LATEST AUSTRALIAN.

Evening Star, Issue 4018, 12 January 1876, Page 3

LATEST AUSTRALIAN.

[Per Aravjata at Hokitika.) Melbourne, January 7. Political matters are in a state of stagnation, and owing to the holidays the revenue returns for the year have not yet been issued. Parliament meets again next Tuesday, when it is probable the Opposition will proceed to their policy in preventing the progress of business, at any rate so far as the budget is concerned. The Hon. Michael O'Grady, M.L. A., and formerly Minister of Works, died rather suddenly on Wednesday night last. He was managing director of the Australian Alliance Assurance Society. A coasting schooner, the Isabella, was caught in a squall at the Heads and wrecked. The crew were saved. The Intercolonial Cricket Match resulted in favor of New South Wales by one innings and one run, the respective scores being—New South Wales, 171; Victoria, first innings, 136; second innings, 34; total, 170. It was a most shameful heating, and was mainly owing to the excellent bowling of the Sydney men. The return match will bo played at Sydney at the end of February next. About 30,060 persons were present at the Champion Bace meeting on New Tear’s Day. At the sale of the Hon. Neil Black’s, Mount Noorat, herd, the attendance was not so numerous as anticipated; pedigree bulls averaged 1174 16s; pedigree heifers, 1123 18s; and pure short-horn bulls, 139. The sale of the Colac short-horns is proceeding to-day. John Foley, an hotel-keeper, has been committed for trial for the manslaughter of Michael Quinlan through violence used in ejecting him from his house. The inquest on Albert Berth resulted in Dr Beaney being exonerated from culpable negligence, but the jury added a rider in favor of theliospital regulations being strictly adhered to. Scarlet fever has net quite disappeared yet. Several cases continue to he reported from various parts of the Colony. The steamship St. Osyth has made the quickest passage on record, having arrived in forty-three days eighteen hours from London.

Tho‘Journal of Commerce,’ after twenty years of publication, has ceased. There is an eight-hours strike at Echnea. Several candidates are mentioned for tlhe seat rendered vacant by Mr O’Grady’s decease. It is probable that the Minister of Railways will stand. Rumors are current of the failure of a large Brisbane firm, with considerable liabilities, mostly duo to English creditors. The Racing Club yesterday disqualified Mr P. Dowling, whose horse was pulled in a race on New Tear’s Day. During the past few days the weather has been very cold. Sharp frosts are reported from various parts of the Colony. The City of San Francisco and the Mikado arrived at Sydney early this morning. The former grounded on the Sow and Pigs going in, but was soon got off. The Ringurooma made tho passage from the West Coast in four days eight hours—the fastest time mode yet. The Mongolia, with the Suez mail, is expected today, but her news is nearly all anticipated. Sydney. The public revenue for the past year ia LBO.OOO better than was anticipated in the Budget, and brings up the estimated surplus at the end of 1875 to over one million and a half. Tho Governor has received a telegram from Lord Carnarvon intimating that the concession of tho railway companies in America for conveyance of exhibits from ’Frisco to Philadelphia has been rescinded. At a meeting of the Commission it was resoved fo telegraph to 'Frisco to ascertain upon what terms the exhibits can ho convoyed. Two children were burnt to death in a house at Shepherd's Paddock. The fire was caused tluxmgh thsir playing with matches. The men at the Fitzroy Government Docks arton strike. Tho dispute is as to the hours of labor. A trial shipment of frozen meat, under Morts’s process, is to be made to England. Tho captain of tho Colima writes to tho ‘ Herald ’ taking 1 exception to the statements as to the infer ontyof the vessel’s crank-shafts. Five Kanakas wore picked up in an up.l.urncd canoe which hud been upset in a sudden sou all. They had been five days drifting about. There is a new rush to tho head of the Palmer River. Numbers are going. The ground is extensive and rich, but water is very scarce. The diggers are stacking washdirt.