LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 369, 1 July 1874, Page 4

LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Per Omeo.) Melbourne, June 20. After a long debate on the Constitution Amendment Bill, it was read a second time in the Assembly, on a division of 41 to 28. Only one member was absent, which is unprecedented in the Colony. It is likely to finally pas< the Assembly, and be rejected in the Council. A long discussion on the recent appointments in the Land Department has-resulted in a large majority in favor of the Government. The Criminal Law Practice Statute enables steps to be taken against anyone guilty of embezzlement in other British possessions. The Estimates of expenditure for the year amount t0L2,343,794, including over L 400.000 for education. Instructions have been sent to England for placing a 4 per cent, loan on the market. Mr M'Lean, with Major Bopata, has visited several institutions in company with the Gorernor. The second trial of Rupert Green, for the Queen street explosion, is now proceeding. A fire at Warnambool destroyed property valued at L 7,000. It was mostly insured. A tender for repairing the ship John Kerr has been accepted ; it was for over LIO,OOO. Geo. A. Kit, of the Public Works Department, has been committed for trial for stealing a cash-box from the office. Frauds on the Customs by means of salted invoices have been brought under the notice of the Assembly. The Government promised to have the names of the offenders published. Efforts to raise a subscription for a second experiment in Harrison s meat process failed. The handsome sum of LI.OOO has been sub scribed by school children in various paits of the Colony, in aid of the two disabled boys named Burns, at Melbourne. The Melbourne Cup weights have been issued. The New Zealand horses are handicapped as follows : — Lurline, Bst 111 b; Calumny, Bst ; Papapa, 7st 51bs ; Waimea, .6st. The mystery of the missing youag lady from East Melbourne is not cleared up. A proclamation has been issued to quarantine all vessels from Lyttelton, in consequence of small-pox. Mr Cartayne, the Manager of the Union Bank, has been fined LlO and costsfor disobeying an order under the Matrimonial Causes Act, in having neglected to 'give up a sum of money in the Bank, ordered to be seized to satisfy a judgment against Thomas Mitchell. It was contended that money in a Bank is not a chattel. Execution was stayed to allow of an appeal. The proposed release of Gardiner and other bushrangers has given rise to warm discussions in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. The motion of protest was only rejected by the casting vote of the Speaker. When the subject was brought on, the House sat till half -past eight in the morning. Several scenes took place, and no result was achieved. The Cyphrenes, with the Calif ornian mail, reached San Francisco on June 13. The Government has agreed to grant LIO.OOO to the Corporation to meet their finance difficulties. Mrs Cohen, the wife of a shooting saloon keeper, Pitt street, has been accidentally killed by the discharge of a gun. The Deceased Wife's Sister Bill has been passed by the Queensland Parliament. A Bill has been introduced into the South Australian Parliament for a free interchange of Colonial products. (Pe>- Victoria.) In NVrr Sowfck Wales a qtiwns tPPlinjT Prevails against the present education system as administered. A Secjilar Education Bill will be proposed next session of Parliament. The first meeting of its supporters was held at Sydney on June 22. The Mayor presided. It is intended to hold a series of public meetings to advocate the object. Heavy snow storms have occurred in the southern districts of New South Wales. A shepherd named Elsworth was frozen to death near Coama. Mr Richardson, formerly general manager of the Joint Stock Bank of Sydney, and lately managing director of the Mutual Life Insurance Company, died after a few hours' illness. The Italian Opera season opens in Sydney on June 22. The season is not likely to last long. A garotting case has occurred at Grafton, and the supposed perpetrator has been arrested. Dr Van Heckera, and a quack named Burdett, hav> been remanded on a charge of procuring abortion on a woman residing at Paramatta, named Hanks. The schooner Per ' wa° wrecked at Botany Heads ; crew saved. public meetings continue to protest against Gardiner's release. • The Macgregor leaves for Auckland on June 26. The trial trip after her repairs was very satisfactory. A young woman, name unknown, was found drowned in nine inches of water in the Sandridge lagoon. The Municipal Corporations Conference Committee has submitted a scheme for the formation of a Metropolitan Board of Works for Melbourne, representation to be based on the annual value of property. A daughter of the late William Howe, author, is in the Colony in destitute circumstances, and aged seventy-two. The jury in Green's case, after five hours' deliberation, brought in a verdict of " Not guilty." The railways from Billarat to Maryborough, and Castlemaine to Creswick, are to be opened on the 7th July. Mr Butchart has been arrested for forging Mr Tyson's name. The Prince of Wales' Opera House has narrowly escaped being burned down.