LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 635, 22 March 1870, Page 2

LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

THE GREAT PEDESTRIAN RACE. NUMEROUS COMMERCIAL FAILURES. MR. O'SHANNASSY A KNIGHT OF ST. MICHAEL. DEATH OF CHARON,THE RACE HORSE. The Melbourne news brought to the Bluff by the Claud Hamilton is of an interesting character. There has been a large number of failures and insolvencies of firms of long standing, and which have hitherto been considered undoubted. The result has been a total loss of confidence in every branch of commerce. Among the reported failures are Messrs Levy and Son ; also the well-known firm of Messrs Georgeson, who have lodged their estate hi the Insolvent Court. Messrs King and Co., of Ballarat, have compromised, and Mr Buzzard has assigned. Flour is quoted at £11; sugars are firm at former quotations. The great pedestrian match between Hewitt and Harris has terminated most unsatisfactorily. In the first place it was decided that the match for 300 yards, which resulted in a tie, should not be run over again, and this among pedestrian and sporting circles has given rise to much discontent. On the 7th March the two concluding events came off, one at 440 yards, the other at 100 yards, in both of which Hewitt was declared the winner ; but in the 100 yard race it was generally believed that Harris was the first to breast the tape. However, the referee's decision was final; there was no appeal. Thus Harris having won two races, and Hewitt two, the fifth being a tie, neither men won a sixpence of money in stakes. The opinion of those who are competent of forming a correct estimate of what these men can do, is that at the shorter distances Harris is a match for any man in the world, and at the 300 up to 400 yards Hewitt has no superior to run against him. Sir Henry Barkly has been appointed Governor of the Cape of Good Hope. His great forte lies, it is said, in not doing anything at the proper time.

The cousin of Mr Gladstone, stateman, has met with a violent death by a fall from a horse he was riding. Edwards, charged with the Egan murder, has been discharged, but was immediately after re-arrested. Mr O'Shannassy has had the order of St. Michael and St. George conferred on him. He opposes the opening of the Council with prayer. A man named Thompson took prussic acid and destroyed himself. He was afflicted with mania caused by his belief in Spiritism. Charon, the celebrated race horse, is dead—supposed to be from internal injuries. At the Melbourne Autumn Eace meeting the following were the results up to the time of the steamer leaving: Hurdle Eace, Victor, 1 ; Handicap Plate, Kestrel, 1; Ascot Yale Stakes, Australian Cup, Norma, 1; St. Leger Stakes, Lamplighter, 1. In Sydney, destructive floods had occurred at the Hunter. At Adelaide the Government had offered three shillings per day to the unemployed. The agitation among the working classes still exists.