LATEST INTERCOLONIAL NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 267, 9 June 1868, Page 2

LATEST INTERCOLONIAL NEWS.

(From t7in Melbourne papers to the 26th May.) It is found impossible to induce any candidates to oppose the return of either Mr Sladen, Mr Fellows, or Mr Langton. AtSouthßourkeMr O'Grrady is opposed by Mr Crews ; at Ballarat West Mr Grillies is confronted by Mr Jones; at the Ovens Mr Kerford meets Mr G-raham Berry; and in the Western District Mr Cock has j entered the field against Messrs Macdonnell and Bayles. The City Council of Melbourne have resolved to borrow L 50,000 for the purpose of completing the public streets, improving the parks, and providing market accommodation. Wickers and Pritchard have been sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, for sacrilege. Shires' trial is postponed to next session. The remaining Ministerial elections are considered certain. The Loyal Liberal Association are active, but disunited. The Constitutional Association is flourishing. Mr Higinbotham has returned to the Bar to practice. Stockowner is dead. The Governor has recovered from his illness and gone on a visit to Mr Pellows, at Queenselift*. The Rev. Mr Platts has been requested to resign by his parishioners, but refuses. The Hon. E Cox, M.L.C., New South Wales, is dead. St Mary's Church, at G-eelong, has been robbed. Sweeny, Miner from New Zealaud, has been robbed of LSO by card-shar-pers. There are numerous cases of extreme destitution in the city. The Mayor has recovered from his sickness.

For the Prince Alfred Hospital the subscriptions amount to L 5,000.

Vessels to sail—On the 22nd, Pilot, for Hokitika; Alma, Australia, early, and the Highlander on the 23rd, for the G-rey Paver.

The Jockey Club inxestigation into the Barb's case is adjourned to the Ist June.

Captain Bradford, of the American ship Crusader, was arrested for resisting the police while arresting a passenger on board the Grentoo, for San Francisco. Private advices state that the new Governor of Queensland leaves England in May. The judgment of the Supreme Court has been reserved in M'Pherson's case.

Donald M'lntyre's station, near Balrauald, has been stuck-up, and four race horses stolen.

An extensive fire took place in Elizabeth street. The Albion Steam Saw Mills, two acres of timber yard, besides chemist's, bootmaker's, and produce stores, and a row of cottages were completely destroyed by fire. Seven fire brigades were on the spot, and got the mastery of the flames in two hours. An immense crowd was present. Two men were badly hurt, and one fireman seriously burnt. Mr Tait offers £IOO reward for the apprehension and conviction of the person who tampered with the Bard's weight. The Council of the Board of Education of New South "Wales have resolved to close sixty denominational schools throughout the colony, the attendance being smaller than the law allows. We take the following from the Argus of the 2Gth ult.:—" The polling for the BallaratjWest and South Bourke elections took place yesterday. At the former, the anticipations generally

entertained of a close and severe eontest were fully realised. Tho numbers polled were very largely in excess of the two former elections. The tactics of the ' Loyal Liberal' party in endeavoring, in those districts where tbey believed that they could count on a numerical majority, to prevent the return of the Ministerial candidates, were successful in both of yesterday's elections—Mr Gillies being defeated at Ballarat by Mr Jones, and Mr O'Grady at South Bourko by Mr Crews." The Bathurst Times mentions that " the convicts Barnes and M'Evitt were officially informed, on Saturday last, that the Government had fixed the day for their execution for Tuesday, the 26th instant. Both men received the intelligence calmly enough, but M'Evitt never loses an opportunity of declaring that he is innocent."