LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1989, 21 December 1874, Page 2

LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Anglo-australian press telegraph AGENCY.]

Melbourne. New Zealand four per cent 3 are offered in the market at 88. Both Houses of. Parliament having settled steadily to business, there is every probability of the session being closed by the end of the year, the only obstacle at present being the Payment of Members Bill, which conies on for the second reading on Tuesday in the Council. It will all. depend on the course the Council willtake as to the prorogation. ■' I Telegram received by the Government

from Sir Andrew Clarke, stating that O'Farrell, the Land Department defaulter, ha 3 been arrested at Singapore. It seems that O'Farrell, lulled into false security, left Noumea and proceeded to Queensland, and from thence by the Torres Straits steamer to Singapore. A detective has been despatched to bring him to Melbourne. It will, perhaps, be a matter of surprise to many in New Zealand to know that the notorious murderer, Sullivan, who was exported some time since from that Colony, has been arrested in Victoria under the Criminal Influx Act. .In all probability he will again be shipped to New Zealand. : Professor Wilson, of the Melbourne. University, died suddenly on the 11th at Schriapper Point, of paralysis. . ' • The steamer Ellora went ashore on the Hope's Eye, just inside the Heads, on tho 11th, and did not get off till next day.i The disaster is attributed to the thickness of the weather. - The accounts received from all the district? as to the result of the observations of the transit of Venus are generally satisfactory. A very large number of valuable photographs have been taken at nearly all the stations in New South Wales, where the weather was remarkably fine, and the transit was observed under most favorable circumstances. ; ; In Victoria, after an early morning, the weather cleared, and the transit was also seen well, but in Tasmania it rained nearly all day, and the results obtained were very few. '.' A case is now before the Vice-Admiralty Court relating to a Bottomry bond over the barque Lady Frankkin,, belonging to George Thome, of Auckland. ; The Bishop of Ballarat and Archbishop Goold arrived by the mail steamer. ExrKing Cacobau is returning to Fiji in the Dido, and will not visit Melbourne. The Sydney cricketers have left for Melbourne to play, against Victoria on Boxing Day. Mr Weld, the new Governor of Tasmania, arrived by the mail steamer, but his family remain in Western Australia for the present. .'•..... Sydney. The election for East Sydney resulted in the return of Messrs Parkes, M-lutosh, Sturt, and Davies, the Premier being the only Ministerial candidate. Mr Farnell, Minister of Lands, was defeated at Parra-: matta. ; The new Torres Straits mail steamer: N ormanby made a very good passage. COMMERCIAL. Breadstuff's remain inactive, and prices unaltered. Oats decidedly firm, and more inquiry ; sales made up to 5s 3d. Very large transactions made during the last few days iv candles, over 40,000 boxes having changed hands. Teas and sugars are still in good demand.; Hennessy's case brandy sold at 28s 4£d ; >; bulk,.7slo£d. ; v j