Melbourne, April 11.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 98, 18 April 1885, Page 3

Melbourne, April 11.

I The Victorian Government having made inquiries as to the alleged presence of Russian war vessels at the Cape, Sir Horcules Robinson, Governor of the Cape Colony, telegraphs in reply that six men«ofwar belonging to Russia left Cape Town at the end of February, their ostensible destination being Europe and India. Melbourne, April 12. The Merchants Shipping and Underwriters' Association has announced the following scale of war risks to be charged for insuring vessels between England and Australasian colonies .-—Outward steamers, J per cent. ; sailing vessels, {. per cent. Homeward steamers, J per cent. ; sailing vessels, J per cent. Mklijoorne, April 12.— Arrived this morning, the Peninsular and Oriental steamship Mas3alia, with tho English mail. It is intended by the local military authorities to make considerable additions to the strength of the artillory forco at Port Phillip Head?. Mklbooknk, April 13.— Intelligence to hand from Geelong announces the arrest of Mrs Beech and Frank Haworth, charged with the murder of Francis Beech.a farmor at Pettavel, ten miles from Geelong, on the 20th January, 18S4. The female prisoner is the widow of the murdered man, and Haworth was employed as a butcher on the premises. Melbourne, April 13.— Mr Service has given an official denial to the statement that the Rotomahana has been purchased as a patrol vessel for the Australian station. Stdnev, April 12.— The dispute between the Seaman' 3 Union and the Pacific Mail Staemship Company still continues. The Zealandia's regular crew having been withdrawn, the Company put on a gang of labourers to discharge the ship, but they also have been induced to leave work. Sydney, April 13. It is currently reported that His Excellency Lord Loftus and Admiral Tryon are in receipt of instructions from the Imperial Government with regard to the necessary steps for promoting efficiently naval and land defences of the colon>. Arrived, yesterday afternoon : S.s. Te Anan, from Auckland. Syd.ney, April 13. — Consequent on Chinese being employed working on board the Pacific Mail Company's s.s. Zealandia, the Seaman's Union have withdrawn the crew from that vessel, Brisbane, April 11. — A convention \* now sitting here to discuss the question of the separation of Northern from Southern Queensland. All the delegates are representative? of the Northern districts. Adelaide, April 11. — Wheat exhibits a firmer tendency, shipping being quoted 3s 6d at outDOsts, and 3a 8d at Port Adelaide ; flour, £8 5s to £8 10s for town brands, and £7 10s for ordinary sorts. Freights dull, 27s 6d to 30a for character. Launckston, April 11.— Bank notes to the value of £2,000 have been found in the bush near the scene of the robbery of the branch Bank of Tasmania, Beaconsh'eld, in July Ust,