LATEST INTERCOLONIAL NEWS

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 492, 11 March 1869, Page 3

LATEST INTERCOLONIAL NEWS

By the s.s. Alhambra, which arrived at" Hokitika at 10 p.m. on Tuesday we have dates from Melbourne to the Ctli inst. We take the following extracts from our filea : The suicide of Mr John Keeping, who poisoned himself with strychnine on Friday, 25th inst. , has caused a great sensation at Hamilton. A shocking suicide was committed on Sunday morning, 28th inst.. by Mr Richard Hill, a draper's assistant in Castlemaine. According to the M. A. filail he was a first-class salesman, but had a disposition for drink. On the 2nd inst. the first pile in connexion with the new gas-holder tank, to be built for the Melbourne Gas Company, was driven by the chairman' of the company, at the gasworks, in Batman's Swamp. On Monday, Ist inst., while Mr Coppin was driving a buggy in which Mrs Coppin was seated, on the Richmond-road, the horse took fright, and the buggy was upset, Mrs Coppin sustaining some slight injuries. The lady was assisted into the residence of Mr M. L. King, near which the accident occurred, and she was able soon afterwards to proceed home. A report of the chief medical officer of Melbourne relative to some of the cases of small-pox vi hich have lately occurred was last night presented to Parliament. The object of the report'" appears to be to maintain "that the smaU-pox is due to local caus< s, and was not introduced into this colony by the Avon Vale. The Duke of Edinburgh was to leave Melbourne for Sydney on Saturday, the sth inst. The Australasian says that during this visit his Royal Highness has had opportunities which were wanting on the first occasion, of mixing without formality among the people around him, and making their acquaintance in their everyday life. No gunpowder has been wasted in his honor, nor a single public holiday been proclaimed on account of his presence amongst us. Had he been in London he could not have been treated with more real friendliness, or less pomp and ceremony. He has been permitted to follow his own inclinations without restrain. The rabbits and pigeons may feel more gratified at his departure than Ms arrival ; but theirs will be an exceptional dislike — reasonable enough under the circumstances. Besides his shooting excursions, in which he evidently takes genuine delight, he has paid unostentatious visits to one or two of our fellow-colonists, and has honored the theatres and the recitals of Mr Montgomery with his presence. One of the private visits paid by the Duke at the beginning of this week exhibits the amiableness of his disposition, and, we may also add, his appreciation of intellectual brilliancy, in a noteworthy light. It will be remembered that when Mr Aspinall went to Sydney to defend the miserable assassin O'Farrell, some of the Sydneyitea imagined that the Duke would be chagrined at the arrival of the Victorian barrister bent on such a mission. The allusion was amply dispelled at the time, and its utter absurdity has now been made more evident by the fact that the Duke has driven out in the most' friendly way to a luncheon at Mr Aspinall's house. Another of the few events of the week in which his Royal Highness has taken part, although maintained as private as possible, was brought more prominently under the notice of the public. On Wednesday, fifteen months after laying the foundationstone of the town-hall, he was called upon to put the Corinthian capital on the elegant pillar overtopping that stone. The progress made in this beautiful structure in the interval will give Prince Alfred an idea of the rapidity with which the colony advances. Sydney, February 27. The Legislative Assembly, by a large majority, passed the resolution affirming the desirability of repealing the postage on newspapers. • The inquiry respecting the abduction and forcible deportation cf American seamen who wished to prosecute a suit in the Courts here, proves that the statement made by Mr Piddington in the Assembly was well founded. The hon. member, when calling the attention of the Govern- 1 ment to the ,case, said that two seamen of the American barque Penangj who had commenced actions against the captain for ill-treatment, had been forcibly taken on board the schooner Lovett Peacock, and carried away by that vessel on her voyage to California. The entries for the Homebush Races are very numerous. Ragpicker in the St. Leger, and Blondin in the Cup, are the only Victorian horses entered. If the Duke of Edinburgh is here during the races, the stewards intend tohave'an extra day, with a Duke's Stakes of 250 so vs., as the leading event. The judges have, refused to grant bail to Captain Jdowell, who has been remanded to the May sessions, on a charge of murdering Polynesians on board his vessel. Several witnesses will be brought from Fiji, which accounts for the delay on the part of the Crown in proceeding with the trial. The Victorian team of cricketers having landed safely, had an opportunity to-day of a little practice. They are in fine form and spirits, and express themselves confident of adding the present match to their list of victories. On our side, Coates has been so severely injured at practice that he will be unable to play in the match, and his place will be taken by the emergency man. The Steam Navigation Board have held "an inquiry into the late collision between the Clara Sayers and the steamer Fire King, and passed a resolution recommending the prosecution of the captains of the steamers Herald and Fire King for a breach of the harbor regulations. The boat race on Saturday between Hickey and Lyons was a very hollow affair. Hickey went off with the lead, and was scarcely ever called upon to make an extra effort, winning so easily that many considered the race a sham. The new mission ship John Williams arrived here yesterday, and has to-day been an object of interest to many. The weather is intensely hot. A northerly gale and dust-storm are raging. At a full meeting of the Chamber of Commerce to-day, the proposed Customs union was discussed for three hours, and the discussion was then adjourned until Wednesday. The officers of the Immigration department have received notice that their services will not be further required. Advices from Fiji report native affah's as still in a very unsettled condition. The cotton crop this season is said to be a very large one.