LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 551, 7 September 1869, Page 2

LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Hokitika, Sept. 6. Melbourne, Aug. 31. A 1 Klips' velocipede race took place at the Collingwood sports on the 28fch. Subscriptions for the released Fenians amount to £4OOO. Mrs Robert Heir took a benefit at the Royal on the 27th. She returns to New Zealand. Four hundred Chinese sail for Dunedin by the next steamer. A proprietary College, with a capital of £15,000, has been established A testimonial, consisting of a purse of sovereigns and a silver tea service, has been presented to Dr Barker. Mr John Fawkner is seriously ill. A resolution to abolish State aid to religion has been carried.

Count de la Ronciere, the French Governor of Tahiti, goes home by the next mail steamer. Governor Weld sailed in the schooner Alexandra for Fremantle. The Somersetshire arrived in Hobson's Bay on August 30th, fifty-eight days out, Avith two hundred passengers. Flour is rising, and is quoted at £ls. Sydney, Aug. 30. M'Kinlay has been arrested on a second charge of embezzling .£2OOO worth of drapery. The Daphne investigation has been adjourned sine die. A Commission has been appointed to take evidence regarding the slave trade in the South Sea Islands. A boat race between twelve of the crew of the Kearsage and ten of the Naval Brigade took place, and was won by the latter. Maize is quoted at 3s 7d. Teas are dull at auction. Grainger and crew have been publicly ;,thanked by Governor Ferguson, and a subscription for a testimonial to Grainger has been commenced.