INTERCOLONIAL.

Southland Times, Issue 1587, 4 June 1872, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL.

The following telegraphic summary of the news brought by the Kangitoto, which arrived at Hokitika on the 28th ult., is taken from our exchanges : — Melbourne, 22nd May. The debate on the amendment to the Reply to the Governor's Speech resulted in a majority of two in favor of the Ministry. A second amendment, in the shape of a direct want of confidence motion, has been moved, and is now under debate. The result will probably be the unseating of Ministers on the ground of the corrupt exercise of patronage in the granting of Government appointments. One of these involves a scandal in connection with the Treasurer, who has resigned his portfolio, so as not to embarrass his colleagues. In the course of the debate, the Californian mail contract was referred to, and it was said that Mr Yogel had out- Vo gelled Mr Duffy in the agreement. A Select Committee is enquiring into the charge brought by Mr Garratt against Mr Berry, the late Treasurer, of having made a corrupt appointment as a reward for infamous conduct. The enquiry is not yet concluded. Great public indignation is expressed against Mr Duffy for the appointments given by him to his son, Mr Hoey, and others. "Wilkie has been executed for the murder of Pensom at Daylesford. Three stockbrokers, charged with a conspiracy to rig the mining share market, have been tried and acquitted. Captain King, of the ship Calcutta, has been presented by the Insurance Companies, interested, with a testimonial for bringing his ship, though dismasted, into port. A party is being organised to proceed to the Natal goldfields. The agricultural returns show a gradual but steady increase in the producing acreage. The average yield is superior to that of 1870. Flour is at £16. Australian wheat is quoted at 6a lOd ; New Zealand wheat has been placed at 6s 6d. The cargo of the Kachel Cohen, from Lyttelton, was re-shipped to England. The sugar market ia firm at last quotations. Advices from the Mauritius state that the Parana was loading there for Dunedin. Buyers offer £6 for Tookey's shares. Sydney. A private letter from England states that Mr Reed, M.P., late Chief Constructor of the Eoyal Navy, with Admiral .Robinson and others, is forming a company to run a line of steamers to Australia, via the Cape of Good Hope. The s.s. City of Melbourne, when 600 miles from Sydney, broke down and returned uuder canvas. The s.s. City of Adelaide will take on her cargo, sailing on the 23rd. The Alice Cameron has arrived dismasted. She picked up at sea the crew of the barque Bengal, bound for Port Chalmere, which bad been abandoned in a sinking condition. The Athena, from Mauritius, reports the' loss of the Clara Sayers at .Rodriguez Island. Nicholls and Lester, on being brought up for trial for the commission o? the Paramatta murders, both pleaded guilty. Nicholls fainted, and Lester cried bitterly. The latter denied any active participation in the murders. Both were sentenced to death. A flying squadron, under Admiral Seymour, is at Simon's Bay, Cape of Good Hope. A penny postage to the suburbs will probably be introduced. The steward of the steamer Susannah Cuthbert has been committed for trial on a charge of manslaughter, for capsizing a boat, and thus causing the drowning of an actor named Davis. Negotiations with reference to the Border Customs duties have been reopened with Victoria. Adelaide. Three-fifths of the shares in the proposed trans-continental railway have been taken up. The Hon. John Baker is dead. Wheat has been chartered for England at 5s lid. It ia expected here that the horse express between the unconnected ends of the overland telegraph will be established in the end of June or early in July. The ministers of the Evangelical Alliance have agreed to exchange pulpits on Sunday next. There is also some talk of a union between the Congregationalists and the Presbyterians. Mr Jeffries has been elected chairman of the Evangelical Alliance. The latest advices state that wheat is slightly easier, and that flour is at £13 . to £14. ;