ENGLAND AND AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4289, 18 December 1874, Page 2

ENGLAND AND AUSTRALIA.

LATER NEWS. ARRIVAL OE THE TARARUA. [Press Telegraph Agency.] Hokitika, Thursday. The Tararua arrived to-day. She encountered very rough weather from the 12th to the 15th instant. Eleven horses are on board. Her list of passengers for Wellington includes Mrs. Kelly, Mrs. and Miss Roxburgh, Miss AVhite, Mr. Trestrail, and Mr. Beck. She has ISO tons of cargo for Wellington. She brings the following news : London, December 4. Captain Nares, commander of the Challenger, is appointed to the command of the new Polar expedition. December 5. Sir Arthur Gordon, late Governor of the Mauritius, is appointed Governor of Fiji. Money is tighter. A further advance in the rate of discount is expected. Wheat is firmly held ; market advanced. Arrived—Agammemnon, from Melbourne ; Chalgrove, from Adelaide ; William Davie, from Sydney. December 8. Prince Bismarck, in defending the suppression of the legation at the Vatican, withdrew the conciliatory remarks which he had made on a former occasion, in order to prevent misjLcjjieoeuLaUoli. He Uo.U bought peace' from Rome on any terms, but diplomatic relations were superfluous whilst the Pope urged the clergy to break the laws. Paris, December 4. McMahon’s message to the Assembly states that rigorous respect will be paid to treaties, and that the relations of Prance abroad are more friendly thaw they were. The revenue is satisfactory, and the prosperity 0 f the country is increased. . The Assembly will shortly be invited to examine questions with the view to strengthening the septennial powers, which he is determined to maintain under all circumstances. Berlin, December 5. The German Chancellor announced the suppression of the German Legation at the Vatican.

INTERCOLONIAL NEWSVICTORIA. Melbourne, December 9. Mr. Balfour baa withdrawn his motion for a call of the Council on the Payment of Members Bill, and the second reading of the measure has been fixed for Tuesday. There is, therefore, but slight prospect of a prorogation before Christmas. It has been elicited that the Government do not intend to subsidise a line of steamers by way of the Cape of Good Hope. The weather has been oppressively hot, and there has been much sickness.

The body of a girl, named Elizabeth Gordon, who had been missing from her home, has been found in the.Yarra. Mr. Bosisto has been elected member for Kichmond, in room of Mr. Francis, having defeated Mr. L. Xi. Smith by 187 votes. A proposition has been made by the American transit parties that all the expeditions should meet in Melbourne in February next. Breadstuffs unchanged, but firm; wheat, ss. 9d. to ss. IQd. .. ... Arrived : December 5, Tower Hill, from Wangaroa. NEW SOUTH WALES. Sydney, Dee. 9. Great excitement prevails in our political world. Thirteen candidates have been nominated for East Sydney. Messrs. Parkes, Cameron, Foster, and Davis had the show of hands. At Newcastle the Treasurer is opposed by Mr. Stevens. Mr. Sutherland, the Minister of Works, has been returned unopposed. The Mayor’s salary has been fixed at £BOO. There are forty-three nominations for the Gold Cup. The Wonga Wonga sails for Auckland on Saturday. Brisbane, Dec. 9, The Townsville coach has been upset near Milichester. . Mr. Whitehead, manager of the National Bank of Queensland, has been killed. The Torres Straits mail steamer Normanby arrived at Townsville yesterday morning. Adelaide, December S. The mortality is very great at Yorke’s Peninsula. Thirty deaths have occurred during the month. It is estimated that 200,000 tons of breadstuffs will be available for exportation this

UNPUBLISHED TELEGRAM. Melbourne, December 9. The weather cleared during the afternoon and enabled sjdendid observations of the transit of Venus to be made. At Beechworth, the weather was fine, and the first contact was distinctly observed by Mr. James Anderson, of Now York. At the other stations, the weather was to some extent favorable.