LATEST AUSTRALIAN.

Evening Star, Issue 4022, 17 January 1876, Page 3

LATEST AUSTRALIAN.

There is quite a rash of candidates for the vacant seat in the Assembly. The Minister of Railways is amongst the number. Parliament meets to-morrow, when it is stated the Opposition will commence the policy of obstructing business, but nothing definite as to their intentions is yet thrown. Mr Mason has mot his constituents in South Gippsland, and after a statement of his betting transactions has received votes of confidence and sympathy. The Essie Black, n coaster in the Newcastle trade, it is feared has been lost. Government has sent out a vessel to Kent's Group, in search. The Hibernia, with the deep sea portion of the New Zealand • cable, is expected in about three weeks. Several officers of the company are now in Melbourne. Di Murska leaves for New Zealand at the close of the month. Scarlet fever has broken out at the Protestant Orphanage. The head teacher died. All State schools on Emerald Hill, in the vicinity of the Institution, remain closed. A uiatch for LSOO a-side, distance a mile and a-half, over hurles, between Cronstadt and Stranger, came off on Saturday, on the Melbourne course. It was won easily by the former. The sale of shorthorn cattle at Robertson’s, Colac, attracted about 700 persons from all parts, and from the adjoining Colonies. The total realised was L 30.826. The highest price paid was 1,2,200 for a heifer, Roan Duchess. Mr Samuel Gardiner purchased to the extent of over L 7,000. The competition for some of the stock was very keen and exciting. The Torres Strait mail steamer Brisbane touched on the Angelina reef, in the Flores Sea, The mails, passengers, and specie were conveyed to Sonrabaya. The coals were jettisoned. On the morning of the 6th was the lowest temperature recorded in January for the last eighteen years. It is still very cold and unsettled. The City of San Francisco has been docked in Sydney. She sails with the mails on the 14th. A cable has been laid at New Caledonia, from Dacros Peninsula to the Isle of Tines. Thirty-six entries were made for the Australian Cup, and forty for the Newmarket Handicap, to be run at the autumn meeting at Flemington. A fire at Vaughan’S steam saw-mills, Grenfell, destroyed the whole of the buildings and slock, inflicting great loss. The owners were uninsured. The revenue returns published show the revenue for the past year at Li,215,524, being an increase on the previous year of L1C1,600. ■ The Tasmanian year’s revenue shows a surplus of nearly L 25.000.

Heavy raius the last few days have caused floods and done considerable damage to the main line of railway between Ross and Campbelltown. Several persona were drowned attempting to cross the river.