INTERCOLONIAL.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 23, 17 December 1874, Page 6

INTERCOLONIAL.

Melbourne dates to the sth inst., brought by the Claud Hamilton, report as follows:

A telegram in the * Argus' states that on Sunday, the 29th November, the Government or Queensland received information that Hnme, who proceeded in search of Classen, a supposed survivor of the Leichardt exploring expedition, had perished for want of water fifty miles from Drynan's station on the Wilson River, in the Warrego district. O'Hea, another of the party, is also supposed to be dead. The third man, Thompson, has reached Drynan's station. Some men proceeded out and found Hume's body, and a party of native

police are searching ior O'Hea. Two ol Hume's horses have been found dead. Parliament has done some good work in the matter of practical legislation, but the subjects dealt with have been mostly of local interest. The Payment of Members Bill has passed the Assembly, and reached the Council, where notice has been given for a call of House for its consideration. The Judicature Bill has passed the Assembly. It contains a clause providing for Giand Juries in certain criminal cases. Attention has recently been aroused to gross evasions of the Land Act, and an amendment of the existing law is loudly called for. There are rumors as to the probable and early res'gnatinn of Judge Fellows. A severe shock of earthquake was felt at Gippsland district. Some mining machinery was stopped, underground working displaced-, atd articles fell from the shelves. The shocks lasted over an hour and a-half. The Transit of Venus parties have left for their respective stations. Land in Collins-street recently sold for L4OO a foot. Great preparations are being made by the Catholics for the reception of Archbishop Goold. Measles are very prevalent all over the colony. Several schools are closed. The artillery garrison have bivouacked. A conference of Stock Inspectors, held at Sydney, recommended that the prohibition of importation ol cattle from Europe be rescinded. The population of the colony on the 30th Sept., according to the quarterly abstract of ' the Government statistics, numbered P02,941, visz. 435,960 males and 366,981 females. During the quarter 4,888 persons arrived from the neighbouring colonies, 1,670 from the United Kingdom, and 180 from foreign ports, as against 4,479 who left for the neighbouring colonies, 423 for the United Kingdom, and 965 for foreign ports. The increase by excess of births over deaths waß 4,4*21, viz. 2,016 males and 2,405 females; and that by excess of arrivals over departures was 1,471, viz 1,016 males and 455 lemales. The sum of these amount"? gives a total gain to the t opulation during the quarter of 5,892, viz. 3,032 males and 2,860 females. The tenders for the second moiety of the Western Australian 5 per cent, loan of LIOO.OOO were opened at the National Bank of Australasia. The minimum havirg been openly announced as par, the ten* ders received were all, of course, at or above that rate. Five seperate tenders were sent in, four of which, however, were from the one firm—Messrs. J. B. Were and Son who tendered for LIO,OOO at LIOO ls„ L 1,200 at Lloo 2s 6d., LIO,OOO at LIOO 25., and LIO,OOO at LIOO. The other tenderer was Emily Richardson, Bunbury, for L3OO at LIOO 10s. The tenders, amounting in all to L 31,500, being all at or above par, were accepted.