LATEST INTERCOLONAL NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume III, Issue 156, 12 January 1867, Page 3

LATEST INTERCOLONAL NEWS.

By the Alhambrii, which arrived at Hokitika yesterday morning, we have Melbourne papers to the sth instant. We have only room for the following items of news : — The weather has boon very hot. At Sandhurst the thermometer stood as lu'gh as 99 deg. in the shade, and 65 deg. at night. The last of the Victorian Champion Race meetings was held on New Year's Day, in presence of, probably, the largest concoxirse of spectators ever assembled , in Melbourne. The weather was sultry * in the extreme, and the arrangements of the refreshment department so defoctive that, after a very early hour, there was fijarcely any beverage suitable to such a tempetature to be obtained otherwise than by a degree of effort totally unadopted to the occasion. The unpleasant atmospheric conditions were materially aggravated by the carelessness, stupidity, or wilful misconduct of some persons, who, either intentionally or recklessly, set fire to. the grass in the centre of the course on several occasions diiring the day. As to the attendance of the • public, it was so large as tq be nearly, if not quite, unpre* cedented. Some competent judges estimated the number of spectators present at the period when the ground was most thronged at not less than 36,000, and there was a very general imprqasion that the crowd was larger than on the" memorable day when the Champion Races were inaugurated by the great victory of Flying Buck . The events of the day were attended with the following results : — Hurdle Race, Mr Wheatley's.Moolart Ist ; Mr Runyer's Ranger 2nd ; seven started. New Year's : Gift Race,. Mr 1,. L, Smith's L L Ist ; Mr Waldbck's Queen of Hearts 2nd. .if. Champion Race, Mr Tait's Barb Ist; Mr , * Tait's Volunteer 2nd ; Mr Bagot/s, Cowra ' n " 3rd; ' Grand National Steeplechase, Mr • G. Watson's. Banker Ist ; Mr G Watson's Comet 2nd. Flying Handicap. Mr Clee- > land's Barwon Ist; Mr L. L. Smith's *-■ Aggravator 2nd. Fifty Pound Plate, Mr Waldock's Queen of Hearts, Ist; Mr Cleeland's First Flight 2nd. Two thousand, acr-es of standing wheat have been destyoye,d by fire at Kingsford^ South Australia. _ 114 has been discovered near Bravery extensive fire occurred on the isi, at St. KUda, and involved, the action of over LBOOO worth of pro,-