LATER AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2138, 14 March 1870, Page 2

LATER AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika, March 13. The a.s. Tararaa arrived here this morning. She left Melbourne on the 7th, and made the passage in 5 days 14 hours. During the first live days she experienced strong S.E. winds, and a southerly breeze for the last few hours. She brings 17 saloon and 72 steerage passengers, together with 278 tons of cargo, for all ports. Passenger List :—Misses Carrol, S. Martin, Luhning, Pearce, Masters Stronaeh (3), Messrs Hall, Stanton, H, Goldston, Harper, J. S. M. Thomson, George Duffie'd, A. C. Pritchard, Thomas Parker, Johnston, R. J. M'Kenzie, James Stuckley, and 72 in the steerage. Mrluournb, March 7. Business generally is very dull, owing to unpleasant rumors regarding the stability of several firms. A well-known firm are said to be unable to meet their bills and cheques. The amount of their liabilities is estimated at L 300.000. Negotiations are pending with the banks to prevent the suspension of payment by the firm, as the surplus of assets over liabilities is estimated at LIOO.OOO. Mr J. King, grocer, Ballarat, has called a meeting of his creditors. J. G. Mark Gowan, a soldier belonging to the 14 hj Regiment, has been apprehended on a charge of rape, accompanied by an assault, on a woman named Parsons, at the St. Kilda swamp. Victoria won the intercolonial c.icket match by 260 inns.

Draper’s light sentence continues to cause great dissatisfaction. The Directors of the Commercial Bank propose to institute a fresh prosecution. The suspension of Pilots Gannson and Singleton by the Navigation Board has been reversed, on the ground that that body has no legal standing as long as the post of Chief Harbor Master is vacant. The shareholders of the Australasian Insurance Company are agitating for the removal of the officials at present in the employ of the Company. The Commercial Bank has made a call of LI per share. Great stagnation prevails in mining matters. Mr M'Crae was buried on Saturday. The races between Hewitt and Harris for the championship began on Saturday, in the presence of 20,000 spectators. Harris won the first two events, and the third resulted in a dead heat. The two remaining events came off to-day. Large sums of money have already changed hands on the results of the first two races. Lieutenant Gordon has been presented with a cup by the members of the Cricket Club.

Mr Fellows has tabled a motion that the question of tho payment of members be decided by a vote of the whole Colony. The ship Eliza, Captain Patching, has been burned in the Bay. The cause of the fire is unknown.

Williams, the chief witness against Studman, arrested at Talbot on a charge of murdering bis wife, has absconded. Mr Charles Turner M‘Lachlan, late of the firm of M‘Lachlan and Garton, has committed suicide at Scott’s Hotel. Louis Marren, of the Detective Police Force, has absconded. LIOO reward has been offered for the apprehension of the Glenluce murderer. The Intercolonial Conference will meet in May next. Mr Thomas Taylor, preacher, Sandhurst, has been committed on a charge of embezzlement. Two seamen belonging to the lately wrecked vessel Marie Gabnelle, are supposed to have been lost on the Cape Otway ranges, and a party is in search of them. Mr. W. Hull has been appointed Under Treasurer, vice Mr Symonds, who has obtained leeve of absence. There is absolutely no political news. The Treasurer brings up his budget to-morrow. Commercial. —Small lots of wool still continue to reach the market. Of 500 bales sold by auction, greasy fetched 5d to B|d, scoured lOd to Is 2d, and fleece lid to Is 2d. Flour has been sold at auction at LI I, and trade sales have been effected at Lll 10s. Wheat stocks are low, and prices range at from 4s lid to 5s 2d. Maize is at Ss 6d ; oats at 3s to 4s ; and malt at 9s 3d to 9e fid. Salt, coarse and fine, is at L 42s fid. Candles have declined. Sugars are very firm. Rations are quoted at L 29 5s to L 29 10s, and good whites at L4O. Hops are at la lOd. Good brands of kerosene are at 2s 3d. Sydney. Heavy rains and floods are reported from the interior. Mr Robertson has been returned for West Sydney. The debate on the Budget has terminated, tho Government having a majority of 16. The Treasurer said the ad valorem duties would not bo abolished unless the Stamp Act was passed. Herr Bandmann is drawing good houses. The Rand wick race meeting begins on the 23 rd April.

Tha steamer Trio has been wrecked in Seal Rock Bay. The crew were saved. The Jean Pierre and Miako have arrived from San Francisco with cargoes of flour, the latter bringing GOO tons. The latest intelligence states that wheat has advanced to Idol. 50c., and flour to sdol. No more vessels were loading at San Francisco for the Colonies.

Messrs Hamburger Brothers, agents in New South Wales tor the Suez Canal Company, have received intelligence that the Mes-ageries Imperiales are about to run steamers to Australia, Sydney being the terminus of the proposed line; and that they will probably submit proposals to the Colonial Governments for the carriage of the mails, &o.

Trade generally is dull. The sugars ex Surprise have been sold at LI advance. The wool sales have been well attended, and good prices continue to be maintained. Brisbane. The Government have withdrawn from the Postal Conference with a view of opening up the Torres Straits route on their own account. Prendergast has been found guilty, and sentenced to death. Adelaide. Riots of the unemployed have occurredTho mob rushed the Treasury, but were dispersed by the troopers, who charged them and used the flats of their swords. Six of the offenders were apprehended and committed for trial. Numbers more were sent to the diggings, the Government finding them rations. Much excitement preva ; l*. The Government have granted rewards to the discoverers of the Barossa and Jupiter wheat crop is estimated at six bushels per acre, leaving 35,000 tons for export. LATER ENGLISH NEWS. The Miako, which left San Francisco on January llth, has brought later English news to Sydney. London, January 9. The Duke of Marlborough has been appointed leader of the Conservative party. Heavy galea have been experienced on the Irish coast, and several disasters have occurred to shipping. The bullion in the Bank of England has been decreased by LIOO.OOO. A Trade Union riot has oeonrred at Sheffield. The attributes the unfortunate condition of Spain to the obstinacy of Prim. Riots hare taken plate at Longford. Fenianism is supposed to have been the cause. The Princess Teek has given birth to a son. A correspondent of the Morning Post states that vessels drawing over 15 feet cannot pass through the Suez Canal. Mrs Stowe has telegraphed from America, vindicating Lady Byron’s character. In America her disclosures have excited great indignation. Tee Monarch, with Mr Peabody’s remains, reached Madeira on December 30th. Paris, January 10, It is reported that the French Ambassadors at London and Berlin have resigned their posts. Rumours are current that a coup> d'itat is about to be attempted at Madrid. Lord Lyons has had an interview with the Emperor Napoleon, in which the latter asserted that he was master of the situation. The Manorial Diplomatique asserts that a compromise has been agreed to by the Oecumenical Council, by which the dogma of the infallibility of the Pope will be affirmed, but dissentients will be allowed to record their votes. Rome, January 8. The report that the Pope will not allow the question of his infallibility to be discussed, has been confirmed . New York, January 1. A prominent clergyman, who is married and has two children, has eloped with a young lady. The news from Cuba is of an alarming nature. The negroes ‘on fifteen plantations have rebelled.