INTERCOLONIAL.

Southland Times, Issue 1541, 23 February 1872, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL.

Melbourne, Feb. 14. As much as £4 per acre rent is paid for land in the Bellarine district for onion growing. Mr G. H. Rogers, the popular comedian, died on the 12th inst. The Ballarat cricketers, who carried everything before them at Hobart Town, have been beaten by the Launceston men in the first innings, the scores being 67 and 241. In the second innings, however, Ballarat had got as far as 102 with six wickets down. The Melbourne Telegraph understands that the spiritualists of Australia have made up a sum amongst them to send to America to procure a visit from the notorious Mr Peebles. Austin, the fraudulent collector of the Alfred Hospital, has been committed for trial. The Government Railway authorities are reported to be so well satisfied with the working of the bogie waggon, recently constructed at the Williamstown workshops, that they have resolved to build a dozen or so more upon the same principle. Mr G. P. Smith is said to have initiated legal proceedings for libel against the Daily Telegraph newspaper company for an alleged libel. The damages are said to be laid at £2000. A good-sized turtle — the largest, if not the only one of its kind, which has been caught in Hobson's Bay — was secured on the 10th. The Ministry have determined at once to proceed with the erection of Govern-ment-house on the reserve near Prince's bridge, and tenders will immediately be called for. The Colac Meat Preserving Company (Limited) is to be wound up. The following gentlemen have been appointed a Diptheria Commission : — Dr M'Crea the chief medical officer ; and Drs Day, Reid (of Geelong), and Lloyd. Sir William Stawell, Chief Justice of Victoria, has returned from New Zealand much improved in health, and has resumed his duties. The Age states that no less than 133 applications for the vacant post of secretary to the Alfred Hospital were sent in to the managers. The applications were from all grades of society including clergymen, ex-military men, ex-bank managers, civil servants, and the oi polloi usually to the front on such occasions. A verdict of manslaughter has been returned against the mining manager of No. 6 Golden Gully Consolidated Tribute Company, Bendigo, on account of the breaking of the whip rope in the shaft whereby a miner met his death through a bucket of mullock falling on Ms head, the said rope having been proved to have been unsafe. Sydney. Trustworthy news from Tambaroora states that the vein of gold through Paxton's claim appears as a regular pillar of gold between the slate casing. Old miners say that nothing was ever known like it. There is scarcely a bit of quartz to be seen. Over £15,000 arrears ia" due for pensions to civil servants under the Superannuation Act. The Anglican clergy give a farewell dinner to His Excellency the Governor on the 15th, previous to his departure from the colony. A terrific hailstorm occurred in the Mudgee district on the 10th. The hail, as large as pigeons' eggs, lay 2ft. thick in drifts. Immense damage was done to the

crops at Cudgegong ; the river rose suddenly, and washed away a waggon and team of horses. Temporary arrangements have been made with the A.S.N. Company for a branch service hence to Auckland. The last year's yield of gold amounted to 296,9280z , which is nearly lOO.OOOoz. over the yield of the previous year. H.M.S. Rosario, Captain Challis, has returned from her cruise to the South Seas. She visited the scene of Bishop Patteson's murder at Santa Cruz, and the boats in attempting to land were fired upon from the shore. The Rosario then steamed round the island to the outside reef and shelled the village, completely destroying it. The boats then landed at high water, and it was ascertained that 30 natives had been killed and their cauoes destroyed. Corporal Markham, of the Marines, who was wounded by a poisoned arrow, died from the effects. The vessel found by the Basilisk, off Cardwell, is believed to be the schooner Kauri, of Auckland, which has been missing from Levuka for a year. The insurance has been paid on the ship, and the assurance on the captain's life by the Mutual Provident Society. A captain, recently from Fiji, thinks that the vessel is the schooner Peri, which had portion of Warburton'a murderers on board in charge of two white men. In the election which came off in East Sydney on the 13 bh, the Premier, Sip James Martin, and the Minister of Lands were defeated, the four gentlemen returned being Messrs Parkes, M'lntosh, Samuels, and Neale. Adelaide. News from the overland telegraph parties is more satisfactory. At auction 800 bags Mauritius sugars were sold as follows : — Yellows, £35 ; yellow crystals, £36 10s to £38 17s 6d ; white crystals, £40 to £41 10s. Wheat is firm, but no transactions are reported. LAtTNCESTOIT. At the Police-court on the Bth, Mr Murray Burgess pleaded " Guilty" to the charge of assaulting the Hon. J. M. Wilson (Premier) at the International Hotel, and made an abject apology. Mr Wilson asked that a nominal penalty might be inflicted, and the Bench ordered the fine of Is, with 7s (3d costs. Mr Burgess attributed his discharge from the school inspectorship to the Premier. The City of Hobart Company, Black Bay, washed up 1330z. from 123 tons stuff.