A U S T R A L I A N.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 70, 23 March 1874, Page 2

AUSTRA L I A N.

[The following telegrams by tbe Hero from Sydney to Auckland were received tco late for publication on Saturday.] Sybnet, March 14. The establishment of a second telegraph wire and service with England is beirg diecusErd in Parliament, and if the Government 0/ Queensland and New Zeal nil d will grant sums to assist in carrying out the work, the second line via Singapore will soon be laid. The emigrant ship Southern Bell has arrived from London dismasted. A deputation from the Sydney Rifle Association had an interview with the Colonial Secretary lor the purpose ot requesting h'm to obtain .100,000 rounds of heavy ball cartridge for the next annual prize meeting of the Association, such ammunition to be specially made for that occaaion, nla > for the annual contest against Victoria and New Zealand. The floods are subsiding in the Palmer Hirer and the roads to the goldfields arc drying f-ißt. Packhorses very much wanted. 'J he general news of the gold returns is good. Several men died of starvation during the flood and somes existed f>r a week on grass. A Jater despatch Itoa\ Towns ville sajs that the ro»d to Palmer is now accessible and the river is down. Provisions are still scarce on the diggings. Two men who have arrived from Cooktown state thr.t they have prospected 100 mfos of Ihe Palmer without success. Reefs are being found in nil directions, and gold within forty miles of Cooktown. Meat is scarce but 22 cows have reached tho township." Memiourne, March 14, The final cricket match between Victoria and All-England was not finished when the Hero left. Victoria had made in the first innings, 151 and in the fecond innings 10 wickets had fallen for 55, Costic not out. The English in the first innings made 166. Adelaide, March !4. Twenty thousand bushels of wheat have been sold at 6s.