LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 164, 13 July 1871, Page 2

LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. [Per Grkville's Company, Reoter's Agents.] Melboune, July 4. The ship Mary Shephard was found to be on fire in Hobson's Bay on the 2nd instant, and was scuttled and sunk. The Assembly is adjourned to the 25th July, for the ministerial elections, and there is very little business of any public interest stirring. The markets for breadstuffs are exceedingly dull, and not the slightest inclination is evinced to enter into any other business than that absolutely necessary for immediate requirements. Flour nominal at £16 ss. t0, £16 10s.; wheat by no means active at late quotations, viz., 7s. 4d. to 7s. 5d., and even these rates being only obtainable where terms are • given; oats, steady at 3s. 4d. to 3s. Bd.; good feeding samples are saleable at 3s. sd. to 3s. 6d. s ; ' maize rules at about 3s. 9d. to 3s. lOd. The Formosa is aground at Queenscliff, "v " ■ 9 ;:" There -have been heavy rains and floods, and greatidaraage dorie. :"' ; SYDNEY. ■■■ The Zavistowski sisters continue to' draw large houses. A sailor named Foxcroft has. been com- / mitted for, trial on a charge, of /stabbing die 'chief .officer of ,the ship. THnifred on the 22nd ult. f- ■■ An linperial dispatch received by the jlas.t mail consider, that the liberation of jßangi and Captaii Howell who were convicted of 'murdering several Polynesians on board their vessel *in ( the South ' Seas !was |un warranted 1 .' v) s ln ! reply to this, the iGoy^nmeiqt! Ben,t, .a dispatch hy ■ the ilast jmail stating that the Secretary of State interfering, in' the adniinistration of criminal justide.r^asc mot (considered; regular or expedient, and -justifies Captain iHoweU'rrel'ease'on thdi grounds tßat the"

conviction was either erroneous, or based on insufficient evidence, f Parliament was prorogued to-day with the usual formalities. The speech, was not 'impor tan tV- the principal topic for congratulation being the expected benefits to be I derived from Harbor defences and new military forces. [ The Navigation Board Bill which passed the Council last night was reserved for the Queen's assent. The Council,to-day, prior to prorogation, carried a resolution for an address to the , Governor praying for the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the working of the Superannuation Act. Mr. Hely, proprietor of the Floating Dock, died suddenly last evening. Adventuress, Mabel, Perrhus and Whalebone are scratched for the Metropolitan Stakes. The man Savage has been committed for trial charged with the murder of bis brother. Fiji advices report that King Thakombau has adopted a Provisional Government with Mr. Burt, formerly auctioneer in Sydney, as his .Premier. A meeting of [ delegates had been convened and the j principal native chiefs had sworn allegiance to the King and Constitution. ! Adelaide, July 2nd. / Wheat very quiet— --Buyers and sellers cannot agree as to tbe price, os. lid. is offered but no transactions have taken place. The weather is very stormy. Hobart Town, June 22nd. / Government are having a portion of the military barracks land measured off as a site for a large hotel.