INTERCOLONIAL.

Southland Times, Issue 1562, 9 April 1872, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL.

(From files per Omeo to 2nd inat.) Melbourne. The Easter holidays appear to have been celebrated with great spirit in Melbourne. The volunteer campaign is considered a great success. It terminated on Easter Monday, with a rehearsal of the attack aad defence of Melbourne, in which the Cerberus and Nelson took part, as well as the ettire volunteer force of the colony. There were upwards of 25,000 spectators. The Intercolonial Cricket Match between Victoria and New South Waits resulted iu a victory for Victoria, in one innings, with twenty-six runs to spare, New South Wales scoring 80 in the first innings and 55 the second, making 135 ; while the Victorians obtained in their first innings a total of 161. The charge of cruelty to a little girl from the Industrial School preferred against the Rev. Thomas Abrahams and his wife resulted in the committal of both for trial. Mr Vogel has gone to Sydney with the view of arranging for a branch line of steamers in connection with the San Francisco service between New Zealand, Sydney, and Brisbane. The port of departure in New Zealand is not stated. The Ministry are to attend a public dejeuner at Clunes on the 4th inst. Whelan, letter-sorter in the G-eneral Post Office, Melbourne, has been committed for trial on a charge of stealing the, contents of several letters. The evidence of his guilt is considered to be conclusive. Sydney. The official report of the New G-uinea Expedition disaster attributes the wreck of the Maria to the captain's ignorance of navigation. A portion of the articles found in the possession of the blacks at Cardwell has been identified here as belonging to members of the ill-fated expedition. A number of the survivors held a meeting on the 30th with reference to their treatment by Lieutenant (Rowland whilst in command ot the steamer Governor Blackall. The hearing of the charge of murdering Bridger was resumed at the Police Court on the 29th ult., when the prisoners Nichols and Lester were committed for trial. Lester's confession relates solely to Walker's murder, and he denies having been present when Bridger was killed. The police haying strong evidence to contradict this statement, doubt is thrown ( upon the entire revelations. The Govern ment has information that Nichols asked another convicfc to join him in purchasing a small yacht, and committing systematic I murders on a large scale, conveying the bodies of their victims outside the Heads. It is reported that the native police of Queensland have killed 93 blacks. Advices from Norfolk Island state that great suffering had taken place owing to the disastrous drought, which had almost destroyed the grain crops. At the Randwick autumn meeting on the Ist April the Trial Stakes were won by Kingston, Ambassador being second ; the Cumberland Stakes by Tim Whifller, Warrior second ; the St. Leger by Hamlet, Javelin second ; the Autumn Stakes by Prodigal, the Quack second ; the Doncaster Handicap by Vixen, Illumination second ; the Champagne Stakes by Lecturer, Blue Peter second.

Fiji, via Sydney. Advices from Fiji via Sydney to the 13th March have been received. Mr Burt, the Premier, had tendered his resignation, which, it is reported, has been accepted. King Cakobau held a reception of the officers of the German corvette Nymphe, and alt=o visited the vessel. A declaration of freedom has been issued by British and other whites, asserting their liberty, and refusing, to submit to the Fijian Government.