AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 13, Issue 653, 4 February 1869, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

LATEST TELEGRAMS. Sydney, Jan. 15. The Sydney Morning Herald, in a leading- article to-day, strongly advocates the purchase of the Panama Company's large steamers for the purpose of an intercolonial mail service to Gall's.

A bushranger, captured near Bourke, has been identified as Rutherford's mate, Pearson. He has been remanded for a week.

[ A report lias been circulated of the existence of scab in the Western district, but the Government scab inspector denies its truth. The import markets are active. Sugars are rising. Lloyd's stores at Singleton were burned down last night. The loss will fall on. the insurance offices.

An inquest has been held into the cause of the burning of the grand stand at Homebush Racecourse. A verdict of arson was returned. Jan. 20. The Rev. W. Rose, Moderator of the Presbytery, died yesterday. The Wesleyan Conference opened its sitting today.

At auction, white counter Mauritius sugar brought £4l 10s. Brisbane, Jan. 15. One of the bushrangers who stuck up the Gympie coach a few clays ago has been arrested and identified by Mr King, of theßauk of New South Wales, who was a passenger by the coach, and who tired four shots at the marauders, compelling them to retreat. The prisoner had a gunshot wound in the abdomen, which proves that Mr King's revolver did more than frighten the robbers.

The Chamber of Commerce have fully considered the proposal for an intercolonial Customs Union, but think it impracticable. Adelaide, Jan. 15.

A dastardly attempt has been made to burn down the Redruth Post Oiiice, by putting into the letter box a tniantity of hot ashes and matches. The Government will act upon the decision of the board of survey on the Sea PJpple, and send the vessel to the north.

The corn market is firm, but without alteration in prices. Tile weather is cool, but changeable. Jan. 21. The harvest most beautiful ; a public thanksgiving is to be held.

A despatch has been received from the Duke of Buckingham, requesting that no more public revenue should be spent on account of the second visit of his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. The corn market is quie l ". Melbourne, Jan. 21. The new Land Bill is now being actively discussed by the Cabinet. Victorian flour, £l2 to £l2 10s j wheat, 4s 4d;. maize not so linn.

ACCIDENT TO THE ALHAMBRA. _ The Melbourne Argus, of the 19ch January, gives the following account of an accident which happened to the s.s. Alhambra, on that vessel's passage from Melbourne to Hokitika:— The intelligence received by telegram from Queenscliff yesterday morning, that the screw steamship Alhambra had returned to Port Phillip Heads disabled, and in tow of the steamer Daudenong, after being little more than a week away from port, was fully confirmed by the arrival of both vessels in the bay at 10 o'clock yesterday forenoon. The Alhambra cleared out from Melbourne ou the afternoon of Saturday, the 9th hist., for her usual trip round the New Zealand ports, with a full cargo and a large number of saloon and steerage passengers. On leaving Port Phillip Heads strong favorable westerly winds and fine weather were experienced, and the steamer had every prospect of making a rapid passage down to the Bluif. Kent's group was passed at 9 a.m. on Sunday, and throughout that day and up till about a quarter to 5 o'clock on the afternoon of Monday the Alhambra continued to make splendid weather of it, when suddenly and most unfortunately, her screw-shaft broke somewhere, it is supposed, near the inner sternpost. The Alhambra, at this juncture, was about 250 miles past Kent's Group, and about 500 miles from Phillip Heads. Capt. M'Lean at once gave orders to have additional sails bent, and the steamer's course was then altered, the wind which had hitherto been favorable to her progress, being now against her. Notwithstanding the difliculties to be. surmounted of sailing the vessel, deeplyladen as she was, and with the additional impediment of her now useless propeller, against contrary weather, Captain M'Lean accepted the exigency of his position, and, in spite of all hindrances, baffling winds, and occasional calms included, he succeeded in making the laud near Cape Howe, on Saturday, the 16th instant. When about 40 miles on this side of Cape Howe, the Alhambra jwas signalled by the s.s. Dandenong, inward bound | for Melbourne, and Captain Pain at once bore | away for her, and about 7 p.m took her in tow. The Dandenong and her charge readied the Heads about 2 o'clock yesterday morning, but the chapter of accidents is, so far as the Alhambra was concerned, not yet complete, two hawsers by which she was being towed having parted in coming through the Rip. The Alhambra was thus once more in a position of peril, but saiL being immediately clapped on her, she fortunately cleared the reef inside of Shortland's Bluff, and, the wea-

thcr becoming hazy, she anchored off the Swanspit light" The Dandenong also anchored, and at 6 a.m. took the Alhambra once more in tow, and arrived in the bay With her off Williamstpwn, where she was relieved by the steamer Besolute, which took the Alhambra alongside the ship Essex, at the Railway pier, Sandridge. The passengers and cargo of the Alhambra will be transferred to the s.s. Rangitoto, which is announced to sail oh Thursday next, instead of Saturday next, as previously intimated.

Flour —Superfine silk-dressed flour in Auckland is quoted at £l6 per ton. Mr Hall.—The hon. the PostmasterGeneral leaves for the South by the Phoebe, which vessel will sail as soon a* the weather admits. "Wo learn that it is very unlikely Mr Hall will return as a member of the Ministry, his resignation being in contemplation.—Evening Post, Jan. 29.

Mr Fitzherbert. —The Government received information by the Panama mail that Mr Fitzherbert would leave London for Wellington positively on the 2nd of February next; he will consequently bo here in time tc take his seat in the General Assembly during the ensuing session.— Wellington Independent, 30th January. The General Assembly.—We (New Zealand Herald) understand upon good. authority th it the General Assembly will be called together in March next for the purpose of passiug a Money Bill so as to enable Ministers to meet the war expenditure. It is also slated on the same authority that the business for which the Assembly was called together having been completed, a dissolution will take place. With a general election in view at so early a date we would recommend all those who have the right to claim to vote to place themselves on the electoral roll.' Claims to vote must be sent in during the months of January, February, and March. Auckland.—A Racehorse Burnt to Death.—The New Zealand Herald, 28th January, says: —A fire broke out in a stable adjoining the residence of Mr William Mear's, of Epsom, which has been attended with very lamentable consequences, resulting in the loss to the sporting world and to the horse stock of this province, of perhaps the best blooded animal in it. The fire broke out, it would appear, between the hours of twelve to one yesterday morning. Tho premisesformerly belonged to Mr Chad wick, but have been purchased by Mr Mears, Mr Chadwick still occupying the stables for tho convenience of the training ground in tho neighborhood. The fire it is ascertained commenced in the stable. Donald Taylor, Mr Chadwick's groom, appears to have been in town at the time, and tho greater part of the previous evening, and this will probably not be found extraordinary when it is considered that Wednesday evening was the "settling" after tho ISllerslie races. Adjoining the stable was i coach-house also in the occupation of M.v Chadwick. It appears that the poor iiorse Satellite, who will bo recollected as winning the principal event at the lust races, managed to get loose, and made for the coach-house, but access was barred,, and the consequence was that the firo gaining ground the poor brute was destroyed by the flames. Mr Chadwick valued tho horse at one thousand guineas, and ahorse with such a pedigree, extending, over 15J years of the best breed in England, could not be otherwise than of great value. Satellite was, we believe, bred by Mijor Walmesly, and his superior powers and endurance were made manifest at the> late races. Wo have been informed that, two gentlemen were riding by at the time, and went up to the scene of the fire, and being asked to assist turned their horse's, heads and rode away. Wo perceive that impression of the owner of Satellite is that the fire was-the work of an incendiary, tho object being the destruction of his race-, horse, for ho has offered £l5O for the discovery of the incendiary or the incen-

diaries. Kussian TrnANNT.—M. Andreoli, a Russian writer, who was exiled some years ago to Siberia, is now contributing to the .Revenue Modorne, under the title of " Sou-. veuirs do Siberia" Ms recollections not; only of Siberian, but also of Russian life. lie tells a story, the end of which belongs, to the present reign, the beginning to tha reiou of Paul, of whose period it is strikingly characteristic. The Emperor's favorite was at that time a young French actress, of whom he was madly jealous. One evening, at a ball, he noticed that a young mau named Labauoff was paring her a groat deal of attention. Ho did noc lose his temper, but at the end of the ball gave orders that Labauoff shoul be arrested and thrown into the citadel. He only intended to keep him there afewdajs, "to make him more serious" after which ho proposed to reprimand him and to appoint him to an office which had been solicited for him. Labanoff, however, was forgotten. At the death of .Nicholas; Alexander 11, then full of magnanimity, liberated all ihe prisoners in the citadel, without exception. In a vaulted tomb in which it was impossible to stand upright, and was not more than two yards long, an old man was found, almost bent double, and incapable of answering when he was spoken to. This was Labanoff. The Emperor Paul had been succeeded by the Emperor Alexander I, and afterwards by the Emperor Nicholas ; he had been in the dungeon more thau fifty years. When he was taken out he could not bear the light, and, a strange phenomenon, his movement.* had become automatic. He could hardly hold himself up, and he had become so accustomed to move about within the limits of Lis narrow cell that he could not take more than two steps forwards without turning round, as though he had struck against a wall, and taking two steps backwards, and so on alternately. He lived I only a'week after his liberation.