -was burned down last night; ■ the store was insured in the National for f £150.—A cottage, at Collingwood, was also i destroyed by fire ; it was insured in the Queen Office "for £100.—The Geelong (s.) has taken 123,000 ounces of gold, aud 20,000 sovereigns. —Saunders and Schotfc, tea dealers, were arrested and remanded on a charge of arson. Their premises were discovered on fire this morning, and matters look suspicious. The fire was extinguished befoi-e much damnge | was done. January &. — Longbottom's safety blasting composition was tried successfully yesterday.—The body of Mr. Willis was found in the Yarra. —Mr. Wardill, and Mr. Young, the conlractor, have been invited by the Sydney Government to a consii tation with reference to the defences. —The auctioneers are selling grain by the cental. January 5. —The cental system works awkwardly ; at the auction sales buyers were unable to calculate rapidly, and the auctioneers reverted to the bushel again.— National Bank shares sold at £5 Is.—There was a great muster at the sale of Petty's yearlings ; six horses realised a total of 3390 guineas; one brought 900 guineas.—The railway revenue for the year shows a decrease of £50,000. — Heywood, collector of the Fitzroy borough, lias been committed for trial for embezzlement. —A nugget, weighing 140 pounds, jind worth nearly £7000, was found at Berlin diggings by a Chinaman. January 6. —The Roman Catholic clergy have issued circulars containing questions to bo put to candidates for seats in the Assembly, on the Education Bill.—Dyer, charged with a murder in 1357, has been committed for trial at Castlemaiiie. —The Vauodia bring 3 later dates from Mauritius. The sugar market there is rising, and prices hero immediately hardened, followed by some large speculative purchases.—Messrs. Fink, grocers, have cnlled a meeting of their creditors—liabilities £7000. —Mr. Goldsbrough reports that he sold, during the week, 4000 bales wool at satisfactory prices. January 7. —Emil Schmell, a broker, has been fined £100 lor counterfeiting Hennessy's label.—The Argus, in a leudor, condemns the practice of allowing bookmakers to run horses. —The Hero lias been overhauled, and resumes her trips next. week.—Dr. Corrigan, head master of the Wesley College, died to-day of rheumatic fever, aged 48. January 9. A baker named Brown, residing at St. Kilda, ay.'is willi his son thrown from a cart to-day : the boy was killed instantly, and Brown was severely injured. —A fire occurred yesterday in the Age office ; the subeditor's and reporters' rooms, with file* of newspapers, was destroyed before tho fire was extinguished.