LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 2376, 9 April 1884, Page 2

LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[REUTERS TELEGRAMS.] By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. WAIRARAPA AND ADELAIDE COLLISION INQUIRY. THE RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT LITTLE RIVER. COMMITTAL OF BIDDLE FOR MANSLAUGHTER. INQUE ST ON BODY OF THE CATTLE TRAIN DRIVER, MINISTERIAL CHANGES IN VICTORIA. GENERAL ELECTIONS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA. THE SYDNEY CUP AND ST. LEGER, (Received April 9, 1.5 a.m.) Melbourne, April 8. The Wairai-apa-Adelaide inquiry was continued to-day. Ths witnesses who were on board the Union steamship confirmed the evidence taken at Dunedin. Mouatt, the engineer, corroborated the statement that the remark by Mills regarding the race was merely jocular. Other witnesses denied that the Wairarapa waited for the Adelaide, and blamed the bad steering of the latter vessel. Mills, the Union Company's agent, testified that he never arranged a race between his vessel, and that the statement of Turnbull, the Adelaide's agent, to the contrary was incorrect. The inquiry stands adjourned until to-morrow, when Messrs Gillies and Kerford, who were amoug the passengers, will be examined. Biddle, the station master at Werribee, through whose negligence the fatal railway accident at Little River is alleged to have been caused, has been committed for trial on the charge of manslaughter.

(Received April 9, 1.10 p.m.) April 9. Arrived, yesterday, the Union steamship Manapouri, from the Bluff. An inquest has been held at Geelong on the body of Kitchen, the driver of the cattle train who was killed by the Little River collision. The evidence taken showed that the " staff" regulations have of late been constantly in abeyance. The trial of Biddle, the Werribee station-master, for manslaughter in connection with the receut accident, is fixed for July. The proposed official investigation of the circumstauces attending the Little River coliision have not yet commenced. The following rearrangement of Ministerial offices is announced: Gillies becomes Minister of Public Instruction, and retains the portfolio of Works ; Berry relinquishes the Post-master-Generalship, which is taken by James Campbell, M.L.C. Thornley, M.L.C., joins the Ministry without a portfolio. Adelaide, April 9. The general elections are now proceeding. Glyde, Colonial Treasurer, has been defeated. Bray, the Premier, has been re-elected. Sydney, April 9. Martini-Henri has had a partial knock out in the Cup betting, the Empress being now the favourite at 6 to 1. For the St. Leger Martini-Henri and Le Grand arc equal favourites,