INTER-COLONIAL NEWS.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 255, 9 May 1866, Page 2

INTER-COLONIAL NEWS.

The following latest telegrams were taken from the Melbourne papers of 27th and 28th April : — Wood's Point, Thursday. Great excitement has been occasioned by an attempt to set fire to the Borough Council chambers, at three o'clock this morning. A coroner's inquest has been held as to the cause, but the decision is unknown. Further enquiry is to be made by the police. ■ Sydstey, Thursday. The Bank of New South "Wales has declared a dividend of 20 per cent. The annual meeting of the Acclimatisation Society was held last night. The Governor presided, and was re-elected president for the ensuing year. The report showed that the society had been very prosperous. The Minister df Lands has stated that Government intend to ask the consent of Parliament to the leas : ng of the right of obtaining oysters and of fishing in the harbors of the colony. A medical discovery has been reported here which promises to supersede chloroform, viz.— that a small jet of ether against any portion of the body renders that portion insensible to pain. The wool sales have been well attended. The quantity offered was small. Prices ! were as firm as they were last week. Sheepskins were in demarid. All offered were placed at full rates. ' , Maize, 4. ; oats, ss. 3d.; potatoes, £5 to £Q ; barley, ss. Breadstuff's unaltered. The escorts have brought down, 2,36,1 ounces of gold,

Sydney, April 28. The Samson, steamer, under command of Captain Darby, and purchased for the G-ipps Land trade with Melbourne, sailed hence at eleven a.m. to-day, for Port Albert, where she will leave about 100 tons of coal for the company's steamers, and then proceed to Hobson's Bay. Adelaide, Thursday. Mr Auld was admitted to bail — his own bond in £2,000, and four sureties of £500. The settling on the Jockey Club passed off very satisfactorily. The presentation of a testimonial to Mr E. M. Bagot, the indefatigable secretary of the Jockey Club, is mooted, and is duly to be carried out. At a meeting yesterday it was decided to amalgamate the Congregational Union and Home Missionary Societies. Trade generally is very dull, and the prospects for the year gloomy, owing to the drought and anticipated low price of breadstuffs. The rates of exchange are unaltered. The cargo of timber ex Monitor has been sold at 5f d. for 9x3. There is no change in the corn market - Wheat, 6s. 6d. to 6s. 7d. Flour, £15 10s. to £17. The northern territory investigation is likely to close next week. Copper, £90. Adelaide, April 28. The Coorong sailed for Melbourne at five o'clock. Dr Bleasdale and Mr Knight are passengers. The Contest is loading for Brisbane.