ENGLAND AND AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4401, 28 April 1875, Page 2

ENGLAND AND AUSTRALIA.

ARRIVAL OF THE OTAGO. [Per Press Agency.] The Bluee, Tuesday. The s.s. Otago, Captain John McLean, arrived here at 5.80 p.m., from Melbourne, which she left on the 22nd instant, at three o’clock p.m. The Otago, therefore, has made a rapid ran down. She brings forty-one saloon and thirty-two steerage passengers, and 320 tons of cargo for all ports. She sails for Dunedin to-morrow at four o’clock p.m. The Otago has the following passengers for Wellington : —Mr. and Mrs. Morrah and family (eight), and servant, Mr. Winter, Mr. Riley, and a few in the steerage. She has also a few tons of cargo. She brings the following later ENGLISH NEWS. [Reuter’s Telegrams.] London, April 19. Another German note, addressed to Belgium, says the present international law is inadequate for mutual protection ; and as Germany is renledying the law, it is recommended that Belgium should do the same. The R.M.S. Ceylon arrived off Galle on the 15th ult., with the Australian mails. April 20. The Earl, of Derby, in reply to a question from. Earl Russell, said the German note to Belgium was very friendly, and had been communicated to the several Powers, but England had not been formally consulted. There was no ground for uneasiness. The race for the City and Suburban Handicap resulted as follows;—Durham 1, Pieman 2, Tam o’Shanter 3.

AUSTRALIAN NEWS. VICTORIA. Melbourne, April 22, A marble obelisk has just been finished, at a cost of £2OO, for the grave of the Maori chief Roupartara, who died at Otaki in 1849. The news of the death of Mr. Wilson Gray was received with very great regret all over the colony. The nineteenth anniversary of the eight hours movement was celebrated yesterday, by a large procession of the trades through the streets. The larrikin nuisance is being severely dealt with by £he magistrates, who are imposing heavy fines. The Wesleyan Chronicle has ceased to appear, and has been succeeded by a new Wesleyan organ, called the Spectator and Chronicle, of which the Rev. J. O. Symons is editor. Welcome rains have fallen all over Victoria. They were much wanted. Commercial.—The markets are dull. New Zealand wheat has been sold at 4s. 3d., and the market has improved. Sales of Victorian at 4s. lid. to ss. Old.; New Zealand oats sold at 3s. lid. to 4s. A large demand for teas, chiefly boxes. Sugars sell well, at full rates. A scarcity of English malt creates a demand for malting barley. NEW SOUTH WALES. Sydney, April 22. The population of the colony at the end of last year has been estimated to be 584,000. H.M.S. Pearl goes to the scene of the James Burns massacre. The rush to the diggings of Northern Queensland continues. Coombes, the well-known miller and wheat dealer, has failed for £50,000, of which £40,000 is secured. The U.S. Tuscarora is expected from the Navigator Islands next month. The Customs revenue shows a decrease. The Assembly has negatived the eighthours system, as regards Government works. News has been received that an earthquake and tidal wave at Liffe, in the Royalty Islands, has caused loss of life and damage to property. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. Adelaide, April 21. Mr. Giles, the explorer, has reached Lake Francis [Torrens ?]. He passed through 320 miles of terrific scrub, and lost his horses. But for his camels he would have perished. He is convinced that a vast desert exists, having its base near the western shore of Lake Torrens.