MELBOURNE.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 40, 7 March 1877, Page 3

MELBOURNE.

March. 1. News per Arawata at the Bluff : — Sir Charles McMahon has declared Berry's apology not sufficient, and he has promised a full statement to Assembly when re-elected, which, however, seems doubtful. Sir Charles Gaven Duffy is the nominee of Liberal party for the office. Welcome rains have fallen all over the country. Rain is still very badly wanted jn the back country where cattle and sheep are dying by thousands. William Hastings has been found guilty of murdering his wife at Francetown. The: principal evidence, circumstantially clear against him, was that of his own daughter, aged 15 years, who deposed to having had improper connection with her own father since she was nine years old. Prisoner continues to assert innocence. The combined match, Victoria and New South Wales against the English Elevj^will be played about the middle of JEircn. The colonists play twelve against eleven. The Melbourne meat preserving company are taking advantage of the present low price of sheep, and are now m full operation. The 'Bishop of Melbourne is visiting the remote parts of the Diocese, and appears lie be well liked. . It ibWtely that Bailey and Coopers' menagerie and circus will visit New Zealand after their return from Adelaide. "They did splendidly m Victoria. M'Meckan Blackwood and Co., have made "important reductions on all passenger rates and freights between Melbourne and all New Zealand ports. G-regdr Taylor the principal electrician and representative of the Cable Co., is a passenger per Arawata. Three years' contract has been entered into with Messrs. M'Meckan Blackwood and the Tasmanian Government for the conveyance of the mails between Tasmania and New Zealand.