INTERCOLONIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4377, 31 March 1875, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL NEWS.

VICTORIA. TRIUMPH OF WARM-HEARTEDNESS. It is .not often that a three-roomed house is knocked down by auction for half-a-crown, but such a circumstance actually took place. Thanks to the kindness and good offices of the Sandhurst dealers, two shillings and sixpence was bid under the hammer of the sheriffs auctioneer, and no advance was forthcoming for a two-roomed stone house and kitchen, though many of the dealers surrounded the hammer. One of the principal dealers of Howard-plaee said, “ That’s my bid, gentlemen, and if any one wants to turn out the children he can bid oh and do it,” and in this manly and outspoken manner passed the cottage to the poor woman who was waiting anxiously at home, hourly expecting to be turned out. A friend'was not wanting to find £1 55.; at which all the fu&iture was knocked down ; the 2s. 6d. for the house was also paid ; a good-hearted carriage-builder lent his horse and waggon ; the furniture was taken back into the house j and one heart at least was gladdened. —Bendigo Advertiser. NEW SOUTH WALES. u Charges of being concerned in sending fictitious letters to a lady, and in supporting the statement contained in the letters by the transmission of forged telegrams to the same person, and receiving from her telegrams in reply which they pretended to forward, says the S. M. Herald , “ have been brought against two station-masters located in the county of Cumberland. One of the consequences of these proceedings was, that- a gentleman : whose name was used by the station-masters , without his authority; travelled from a place about 300 miles beyond Maitland to Sydney, upon, its accidentally coming to his knowledge that he was supposed to be carrying on a correspondence with the lady in question. An investigation into the circumstances has already been held, and the station-masters have been suspended, and ordered to show cause why they should not be dismissed from the public service.” A lad named Kuhner has fatally wounded, with a reaping-hook, a boy named Michael Mears, at Hub bo. The two boys had been playing, Kuhner threw the sickle at deceased, and it entered his back and penetrated his lungs. The lad lingered on in great pain till morning, when he died. QUEENSLAND. Magnificent quartz specimens have been brought in to Cooktown from a spot “ a short distance from town, and it is probable that a large reefing .district will be opened up shortly there. The latest from the mines of Northern Queensland is the following “ The news from the Normauby, received at Cooktown, represents matters as quiet. There is too much water at the Palmar. The news is dull. The rush to the head of the river is reported to be turning out well. There is plenty of provisions at Palmerville, and where the rush commenced ; and within the last fortnight there have been 500 arrivals on the ground. The weather is fine and cool, with occasional thunder showers. News continues to arrive relative to the floods in the Rockhampton district. Immense, losses have been sustained ; forty teams were submerged, and in most cases all the bullocks were drowned.

Brisbane is now a port, for the export of Queensland coal. The Telegraph says Through the courtesy of Messrs. Quinlan and Co., who were the agents for the barque Monkchester, while she was'at this port, we have been favored with the particulars of the sale of five hundred tons of coal taken by Captain Lees to San Francisco. The Monkchester was under charter to load in San Francisco in December for London, which would have necessitated her, leaving here-in ballast, there not being sufficient time for her to call at Newcastle for coals. Messrs. Quinlan, however, persuaded Captain Lees to take a trial shipment of coals from this port in lieu of ballast, and five hundred tons were put on board at a cost of 13s. per ton. The Monkchester arrived at San Francisco a tew days after the ship Derbyshire, which vessel likewise took coals from this port. An offer of seven dollars per ton was at once made for them by the same firm that purchased the Derbyshire’s cargo, which was refused, and the day after Captain Lees sold his cargo at nine dollars per ton, he paying the duty of fifty cents per ton. The cost of these coals, therefore, making an allowance of 3s. 6d. per ton for one hundred and fifty tons ballast that would have been required, was in round figures £347, and they realised £9OO, thus giving a very handsome profit on the shipment, to say nothing of the saving of time and extra port charges. In these figures, therefore, there is a very striking proof of what may be expected when due provision is made by the railway authorities for coal trains to discharge alongside the wharves. Captain Trouton, the general manager of the A.S.N. Company, has had, previous to his return to Sydney, several, interviews with the Postmaster-General on the subject of affording increased postal services to Kockhamptou. Captain: Trouton, on behalf of the company, offered to run a small river auxiliary steamer to meet the coasting steamers, for an annual subsidy of £IOOO, which offer will probably be accepted at the Council meeting of the Executive to be hold on Wednesday next.

TASMANIA. GOVEHNOU WELD IN A DIFFICULTY. Some of the adventures encountered by colonial Governors in their vice-regal progresses are ludicrous enough, but it is not often that any of her Majesty’s representatives meet with such a aeries of contretemps as recently occurred to Mr. Weld, .the Governor of Tasmania. His Excellency, who was envious to visit the north-west portion of his .dominions,'made arrangements with the steamer Derwent to touch at Circular Head, and leave him there. The detonr was strongly objected to by a number of Melbourne betting men who were on board, but the Governor, as may be supposed, treated their remonstrances with the utmost contempt. In due time the steamer arrived at Circular Head, and Mr. Weld landed, and was duly addressed. But when his Excellency arrived at his hotel, ho found, to his horror, that the wrong baggage had been brought off, that all his impedimenta had gone to Melbourne, and that he had with him only the samples and effects of a commercial traveller in the interest of a Melbourne firm of softgoods men. But bad as was the plight of her Majesty’s representative, it was nothing to that of the unfortunate bagman, who found himself reduced to the uniform of a Governor-in-Ohief, including a dress-sword, cocked hat, and feathers all complete. Fortunately, owing to the existence of a line of telegraph between Victoria and Tasmania, the desired change of baggage was made before very much inconvenience had been caused.