INTERCOLONIAL.

Southland Times, Issue 1347, 13 December 1870, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL.

By the arrival of the Alhambra on Saturday last, we are placed in possession of our Melbourne files to the sth inst. The Ballarat Cup and Handicap were both won by Croydon. Sales of old wheat have , been made in Adelaide at 4s 6d, and the market is reported firm. The Great Britain arrived in Hobson's Bay on the 4th inst. after a splendid passage of 58 days. A nugget weighing 33 ozs has been found in Bobinson Crusoe Gully, Alexandra, at a depth of 112 feet. A plan by Mr Bagge, C.E., for the prevention of floods at Ballarat, is now under consideration by the two councils. Mr Hutton, the under-treasurer oj South Australia, who twice attempted suicide, has died from the effects of his wounds. The. South Australian Assembly has voted £2,000 as a bonus for the first 1,000 tons of serviceable fibre produced in the colony. The ironworkers of Melbourne are reported to be in a very deplorable state. Work is scarce, and skilled men can find nothing to do. Mr. Verdon has been compelled to pay fifty shillings per cent, for the insurance of the Cerberus. She was to leave England on the I.oth of October. Foiir hnadredpublicanß have presented a petition to Parliameai?~aaking_for some recompense for the damage they are likely to sustain by the passing of the Amending Publicans Bill (Vjeharia) . "~ The Registrar- General of Victoria estimates the population of the colony on the 30th of September last at 731,370 during tho-<ju*rfcor was 801?i~Efie males being 3901, and the females 4056. The Hon. T. H. Fellows, who left by i the last mail steamer for England, was entertained at Scott's Hotel, Melbourne, on Saturday, December 3, at a luncheon given by the bar. The company was a large one. Mr G-oodall, the well-known sharebroker of Ballarat, has returned to " the Corner " there, after having circumnavigated the world. He went home byway of San Francisco, and has returned via Suez. He speaks highly of the California route. The shearing is pretty well over in the stations in JBiverina Bordering on the Murray. In the western district equally good progress has been made, and about Camperdown the shearing sheds are now empty. Mr Charles Gaunt, merchant, Launceston, has been j arrested on a Hobart Town warrant, charging him with embezzling over £300, in June, 1868, when employed by Messrs. Fysh and Co. «*— •— «leckl____Ghaunfc failed lately for £30,000. . 1 The first exhibition of the Victorian Academy of Arts has been opened in the annexe of the Melbourne Public Library. The catalogue includes 215 pictures, of which about one-half are oil paintings and the rest water-color drawings. For a first exhibition it is considered satisfactory. A fatal railway accident occurred on the 3rd. The pay train while on its way down killed a gatekeeper named Irwin while he was opening the Eureka gate, on the Ballarat line, near Leigh-road. The poor fellow had a wooden leg, and could not open the gate quick enough to get out of the way of the train. The man Dyer, who gave himself up in London on the charge of murdering his mate on the Mia Mia diggings, Loddon district, several years ago, is on his way out in the ship Yorkshire, which may be expected to arrive within a very short time. He is in custody of Inspector Homes, of the London police, and the sergeant who was sent to England with the Victorian warrant. James Clark was arrested on the 29th ult. at Oxley on suspicion of being identical with Andrew Digman, alien " Jim the Stockman," who has been for some time wanted for the murder of the brothers Pohlman at Wagga Wagga, about two years ago. The prisoner was brought before the Court next day.- He admits leaving New South Wales about the date of the murder, but says he never beard of it, and that Mr Samuels, of Liverpool, could prove that he was working for him at the time the murder was I committed. Prisoner worked in company with Campbell before his arrest and trial for the murder. The B«nch remanded him to Wagga Wagga. ;

At the Ministerial meeting, held in Sydney on the 2nd, Mr Cowper's acceptance of the appointment of colonial agent in London was announced, and the majority of Ministerial supporters advised the reconstruction of the Ministry. A Cabinet meeting was held on that day to decide whether a resignation was not the best course. In the evening rumors were current that the Ministry was likely to be reconstructed as follows : —Mr Kobertson, Colonial Secretary ; Mr Forater, Lands ; Mr Samuels, Treasurer ; Mr Sutherland, "Works; Mr Butler, Attorney-General ; Mr Stephen, SolicitorGeneral; Mr Garrett, PostmasterGeneral. The Brisbane papers contain a report of the libel case brought by Mr Walsh, Minister of Public Works, against Mr Thome, proprietor of the Wide Bay and Burnett News. The plaintiff had been designated in defendant's, paper as " the greatest liar in ; Queensland "— ■ an expression which it was thought by plaintiff exceeded the liberty allowed to journalists in criticising the conduct of public men. The jury thought so , too, and found a verdict for plaintiff, damages £20. Mr G. P. Smith has joined the opposition to the M'Culloch Ministry under the following circumstances.. Mr Smith violently attacked the Government for a trifling amendment to which they consented in the Publicans Act AmendmetrtK Bill, and the Chief Secretary, in replying, told him his proper place was not behind the Government, but facing them, for he — Sir James M'Culloch— rt always preferred an open enemy to a false friend." Amidst ironical laughter, Mr Smith crossed the floor and intimated that for the future he should enter the lists against Sir James as a candidate for the leadership of the Liberal party.