LATEST FROM AUSTRALIA.

Evening Star, Issue 4030, 26 January 1876, Page 3

LATEST FROM AUSTRALIA.

(Per Otago at the Blvff.) Melbourne, January 19. The stone-wall policy of the Opposition is being carried out in earnest, and although the House sits nightly nothing is Party feeling just now runs very high and in the heat of debate some very harsh things are said on both sides. On Thursday night last Mr Labor, late Commissioner of Customs struck Mr Thomas, another member, in the lobby of the ouse. TTie matter was bi’ought before the Speaker, and Mr Labor was called upon to apologise, which he did yesterday. The Government asked for supplies, but the_ Opposition insisted upon affirming their desirability being first of all discussed, but they refused to abide by the result in the ©vent of the issue being against them. Sir James M‘< !ulloch thereupon declined any such onesided arrangement and said that he would not permit a minority to tyrannise over a majority. There will soon be no money available for the payment of the public creditor, and the people are asking what is to be the result of it all. Sir George Bowen landed on Friday last and was received with the customary honors. He has since made two or three public appearances. The election for Yilliers and Heytesburg has been narrowed down to a contest between Sir John O’Shannessy and the Minister for Railways. The war steamer Dido sailed for England on Monday. Two miners were smothered by a fall of earth in the Duke and Timor mine at Mary-

borough. A fire at the Chinese Camp at Maryborough destroyed fifteen small buildings, and a fire at Horsham destroyed a large hotel and several adjoining premises. The loss by the last-men-tioned fire is estimate ’ at about L 6,900, which is partially covered by insurance. The City of San Franrisoo left Sydney on Friday for Fiji, and she afterwards pro eecls to Port Chalmers. Scarlet fever continues prevalent, but the recent hot weather has been beneficial. The racehorse Dagworth, which was injured in the last Champion race, has been destroyed. De Murska and Company leave bv the Omeo on the 27th for the Bluff. Mr Charles Bright, the lecturer, is a passenger by the Otago. A. deliberate attempt to murder a servant named Mary Hanley was made by a fellowservant yesterday. She received large shots in the back, but they are not likely to prove fatal. Matters generally are very dull in Melbourne. Sydney. The Speaker is seriously indisposed, and the Chairman of Committees has been appointed deputy. A 1-tter from Welling 1 on in Tuesday’s ‘Herald,’ showing the danger of a finan ial crisis in New Zealand, excited much interest in monet>ry circles. The want of confidence debate is expected to close to-night. The Government will have at least ten of a m ijoafy. M‘Mullen, shut at Wag:a Wagga bv Boon, a public-n, is charged with wilful minder. The drought in Queensland continues, and grans and water ■- re becoming very scarce, Jacques Martin, an escaped murderer from Noumea, was discharged from custod'-. The French Government nuth< rities failed to support their cl 'im for his extradiri^n. The employmen of Chinese labor on sugar plan‘ations a:. Mackay proved i failure. The Commercial B >nk at Cannon Bar was broken into and robbed of L 2,500. LIO,OOO has been subscribed to send a trial shipment of frozen meat to England. Adtlaide. A man named Hare was found dead with a pistol lying beside him. He was brother to the Rev Francis Hare, late private secretary to Governor Fergus-on and a nephew of the late Professor Maurice. Newcastle. Captain Sowerby, of the barque Maitland, from the Bluff, died on the passage on the 3rd instant, shortly after leaving Foveaux Straits. He had been ailing for some time. The body was brought on here.