LATEST AUSTRALIAN.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 719, 4 October 1870, Page 2

LATEST AUSTRALIAN.

BY THE S.S. GOTHENBURG-. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) (From the G. B. Argus.) Melbourne, Sept. 24.

Business has been very dull. Hour and brandy firm. Candles have risen, and Nevas are selling at a shilling and upwards. Blasting powder is firm at Bd.

The Federal Union Commission has held several meetings, and will have a report ready for the meeting of Parliament next month.

Arrangements for the defence of the Colony are now matured, and a Bill is being prepared thereon. The Supreme Court decided that registration here for execution of a judgment obtained in another Colony must be followed by a summons to show cause before execution can issue.

llawlings, the defaulting honorary treasurer of the Royal Society, has been expelled, and struck oft' the roll of magistrates. -

Frederick Cope, charged with embezzling Government moneys, has been acquitted. His case excited coinmisseration, as he filled several offices and kept nineteen sets of books, in only one of which an irregularity occurred. He only received £4 weekly. A dreadful murder has been committed at Crooked Eiver. A miner named Seers cut his mate's head off, named August Zepbar. He burned the head and buriod the trunk. Seers has been arrested, and is believed to be insane.

The Alhambra has returned from Fiji; reports on matters there favorably.

The Duke of Edinburgh is expected in Melbourne to witness the races next Monday. Croydon is tho first favorite for tho Cup, and Florence for the Derby. Bcrlowity has been sentenced to eleven months for fraudulent insol-

vency. Schaefer, the Gorman traveller, has been admitted as an inmate of the Benevolent Asylum. Elton, the Sandridge murderer, haa written to the Governor of the Gaol stating that he intends to plead guilty, but that he was insane at the time when he committed the deed. Sydney, Sept. 24. Thane and Waker, with Hopkins, their sly-distiller, have been committed for trial for defrauding the revenue. Their estate has gone into the Insolvent Court; liabilities exceeding £IOO,OOO. The Loan Bill passed the Upper House. Adelaide, Sept. 24. The quartz reefs are looking up. In a new company, next the German reef, the shares were subscribed in a few hours. The new Tariff has almost passed. Hobabt Town, Sept. 24. A large meeting has been held against the new tariff, which, however, is likely to pass. Laitncestou, Sept. 24. A large fire has occurred in a row of wooden buildings belonging to ex-Arch-deacon Eeiby's estate. The property was insured. Ditchman's store and wharf are damaged. Shipping.—Arrived, Daphne, from Invercargill. Sailed, Zephyr, for Hokitika ; Lady Denniston, for Wanganui. Cleared out, Prosperity, for Hokitika. Arrived, at Sydney, Virago ; sailed, Novelty for Wellington. At Newcastle Sailed, Heversham, for Wellington ; Union, for Dunedin. Arrived, Ann Melluish, from Wellington ; King Oscar, from Dunedin.

By the arrival of the schooner Maid ef Erin, which sailed from Melbourne on the 22nd ult, we are placed in possession of news of that date. The s.s. Gothenburg only brings two days' later intelligence. The continued wet weather, writes the " Star," has had a sad effect on the cereals about CoghilPs Creek, Belfast, and Beckworth, and the adjoining localities. The oats in particular look very much discolored and unhealthy. The wheat is also looking bad, and unless there is some fine weather shortly the prospects of the farmers are anything but encouraging. The " Times " says it is on the tapis to establish a meat-preserving establishment in the Gipps Land district. Port Albert is said to be the scene of operations.

We learn from the " "Warrnambool Examiner " that efforts are daily being put forth to recover the body of the late Mr Kingston in the Emu Creek. As the bottom of the river is strewn with branches of trees, it is feared poor Hingston has been entangled in them.

The Wedderburn correspondent of the Inglewood journal reports the discovery of some good-sized nuggets in a new gully in the vicinity of Yorkshire Eiat, about nine miles northwest of Wedderburn. Several pieces from three to six ounces have been lately obtained; and on Friday last Messrs Cook and Stretch were lucky enough to find a nugget weighing over 20ozs.

Another mining accident occurred on the morning of the 20th September at Sandhurst. It seems by the " Advertiser " that a miner named Edwin Welsh was descending a shaft belonging to the Belle Vue United Company, and, owing to the bucket not being properly fixed, was precipitated to the bottom, a distance of 40ft. The poor fellow fell head foremost, and besides sustaining serious bodily injuries his skull was laid bare to a considerable extent, the scalp being terribly torn. The man now lies in the hospital in a precarious state, but hopes are entertained of his recovery. Sydney, Sep. 20. The war news caused great excitement here. The Germans are jubilant. The Consulate hoisted flags. Adelaide, Sept. 20. The discussion on the tariff was continued. Salt is raised to 9d per cental, unmanufactured tobacco is reduced to 6d, laths raised to Is, sugar 2s 9d per cental; cornsacks, woolpacks, or bags, have been struck from the free list, with a vietv to the imposition of a duty upon them:— Bricks, meal, fresh fruit, grease, lard, and fencing materials. Wire and hoop and pig iron were, however, inserted in the free list. The InterColonial Freetrade Bill has been read a first time. A Road Bill is to be introduced on the principle of local expenditure and management. M'Bride has been sentenced to prison for seven days, for a breach of the privileges of the Legislative Council. The Government have decided upon mounting the big guns now lying at the Port, and have commissioned Lieut.-Colonial Mayo to organise a fresh volunteer force without pay. A militia is also to be raised.

The German Eeef Company have declared a dividend of 50s per snare.