AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Evening Star, Issue 2906, 12 June 1872, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

‘ VICTORIA. Some of the local journals felicitated the Bendigo Mining Exchange the other day on the extent of the business transacted by the members, who number about three hundred and fifty persons. The amount named was, I think. L 240.000. This is doubtless very good for Sandhurst. I have, however, seen the books of a single firm of Melbourne brokers showing transactions for the first four months of the year exceeding L 350.000, and tins is but one of several firms transacting extensive business.— JEgles in the Australasian. Mr James, one of the members for Jballarat East, is desirous of preserving greater decorum among members of Parliament. He seems to think that some of the scenes in the House are traceable to the too frequent habit of “liquoring up. He has, therefore, given notice of a motion having for its object the prevention of the sale of spirituous liquors within the precincts of Parliament ; houses.

NEW SOUTH WALES. The Herald of the 18th ult., referring to the Colony’s position, says It is now of im mense importance that the public affairs should be conducted by honest and able men a u even* s, by persons capable of understanding the probable effect of what they do. We are nearly L80l),000in debt, known under the head of deficits—or expenditure exceeding income. If the new impulse should, as many suppose, add largely to the revenue, the two accounts may be balanced ; but the calls for expenditure in the House are always in contrast with the calls for economy on the hustings. It is probable that the annual demands cannot be diminished, but they ought not to be increased on account of a small addition. If the Ministry take the opportunities offered to them by the general inclination to su pend all party differences, they will be entitled to general applause. Gold mining is being rapidly developed in New South Wales. “ The returns from the existing workings show an increase of more than one-balf during the last four mouths as compared with the returns of the first four months of the preceding year, or 118,482 ounces against 75,5-10 ounces.” At the New South Wales Agricultural Society’s show, recently held in Sydney, a cake of go’rl was exhibited by Krohmann and Co., from their claim on Hawkins’ Hill, which weighed 5620 ounces, the result of a crushing of 16 tons 12 cwt. of stone. The value of the cake was not less than L 20.000. The Herald cant ions the public against undue speculation, although large fortunes have been already made from scrip. Rich flaky gold is found in slate quartz in New South Wales. This kind of ore is common on the Kennedy’s Bay side of the Coromandel peninsula, towards Mercury Bay, and is pronounced auriferous by Dr Hector. Referring to the cake of gold above alluded to, which comes from the Western Goldfield, the Morning Herald says : —The stuff from which it was obtained consisted principally of pyrites. A tout nine tons of pyrites were saved by the blankets, from which alxmfc 1000 ounces were derived. The yield would, it is said, have been larger, but that several specimens were picked out and forwarded to the Exhibition in Sydney, wliicb contained at least 800 ounces of ®°The copper mines are being worked with renewed vigor, in consequence of the rise in the price of copper in England. This promises to be a large industry. The excitement over the discoveries of tin in New South Wales is immense, not less than 26,621 acres having been taken np as tin selections in the Darling downs district. Fresh discoveries are being made almost There is a large accumulation of money in New South Wales, besides the amount to its credit in England. Th ere is about L 3,000,000 waiting investment in the Colony. Mr Baker’s tweed factory, Sydney, has been destroyed by fire. It is supposed to have been the work of an incendiary. The loss is estimated at L 25.000, of which L 14.600 is covered by insurance. About one hundred persons are thrown out of employment. It appears that New South Wales is wonderfully rich in auriferous quartz, the extent of country over which the precious metal is found being very extensive. In the Northern goldfield, four tons of picked stone yielded 1000 ounces ; and the Southern goldfield is also being worked successfully. The Chancellor’s address, on the last annual communication of the University, intimated that the policy of making Greek an optional study was under the consideration of the senate. Dr Badham’s usual speech was restricted to that topic, and devoted, as that learned clas ic is to the dead languages, he admitted that it was hardly worth while to bother graduates with Greek, considering how little they learnt and how soon they forgot it. , , . , . The billiard match for the championship of Australia, between Kitchen and Weston, was won bv the latter. Weston took the lead and had only scored 307 to his opponent’s 402. The' first 500 was gained by Weston in two hours and fifteen minutes, Kitchen being then 421 At 800 Weston was 60 points ahead, and Kitchen commenced to score and made some good breoks, but ultimately Weston won by 114 point, in 1,000 up. The play occupied four hours and twenty minutes. The murder of a Jew named Zieman, near Toowamba, created a great sensation in that township. The confession of Collins, the murderer, stated he waylaid Zieman at the Gunde-Gunda Creek, on the afternoon of the 21st November, and presenting a pistol at him, demanding bis money, and ordered him to strip. Zieman gave him his valise, watch and chain, coat and vest. He (Zieman) then said:—“ Collins, this is the worst day’s work you have ever done ; it will be a dear day for you,” Collins replied, “Dead men tell no tales.” Finding that he was known, Collins followed Zieman, and struck him at the back of the head with the pistol; they both struggled together in the water, and Collins battered bis head in with the pistol. Finding he was dead, Collins rifled the body, and I eft it, but went back again at midnight, wearing M'Govern’s boots, and disposed of the body and the articles belonging to the murdered man in the places where they were found. He denies shooting Zieman, and said the pistol was not loaded. He believed Zieman bad the LB6O offered for Beckett’s brand. The remains of Zieman were buried here to-day, in the Jewish burying ground* with full masonic honours. All the shops weae closed during the funeral, and a large number of persons attended. When found guilty on his trial, on being asked by the Clerk of Arraigns if he had anything to say sentence of death should not be passed

upon him, Collins put his foot on the seat, and attempted to jump over the dock, evidently with the object of escaping. He was at once seized bv the police ; but ho struggled so violently that it took six policemen to hold him in 'the dock while sentence of death was passed upon him.

QUEENSLAND. There is a Parliamentary dead-lock in Queensland, The Opposition refuse to vote more than two months’ supplies, unless the Government introduce a bill to amend the electoral law. The Government insist on the estimates being proceeded with before going on with any other bushier*. This is reversing the constitutional practice, gi ievances first, supply afterbut with the example of New South ales before his eyes, perhaps the Queensland Premier thinks he can trample on the Constitution, and by means of arrangement with the bank of a most improper and unconstitutional character, provide temporary supplies should a dissolution take place. Meanwhile, a public meeting has been held at Brisbane, approving of the conduct of the Opposition. We regard public demonstrations for the purpose of influencing Parliament as a democratic licence for which there is no justification. The following resolutions have been adopted by the Queensland Parliament 1. That this House being impressed with the importance of establishing a telegraphic communication with Europe, resolves—That the Government shall be empowered to enter into a contract with a telegraphic construction company for the laying of a telegraphic cable between Norman House and Java, or such other place as may appear most desirable, either on a guarantee of interest on cost of construction, or on such terms as may be agreed on ; and to enter into negotiations with such of the neighboiing comuses as may be disposed to join in carrying out the above object. 2. That this resolution be transmitted to the Legislative Council for their concurrence, by message, in the usual form.