LATEST INTERCOLONIAL NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 617, 30 December 1869, Page 2 (Supplement)

LATEST INTERCOLONIAL NEWS.

A foot-race between. J. G. Harris, the well-known Australian champion runner, and Bolton, a recent arrival from New Zealand, who has acquired some reputation as a pedestrian, came off on Saturday afternoon at Croxton Park, in the presence of a considerable- number of people who take an interest in such sport. Amongst those on the ground were Messrs Bird, Hewitt, and Topley^ the celebrated English champion pedestrians, who had thus an opportunity afforded them of judging for themselves of the merits of one of our first-class runners. A large number of bookmakers were present, but the betting was not very spirited, it being generally considered that the race was a foregone conclusion in favor of Harris, who was backed at 3 to 1. ■ The running ground, which was carefully roped in, was iv capital order, having been well rolled for the occasion, and it merited the commendation it received from the English pedestrians. When the men showed out they were greeted with cheers from their respective friends, who eagerly crowded round them to see how they stripped. Both were in fine condition. Bolton especially seemed to have profited much from the instructions of his trainer, Dodds. Harris, however, still remained the favorite, his former prowess fully juutifying the confidence reposed in him by his numerous admirers, who now began to freely offer from 2 to 3 to 1 on him. The race was for LIOO aside, the distance being 150 yards, Harris to give his opponent five yards' start. The preliminaries having been satisfactorily arranged, the men took their positions ; but, in their eagerness to be off, they "started before the signal was given, and were in consequence each put back a yard. On the pistol being tired, Harris as usual benefited slightly by his quickness in getting off, and though Bolton ran very gamely he was passed before .100 yards had been covered, Harris winning* easily by several yards, without being called on tv exert himself dnring the last 50 yards. The time in which the 150 yards was said to have been run in was a fraction under 15 seconds, Harris's victory was greeted with hearty cheers. It is Said that Harris will run, another well-known pedestrian very shortly, giving him a longer start thaii he gave Bolton. Mr Kerr officiated as starter, and G. Topley, the champion walker, as referee. During the afternoon Monk and Regan, two novices, had a mile spin for a L 5 trophy, which was won by the latter after a ptetty race. A handicap * race for a quarter of a mile was won by Higgins, who, though placed at scratch, defeated 10 other competitors, some of whom had starts of from 4.0 to 75 yards. Swainger was second, and Collie third; The prize was L 5 divided amongst three. A fire was discovered to have broken out about three o'clock on Friday, 10th inst,, in a small room at the Rifle Brigade Hote.l, corner of Lygou and Elgin streets, Oarlton. The room had been in use as a store-room, and one of the inmates of the hotel first gave the alarm, A good supply of water being handy, the flames were speedily quenched, and the da.mftge done was comparatively very small, The pre< miseß were fully insured, so that no loss will fall on the proprietors, The four stragglers from the ships Phoebe and Scylla, belonging to the Flying Squadron, who have been arrested by the police, were again brought before the. city magistrates, in Melbourne, and remanded to the military head quarters, the military authorities having received instructions to forward all deserters to Sydney to join the BquadroJi. One of the quartette and evidently the youngest behaved himself in a most indecent manner in court, and intimated sotto voce, a wish to " have all the bobbies in PetticoaMane, and he and his pals would soon settle the lot." After being removed to the watchhonsq he confidently informed »• detective officer that

he " had been once pinched for robbery, but he soon slung the darbies ;" Anylice — he had once been arrested for robbery but managed to extricate himself from his handcuffs. .Upon the whole, he was about the brightest 'specimen of a London street Jirab ever seen in Melbourne. : Sydney, Dec. 20. H. Hill, Graftoa Wharf, and Fealey, drapers, are insolvent. A Mr Salamon has-been appointed Solicitor»General. Tenders have been accepted for a telegraph line from Cardwoll (Queensland) to Carpentaria. The elections r are turning out more favorable to' the Government. The Governor of Queensland is in Sydney. Arrived-r-From Auckland : Hero, Eagle, Oberlin, and Red Rover. Arrived at Newcastle — Mary Ann, Frederick, Princess Alice, and Joliba, from Lyttelton ; Ellen, from Nelson. Sailed — Duke of Edinburgh and Adeline Burke, for Dunedin ; John Knox and Badger, for Lyttelton ; Derwent, for Wellington ; King Oscar, for. Auckland. The result of the elections so far show —for the Ministry, 18 ;- Opposition, 17. Wool sales are active. ' Flour, Ll2 10s toU3. ■ The. Flying Sqiiadron whs sighted off Kiama on the 11th, and anchored on Sunday, A naval review is going on to-day. Mr Lackerstein is insolvent. Tho schooner Erince Patrick has been wrecked at the Nfirth Head, and the crew saved. ''& • Dr Hawkins hai been drowned in the Clarence River by'a boat; upsetting. Archibald's execution js, fixed for the 22nd at Ro'ckhampton. , X The steamer Samson sailed for Auckland on the 6th, but subsequently put back to Newcastle, where the police arrested a passenger named Potts; charged with embezzlement at Sandhurst. Admiral Hornby inepected Cuthbert's ship-building yard this morning, and displayed great interest in the different kinds of colonial wood used, and was particularly struck with some cedar boats. He ordered two cutters to he built of this timber, similar to the Champion cutter supplied to H.M.S. Challenger. The Rifle Association prizes were distributed in the presence of 20,000 spectators. Admiral Hornby and other officers were present. The bands of the fleet give a moonlight | concert on Tuesday, in aid of Cook's monument fund. Mr Henry parkes has been elected for Kiama as well as forßast Sydney. Mr Osborne h;is been returned for Illawarra. In the Broad wood Electorate, Mr Edward Greville was opposed by Mr Kelly, a local resident. The supporters of the latter resorted to violence. They surrounded two polling booths, maltreating tliose electors who they supposed intended to vote for Mr Greville. The deputy returning officer closed one booth. One hundred and five sheep have been killed at Arimidale by lightning during a storm there last week* The storm also destroyed several thousands bushels of wheat. The Hou. W. M. Arnold, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, has been elected for the Paterson. The bushranger Holland has been captured near Kiandra. A riot took place at Balmain at the termination of the election, when Mr George Wigram Allen was returned. Six men were apprehended and brought before the police court. They:were remanded until Monday. Mr Ryan has been elected for the Nepean, Messrs Hornslow and Morrice for Cainden, and Mr Epkford for the Wollambi. A heavy hailstorm has fallen at Glen Lines, destroying 300 acres of growing crops. A telegram from Balranald to-day states that Mr J. J. Phelps has been returned without opposition. The nomination for the Murray took place at the Court-house, Deniliquin, on Wednesday, amidst a great assemblage of. electors from all parts. Messrs P. A. Jennings arid Hunt were proposed." The show of hands was yreatly in favor of Mr Jennings ; and for Mr Hunt, who was not present, a poll was demanded. Mr Saml Samuels (Treasurer) has been elected for Grange, Mr Thomas Garrett for Shoalhaven, and Mr Clarke for Eden. Mr William Bell Allen, an old resident, and formerly member for the Glebe electorate, died suddenly yesterday. Mr Edward Webb, a large storekeeper at Bathurst, has been elected to represent that place in Parliament. Mr J. Dillon has been elected ior the Hunter, and Me J. J. Phelps for Balranald. Messrs J. T. Fallon and Thos Mate have been nominated as candidates for the Hume. At the show of hands at Albury, Mr Fallon had the majority. It is reported that rust has shown itself in the wheat about Mudgee. The steamer Samson resumed her voyage to Auckland yesterday. The absconder Potts will be remanded to Sydney, from whence he will go in charge of an officer by first steamer to Melbourne. A heavy thnnderstofm broke over the. city on the 15th inst. The amount of damage has hot been •ascertained. A fire occurred m the 16th inst. at IMr Morris Me >A er's clothing depot in King street. ' LAO stock was destroyed and the buildhfir much damaged. The loss is covered by insurance. Adelaide, Dec. 20. Breadstuff* dull ; wheat, 4s to 4s Id. A threatened want of confidence motion has been postponed, owing to the indisposition of the Attorney-General. Some reports from the agricultural dis- . tricts give a poor account of the crops. Ears of wheat are looking good, but there are few grains. The Flying Cloud has arrived with a cargo of sugar. Dr Milner has been appointed Govern- , meat Resident at Port Darwin. Hobart Town, Dec. 19. The Derwent and Tamar Insurance Company has declared a 30s per share dividend. Arrived. — Bella Mary, from Auckland ; Free Trader and Glencoe, from Dunedin. Sailed.— Eucalyptus, for Dunedin. Dr Smart has been elected Mayor. On the 12th inst., Douglas, the "evangelist," preached in the Town Hall, which was crowded. Afterwards he held a protracted prayer-meeting, which lasted till 20 minutes past 11. The preacher took offence at some young men, and denounced them, .invoking the curse of the Deity upon them. Confusion arose on the"platform, and there has been much excitement about the incident in the oily to-day.

The Yacht anid Barge Races have been sailed over again, as they were not in time on Friday last. They came in in the following-order : — Yachts Surprise, Phantom, and Maggie Laurie. Surprise has been protested against. Barges May Queen and Rose. Another salmon smolt was caught last night by Ikin, the fisherman, at Cox's Beach. It measures 12in. long by 6in. girth, and looks a splendid fish. It has been placed in the Museum, where numbers of citizens have been inspecting it. M'-s Ducane has issued cards for a ball on the 4th January, and an At Home on the 7th, during the visit of the squadron. Walter Clark and Robert Stew.irt, from Victoria, have been arrested on a charge of obtaining money- on false pretences. The one describes hiiffeelf as a university man, and the other as a law clerk. They obtained money from his Honor Judge Home and ihe Rev. Mr Hndspeth. Launoestou, Dec. 13, Mr Webster has been elected mayor. A party prospecting near the Black Sugar-loaf in the Westbury district found gold in several places to the w estward. News from Waterhouse is to the effect that the Alliance Company struck a reef yesterday, and obtained a good show of gold.