AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1046, 14 February 1873, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

The Criminal Court of Launceston, on January 21st. was occupied with the trial of Seaton Williams {the surviving principal in the late fatal fight) for manslaughter, and of Charles Field •and Charles Watson as seconds in the affair. Messrs Miller, Q-iblin," and Rocher, addressed the jury for the defence, and the judge then summed up. He said that if the jury were of opinion that the deceased's death was ■caused by the fight, they must return a verdict of manslaughter. The jury then retired, but after being absent for more than an hour, returned into Court and intimated that they could not agree. The Judge desired them to retire again. The ■Jury returned into Court after two hours more of deliberation with a \erdict of Not Guilty, and the prisoners were discharged. The Melbourne banks adopted, on January 16th a new scale of discounts, •under which their customers ,will pay 2 per cent, less than formerly. For bills of 65 days' currency the discount will be 3 per cent, instead of 5 per cent; for bills of 95 days, 4 per oent. instead of 6 per cent.; and for 125 days, 5 per cent, instead of 7 per cent. The interests on secured overdrafts has been fixed at -5 per cent., except in the case of the Bank of New South Wales, at which establishment the charge will be 6 per cent. With reference to Banking affairs, the Ballar&t Star writes:— K The disagreement among the Banks has already lowered the rate of interest charged to public bodies on overdrafts; and it will have another capital effect, namely, causing an advance in the price of gold. Already one Bank has made overtures to a rival's customers, and has offered the tempting bait of increase in price

of 5d per ounce. The Banks must surely have done very well during the combination. They can now afford to charge 2 per cent, per annum less on large and safe advances, and at least one Bank thinks it can afford to pay 5d an ounce more for gold than it has been giving." [For remainder of news see 4tth poge.^ i aa