AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2764, 27 December 1871, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

A live toad has been discovered in the Darling Company’s shaft, Pleasant Creek, at a depth of 400 feet. Sparrows are becoming a great pest to gardeners in Victoria, and steps are being taken for their annihilation. A young man mined Bnamaley precipitated himself down a shaft 330 feet, at Bendigo, Victoria. It is said disappointed love was the cause of the young fellow’s untimely and tragic death. Duuko'd (Victoria) has furnished a baronet for the English nobility. Mr F. Hughes, cordial-maker, of that place, has.succeeded to the baronetcy of Bergbole, Suffolk, and has taken the title of Sir Frcdk. Hughes, Bart. The will of the late Mr Moffat, Hopkins Hill, Victoria has been proved. His property was sworn at L350.C00. After leaving liberal legacies to friends and servants, he bequeathes the rem under to his brothers and sisters. News was received by last mail of the death in England of Mr Henry Condell, who was the first mayor of Melbourne, having been elected to that office in 1542 Craig’s Hotel, Ballarat, has been sold to a company for 111,500. The purchase includes the freehold property and furniture ; but the wines, spirits, Ac., are still to be bought at a valuation. It is stated that the hotel last year yielded a profit of 20 per cent, upon the sum now paid for the building and effects. The following is the text of a hi 1 brought into the Legislative Assembly of iScw youth Wales :—No reporter editor or propiiehr of any newspaper shall be liable to any prose cution civil or criminal for a fair and true report of any judicial legislative or other public official proceedings or of any statement speech argument or debate in the course of the same except on proof of malice in making ■uch report which shall in no case be implied from the mere fact of publication. Libellous remarks or comments connected with matter privileged by the last proceeding section shall secure no privilege by reason of their being so connected. Under die heading “ Victoria v. New Zealand,” the Audndusian of December 9 has a paragraph to the effret that a match has been made between Henry Bedford and W. Pentecost, of New Zealand, to run five miles f )r LSO a side, on the 30th of December, at j;he Melbourne Pricket Ground, The same paper also contains the particulars of a handicap for a mile race to be run during the Melbourne Athletic Sports, in which Bedford is to receive thirty yards start. Pentecost is not in the handicap, but there arc five others who receive less start than Bedford.