AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 418, 19 December 1874, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Melbourne, December 9th. Mr. Balfour withdrew his motion for a Call of the Council on the Payment of Members Bill, and the Beoond reading of the measure was fixed for Tuesday, there is therefore slight prospect of a prorogation before Christmas. It has been elicited that the Government does not intend to subsidise a line of steamers by way of the Cape. The weather has been oppressively hot, and there is much sickness about. The excursion steamer Golden Crown, has arrived from New Zealand. The body of the girl Elizabeth Gordon, missing from home, has been found in the Yarra.

A proposition has been made by the American Transit of Venus Observation parties that all the expeditions meet in Melbourne in February. An unpublished telegram from Beechworth states that the weather cleared during the afternoon, and enabled a splendid Transit of Venus observation to be taken at Beechworth. The first contact was distinctly visible, and was observed by Mr. James Anderson of New York. At the other stations the weather has been so far favourable. „ Sydney, December 9th. The Mayor's salary has been fixed at £800. The Townsville coach upset near Milchester. Mr. Whitehead, manager of the National Bank of Queensland, was killed. The Torres Straits steamer Normanby arrived at Townsville yesterday morning. There were forty-three nominations for the Sydney Gold Cup. Adelaidk, December 14th. The mortality is very great at Yorke Peninsula. There were thirty deaths during this month. It is estimated that 200,000 tons of breadstuffs will be available for export this season.