LATEST INTERCOLONIAL NEWS

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 491, 9 March 1869, Page 3

LATEST INTERCOLONIAL NEWS

By the arrival of the brig Magnet from Melbourne, we have files to the 26th ult., from which we make the following summary of news:— The Duke of Edinburgh, by his own request, is allowed to visit all parts of Melbourne, and pass through the streets without being noticed, except on oificictl occasions. The ball given by the Mayor, and Mrs Moubrayto his Royal Highness took place on the night of the 25th ult., in the new Exhibition-building. About 2000 guests were present. The Duke arrived about ten o'clock, and dancing began immediately. The ball passed off with great Success. - A new flat has been opened up at Inglewood, which has been called Berlin-flat, and from which a 40oz. nugget was taken j on the 25th. A great rush is setting in to j the place. ' .The Beechworth races commenced on the 25th ult., and were an immense success, so far as they have gone. The race for the Beechworth Handicap was one of the finest ever seen in the colony, and it was impossible, until the horses came home, to tell which amongst seven was to be winner. The Maiden Plate was a perfect gift to Snowdrift. For the Flying Handicap, lona was first, with Aggravator ?econd, and Louis third. For the Beechworth Handicap, eleven horses started. Huntsman won it, Wisdom being second, and King Tom third. This was a splendid race ; seven of the horses came into the straight running together. The finish was as fine as ever was seen. Moscow won the Hurdle Race, . Fears are entertained for the safety of the schooner Sarah Barr, which left Melbourne about three weeks ago for the River Forth, In Tasmania. She has not since been heard of. She was commanded by Captain Love, who is well known on the coast, and had on board a cargo of sheep. The fear is that she had not sufficient ballast on board, and so capsized in a squall, and went down. The Melbourne police have already commenced to act upon the recommendation of the Bench with regard to the abominations of the Chinese quarter. On the 25th, at the City Police Court, two young women, under twenty years of age, were sent to gaol for a month as vagrants, having been found in a house of ill-fame kept by a Chinese named Gee Kee. In addition to the girls, moreover, Mr Gee Eec was himself brought up on a charge of keeping a disorderly house, and sentenced to three months' imprisonment. This sentence he by no means approved oi, and through his lawyer gave notice of appeal, on the ground that he was an innocent find aggrieved man. From Tasmania we hear, that gold has been found on the Cam. The Launceston fimes of the 24th ult. also says that information of a thoroughly reliable nature has reached town to the effect that those who are now engaged at the Den in search of gold are succeeding beyond their most sanguine expectations. On Friday last Mr HanibalFencker was fortunate enough to come upon a nugget weighing lfozs., and which is expected will yield fully l£oz. of the precious metal. It is said that the deeper they go from the surface, the evidences of gold become more certain and numerous. Experienced miners who have visited the Den declare it will yet turn out a fine field, Sydney. Feb. 24. The Legislative Assembly was counted out last night at a very early hour. The Opposition are said to be preparing for another effort to oust the Ministry, and the supporters of the hitter are accordingly mustering in great force. Politics here are apparently becoming a mere struggle for office. In the Assembly, this afternoon, a debate arose on the vote of L 2,000 to be expended in the entertainment of the Duke of Edinburgh. The supporters of the late Ministry strongly oppose it on the ground of its being unnecessary, and they consider the Governor should feel honored by acting as host, without asking the country to pay the expenses. The publicans are organising an opposition to the Permissive Liquor Bill, to prevent its passage through Parliament. Messrs Stubbs and Co. sold to day a portion of the sugars ex Ziska, at about 30s decline on former prices. White cry- . stals realised L4l to L 43 ; straw, L 37 15s to L 3 9; fine counters, L 36 10s to L39 12s 6d ; New Caledonian rations, L 24 15s to L 25 ss, in bond. Sydney, Feb. 25. The Legislative Assembly sat till three o'clock this morning, discussing, the proposed vote for the entertainment of the Duke of Edinburgh. Amendments on the original amount were proposed and negatived, until the vote dwindled down to LIOSO, which amount was ultimately carried. Two wealthy squatters have been committed for trial at Glen Innes, on a charge of cattle stealing. New maize is in very plentiful supply at 3s 4d to 3s 8d ; old, 3s lOd to 4s. The Sobraon has cleared for London with 1200 tons' of wheat, 3600 bales of

wool, 50,000 sovereigns, and 5200 ounces of gold. Business is quiet ; candles are firmer. _ The schooner Christopher George is supposed to have been lost off Wollongong during the late gales. Now Caledonia advices report that hostilities with the natives continue. Gondo, the leading chief, had been shot by the French troops. Adelaide, Feb. 24. His Excellency the Governor lunched at Port Victor yesterday, whore he received an address from the inhabitants. He then formally declared the railway opened, and, having re-entered the train, returned tq Strathalbyn, where dinner had been provided. Ab,out a hundred guests sat down to an excellently-spread table. The mayor of Strathalbyn occupied the chair. After the usual toasts had been drunk, His Excellency replied to the toast of his health, and took occasion to remark that he approved of railway extension generally, and recommended that each district through which a line passed should contribute its quota of cost, so as to relieve the burden falling on the general public. The Governor's speech was loudly applauded. The proceedings passed off very agreeably until the toast of '•• The Volunteers" was duly honored, when Lieutenant-Colonel Higgins, in reply, made use of very strong language in reference to what he designated the bad treatment the volunteers had received from the Government, and especially alluded to the way Colonel Biggs, the commandant of the volunteers, had been treated. Sir James seemed to consider these remarks so much out of place that he shortly afterwards intimated that the services of Lieutenant-Colonel Higgins, and the troop of mounted volunteers which he commanded, would not further be required as an escort, and that their services as a guard of honor were then and there dispensed with. Sir James Fergusson then returned to town, having made a most favorable impression throughout the district he has visited. Lady Fergusson held a drawing-room to-day, which was very largely attended. Dr Hogan, late surgeon of the ship Duke of Sutherland, has been appointed junior surgeon of the Adelaide Hospital. The treasurer of the Sailors' Home acknowledges the receipt of a donation of LSO from the Duke of Edinburgh. A fire broke out last night in the offices of the South Australian Advertiser, and at one time it threatened to be of a very serious character ; but, fortunately, the fire was got under before much damage was occasioned. Messrs Townsend and Co. offered the sugar cargo of the Ethel torday. The lot was all disposed of in about thirty-five minutes, the biddings being very brisk. Good to light brown realised L3O 10s to L 32 12s 6d; yellow and light counters, L 33 15s to L 36 Ts 6d ; brewing crystals, L 35 17s 6d to L 36 10s; very fine light crystals, L3B 2s 6d to L 39 7s 6d ; white crystals, L 43 10s to L 4 4: and very fine, L 45 12s6d. " The wheat market is very quiet ; very little offering. Quotations remain at 4s 8d to 4s Bid. Sales of town brands of flour are reported at Ll2 ss, and country brands at Lll ss. Feb. 25. The annual agricultural show commenced to-day. His Excellency Sir J. Fergusson was present, and there was a very large attendance of the general public. The weather was very fine and favorable. The show altogether was considered very good, and the collection of agricultural implements and grain was decidedly the best ever exhibited in Adelaide. The weight prize for hills wheat was awarded to Allan Bell, whose exhibit weighed 68jlb. The prize for plains wheat was taken by Raiske and Parsons, their sample weighing 67 Jib. His Excellency lunched on the ground with the members of the agricultural society, and expressed himself much gratified with the show, as an evidence of the griat progress made by the colony in the science of agriculture. News from the far north has been received, to the effect that the aboriginals had created serious disturbances, which were causing much uneasiness to the settlers. The Rev. Mr Caldwell, of Mount Gambier, has received a call from the congregation of Chalmers' Presbyterian Church, the pulpit of which is now vacant by the departure of the Rev. J. Gardner for Tasmania. The corn market is somewhat more active, and there is a better inquiry for wheat at 4s Id. Flour is very firm at last quotations.