LATER ENGLISH AND AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4231, 12 October 1874, Page 3

LATER ENGLISH AND AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

GRETjroUTH, Saturday. The brigantine Zephyr arrived off the port to-day, from Melbourne. She made a rapid passage, having left on the 3rd inst,, and brings later English and Australian news : London, September 30. Sir James Fergusson has been gazetted K.C.M.B. Paws, September 29. A Republican has beaten a Septenniate candidate at the election of deputy for the district of Marne et Loire. The election is considered of importance. St. Petersbdiio, September 30. -The journal of St. Peterburg declares that the agreement between Austria, ' Germany, and Russia remains intact although llussia has not recognised Spain, being desirous of not nterfering in Spanish affairs. In replying to the letter of Don Carlos, thanking Russia for not recognising the Republic, the Czar simply acknowledged the communication. Sydney, October 2. The Premier and the Postmaster-General of Queensland have arrived, here to confer with Mr. Parkes and Mr. Vogel with reference to telegraphic communication with Singapore, and as to the Torres Strait mail service. It is proposed to expand the service and employ swifter steamers. Questions of postal reciprocity and registration of debentures on the London Stock Exchange are to be discussed. The s.s. City of Adelaide takes out the next Californian mail. At a meeting of .shareholders of the Aus tralian Mutual Benefit Society, the annual report was unanimously adopted. The gross surplus exhibited on the quinquennial balancesheet amounts to £295,899. The estimated increase in the value of Government debentures requiring revaluation at the quinquennial period is £*4,714, taken at the market price on the 30th September. The amount set apart for distribution is £235,185. New teas at auction realised 2s. 11 Jd. per lb A schooner (the Colonist ?) from Newcastle to New Zealand, has put in dismasted.

Adelaide, October 2. A motion has been earned for a preliminary survey of a line of railway from Adelaida, to effect a junction with the Victorian railway system. Wheat is steady at Gs. Id., but there is none offering. Forrest, the West Australian explorer, has arrived at Peak Station. It is proposed to give him a public banquet. The Government of this Colony are placing boats at the crossing-places of the rivers for the use of diggers and others en route to the Palmer river goldfields. Hobarton, October 2. The American Scientific Expedition to observe the transit of Venus will sail hence in a week for a port in New Zealand, from which they will afterwards proceed to the Chatham Islands. Melbourne, October 3. Arrived : Otago, s.s., on the Ist inst. The markets are dull. Breadstuffs are rising. Flour, £l2 12s. 6d. to £l2 15s ; oats are dull, quotations riding from ss. to ss. 2d. for common to good feed, while up to os. Cd. is required for milling samples. The news is without interest.