LATE CABLE NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2471, 8 March 1882, Page 3

LATE CABLE NEWS.

[By Telegraph.} [Per b.b. Arawata, at Auckland.] MELBOURNE, March 2. George Smythe, barrister, and ex-member for Castlemaine, died on the 25th February. The Customs have discovered au attempt to commit an extensive fraud in connection with the shipments of goods by the Chinese per steamer Meath. The vessel contained quantities of tobacco shipped as merchandise, in order to evado the duty. The Chairman of the Tariff Commission urged the Government to conserve wattle bark, the s -amity of which is seriously injuring the tannin*? trade. Boring operations for water in the London district proved successful. At the regatta on the 28th February, P. O. Clarke’s yacht Janet beat the New Zealand yacht Taniwha. An attempt to defraud an insurance company was brought to light on the 28th February. Two Adelaide agents, Wicks and Barker, insured the life of a man named Weatherhead for .£3OOO and for .£SOOO in the Australian Mntual Provident and in the Australian Alliance Company respectively. Weatherhead arrived in Melbourne in a dying condition about Christmas, and died in January. Hicks and Barker claimed the insurance, but the landlady of the house where Weatherhead died found a clue, of which she informed the police, and which resulted in the arrest of Hicks and Barker for fraud The prisoners were charged with the offence at the Adelaide Police Court, and the case is proceeding. SYDNEY, March 2. The South Australian expedition to the Northern Territory reached Yam Creek on the 28 th February. Their progress was impeded considerably by the rains. They reported rich lands suitable for coffee, cinchona, and other Eastern products, but state that a railway will be necessary for the proper development of the Northern Territory. BRISBANE, March 2. The Australasian Syndicate survey party arrived at Cunnemnla all well. They reached Harrington in February. They report that the country is looking well after the rain. Some difficulty was encountered on the journey in consequence of a scarcity of provisions. ADELAIDE, March 2. A deputation of selectors asked the Government to remit the interest dne, and to place the amount paid to the credit of the principal. The Minister of Lands said the Government would recommend relief schemes to Parliament. The miners’ delegates’ meeting resolved to levy seven shillings per man next pay day for the support of the men on strike against the A. A Company. It is stated that the company intend importing labor from England.