AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 382, 15 August 1874, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Melbourne, August sth. • The Assembly met yesterday, when Mi\ Kerford detailed the circumstances t>f the Ministerial re-construction, and stated that they would follow the policy of the last administration, but did nob intend to send the Reform Bill to the .Upper House. A bill would, however, -be submitted early next session, and the' present Session would be brought to a close as soon as possible. The statement was not received with much favor. Mr., Langton then explained his reasons for withdrawing from th_e Government, the principal of which, was a diss'agreement between Jrimself and the Hon. Mr. Casey on the questi&h of expenses for journeying about the country, which he declined **" to sanction and a general expod was 'afforded to the House, which subsequent-^ ly formed the subject of debate in the .Council. Sir Francis Murphy and others severly censured the action of the Government in illegally filling the office of Chief - Secretary. - The Ministerial prospects are 7»Vt bright, and. r ih.e iatriff question is likely to prove troublesome. . • The sentence of Frederick Koch, condemned to death for the Beaufort murder, has been commuted to ten years' imprisonment: Robert Watson, a boy sixteen years of agS, committed suicide near Wodonga, shooting himself because he was threatened to be given in charge for theft. '' In the case of Bishop v. Bishop, a decree annulling the marraige has been granted^ Robert Rice, mate of the Oakworth, charged with making a false entry in the log book has been discharged. In the libel case, Filgate v. Thompson-, a" verdiet'has been given in favor of the plaintiff for damages at £20. Over £4000 was netted at the last Spring meeting by the the Racing Club. ; At a meeting of the Tookey Company ; - Opposition was offered to any increase of }he capital at present, or to any mortgage , of-, the property, which might have }he effect of making the shareholders iable'to the New Zealand Government lor their share of the proposed loan. The Wtin£ was adjourned, to give time for

consideration of the position of the Company. . Madame Goddard will shortly visit New Zealand. The Cable between Singapore and Batavia which was interrupted for three days, is now restored. Mr. Redwood's horses arrived yesterday inrffne'order. ■ The flour market is firmer. 1500 bags of New Zealand oats have been sold at 5s per bushel. Hennessey's brandy, 9s 3d, case brandy, 28s 3d. Sugars remain very dull. Sales of • kerosene have been effected at Is sd. Sydney, August sth. Mr. Levy has been elected for Maitland by a large majority. The Mikado sailed for San Francisco on Saturday. ■ A flood has occured at Yass, by which the town was inundated. The brig Ellen Norris has been lost on the coast of New Caledonia, and the crew, sa\red. Blondin arrives next week. Adelaide, August sth. Ross, the leader of Elder's exploration committee, has returned to Strangway's Creek, and is expected to reach Stuart's Creek on Saturday.