BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2153, 31 March 1870, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

[from our own correspondent.] [The following was published by us us an “ Extra” to-day :—] AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY. Hokitika, March 30. \ Melbourne, March 24. The Government is negotiating with an agent for an English capitalist, with a view to forming railway lines for...L6oo'* per mile, and guaranteed six per cent interest for 30 years. . Win. Davis has been convicted of the charge of murdering his wife at I'rentham. He was sentenced to ten years penal servitude. Adolph Johnson has been convicted of the charge of shooting a policeman in Fitzroy Gardens, and sentenced to seven years’ penal servitude; and Mark Gowau, for rape seven years. The 14th Regiment sailed for England in the Wabner Castle. Draper has been committed for trial on a fresh charge of embezzling Ti1.990 12s lOd. Mr E. P. S. Sturt, City Magistrate, resumed his magisterial functions on the 22nd, Captain Payne, of H.M.C.S. Nelson, has been appointed Chief Harbor Master. Public opinion is strongly opposed to the appointment. The authorities have decided to hold the Volunteer encampment at Sunbury during Easter.

Heavy rains have fallen at Echuca. One hundred and fifty men struck work at the Alfred Graving Dock, Williamstown, demanding eight hours. Detective Carter was killed by coming into contact with a cab shaft while running a race.

A diver named John Christian was drowned while at work on the wreck of the Eliza. Payab’c gold has been struck at Merton Creek, Gippsland ranges. The Legislative Council adjourned to. 22nd, out of respect to the late Sir ChSrles Dai ling. Mr John Guthrie, Assistant Commissioner of Customs, is dead. Arrived—Rathfern from .Liverpool. The Lady Darling Annuity Bill for L 20,000 has passed both Houses. Mr Duncan Gillies has been returned for Maryborough. Professor Oamgee’s preserved meat was tested yesterday at Golds)lorough’s stores, and found to he a complete failure. The mutton was stinking when «p> ned Mr John TaP, Healsville, an old eol nist, attempted to commit suicide through drink last night. Diptheria is very prevalent. Flour, LlO to Lll ; maize, 4s 6d ; oats, 3s Gd. Trade very dull, hut no other failures notified. Sugars very firm. Sydney. A prospectus has been issued f.Of the for?

matiou of a company to be called the Great North and South 11 ail way and Emigration Company. Capital L 20,000,000. Disastrous floods have occurred at Penrith, Windsor, Richmond, and Maitland. Four lives have been lost. Floods have also occurred at Araluen. The ketch Tno was wrecked at Newcastle, the crew being saved with the life-boat. There have been tremendous gales all along the coast. Maize is rising owing to the floods. The barque Sunshine was wrecked on the Borneo coast, and the barque Rangoon driven on the rocks near Kiama. Several lives were lost along the Clarence River. The floods are now subsiding. The Government is-Jconsidering the advisability of reducing the intercolonial tanff charges. The schooner Active has sailed with men and material to construct a teiegraph line from Townsville to the north-west boundary of Queensland, to meet the Ocean cable. Wool sales brisk, but there is not much offering. Adelaide. Capt. Douglas has been appointed Government liesid nt c.t Northern Territory.^

The A.B.N. Company’s tender for the conveyance of the English mails has been accepted ; it was the only one sent in. A man named Legge, d carpenter, murdered his wife during a drunken quarrel. Captain Phillips, master of the schooner Henry Ellis, has committed suicide by taking a dose of laudanum. Business quiet. Breadstuff’s dull. Wheat ss.