LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Evening Star, Issue 3460, 25 March 1874, Page 2

LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

__ . . Melbourne, March 19. Nominations under the first batch of elections have taken place, and resulted in the unopposed return of six members. In eleven districts contests take place. A good deal of apathy is displayed, and very little interest taken. The Chief Secretary and Treasurer addressed their constituents mainly on the constitutional question, H.M.S. Challenger, on a scientific cruise, is' now in harbor, and will probably visit New Zealand. She has on aboard Lord George Campbell, a son of the Duke of Argyll, as sub-lieu-tenant. The German man-of-war Arcona, also: in harbor, is on a cruise, and will visit Fiji, i .The <'alifomian steamer Cyphreues arrived a t Adelaide after a passage of sixty days. The libel case against the ‘Australasian’ is proceeding. It has reference to remarks made by the paper about pulling a horse in a steeplechase at Bendigo. Henry Cohn, formerly a well known publican at Sandndgo, committed suicide by poison. The final cricket match, the English Eleven v. the Victorian Eighteen resulted in a draw owing to the heavy rain. Grace made 64 in his first innings. The Eleven proceeded to Adelaide-thence home. A good deal of unpleasant was shown feeling by the professionals previous to their departure. A large deputation has had an interview with the Chief Secretary in reference to Sabbath observance. The new members of the Opera Company were a great success. The Buckley will case in the Supreme Court is concluded. The Court has decided the will to be a forgery, and by Maher, Maher’s bill was dismissed. The Government have Queensland and New Zealand Governments for laying a cable from Singapore to Queensland coast, and will ask Parliament to sanction the scheme. The Tartar took seventy cabin passengers. The Assembly rejected payment of members. There have been great privations at the iralmer nver, owing to the scarcity of provisions. The blacks are very troublesome. Two men were killed and three wounded. The gold prospects are satisfactory, but the country is almost inaccessible. J ... , . Adelaide. A tram and carriages on the Northern Railway ran off the line at the points, and two persons were killed. At the inquest it was shown that the points had been moved mali* ciously by some unknown person.