-mr-AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 430, 30 January 1875, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Melbourne, January 20fch. Sir William Stawell having been dnly sworn in as Acting-Governor, Judge Barry proceeded on a trip to Queensland. ' ' The members of the Ministry gave a pic-nic to their supporters, and a few friends, and, with the exception of the Treasurer and Postmuster-General, are now enjoying a holiday trip in the steamer Victoria, expected to extend over a week or ten days. Mr. Cairns, the new Governor of Queensland, after spending a few days visiting the sights of Melbourne, proceeded in the Barracouta to Brisbane. Governor Weld left Melbourne at once for Tasmania, where he has been well received. Sir William Stawell will not perform any judicial functions while administering the Government. The Lands Office defaulter, O'Ferrall, left Singapore in the steamer Brisbane on the 12 th January. Dr. Bromby will be succeeded as head master of the Church of England Grammar School by Mr. Ellis Morris, M.A., of Oxford. A fire at Emerald Hill yesterday destroyed several houses. The damage amounted to about £6,000. At the recent matriculation examination the girls were very successful in passing. , Two men were drowned in the Yarra on Sunday- last by the upsetting of a bjat. Yesterday was the hottest day of the season. Thejjthermoineter was 106 in the shade. ' Blondin gave several performances at the Opera House, which was crowded to excess, and carried over the rope Mr. Hill, the musician, and Mr. Farley, the singer. Blondin and Madame Anna Bishop have gone to Adelaide. The barque Oberlin, of Adelaide, was Mrecked at the Kent's group. The crew were saved. The schooner Pioneer, wheat laden, was burned a few miles from Launceston. The crew escaped. The Conference of Statists is sitting at Hobart Town. Victoria, Sydney, Adelaide, and Tasmania are represented. Mr. Wilkie, of Wilkie and Webster, the music sellers, died this morning. The weather to-day is intensely hot — 108 in the shade Two fubal firos otr reported from the country districts. The victims in each case were intoxicated, and roastejg alive, being unable to escape. There have been large bush fires in various parts of the county. Business generally is dull. New wheat is quoted at ss. Oata are very dull at 4s lOd to ss. Sugars in fair request, at an advance on previous iates. Oilman's stores are improving in value. Hennessy's pale brandy, Bs. The failure of Le Plastrier, wine and spirit merchant, for £40,000, and one or two other firms is rumoured. ' Vessels spoken : Helen, on November 16th, 25 days, bound N.Z.; burning, jj^rew also being saved. . Names vessel either instance not ascertained.