LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1168, 17 April 1874, Page 3

LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

MELBOURNE. Mr Ruperti Groen, who was committed on the verdict of the coroner's jury for the murder of Mr Maxwell Bcynolds, will be placed on his trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court in Melbourne. Mr Chas. 11. Forster, the spirit medium, is at present in Melbourne, and creating some little excitement. A circular lias been received by the Victorian Government from the Colonial Office, Downing street, in reference to the uniforms to be worn by Governors, Lieutenant Governors and Ministers of State in her Majesty's Colonies. At Sandhurst, the ladies arc taking up cricket in earnest, thirty-five having given their names in. In reply to repeated solicitations from the residents of Fiteroy and Collingwood, the Chief Secretary has agreed to adopt stringent measures with a view to mitigating the larrikin nuisance which prevails to such an alarming extent in those neighborhoods. Judge Williams has sent in his resignation to Government, and proposes to retire from the Bench on the 15th April. His son, Mr Hartley Williams, announces his intention to contest the election for St. Ivilda, believing that Mr Stephens will go on the Bench ; but some difficulty seems to render the supposition doubtful.

SYDNEY. A number of Communists, amongst whom is the celebrated Bocbfort, arrived from New Caledonia in the barque P. C. E., to Newcastle. They decline to give any particulars of their escape, for fear of implicating their friends. They left Newcastle for Sydney this morning, and friends here have engaged their apartments at Courvosier's Hotel. The escape, it is believed, was arranged by the same parties. M. Eochfort and his confreres are very reserved and not courting attention. pitz Yattendon and Speculation did the best half-mile ever done on Eaudwick. ADEEAIDE. Over 2000 tons of breadstuffs were exported the last week in March, making 07,000 tons for the year. The balance-sheet of the Moonta mine shows that 11,000 tons of ore were raised during the half-year. The gross, proceeds amounted to £122,000, and the expenses to :£SO,OCO. Jupp, one of the English Eleven, has been confined in a padded room iu the Adelaide Hospital. He was suffering from delirium tremens. He was subsequently able to leave with the party to Yorkc's Peninsula. TOWNSYILLE. - Eavorable news has been received here from the Palmer gold-fields. Several reefs have been discovered, with a good show. There is no flour at Cooktown, and nearly 3000 nen arc said to be on the road between Cooktown and the Palmer. A number have come down and are waiting at Cooktown for stores. Some splendid picked specimens have been sent down. Mr Kinley,the late member for Gympie, came down from the Palmer by a track of his own. lie says that bullock-teams could travel now Inheading the Normanby river. Several deathshavcoccurrcd through dysentery. The blacks are troublesome on the road. An official telegram from Cooktown, via Townsville, reports that there is nothing particular to state since last telegram. Population increased yesterday by about GOO, after the arrival of the Leichardr, Southern Cross, Minerva, Mary Campbell, and Eose. 'Five crushing-machines are now working. The miners are leaving daily for the Palmer. Eight thousand ounces of gold are awaiting the escort, and the prospects of the field will revive when reefers are available. The weather is fne : the road is open. There are no further rerorts of death, either by want, drowning, or the blacks. The rate for the carriage of supplies by packhorses still keeps up to 2s per pound, and the demand for rations on the diggings is so great that the horses on the road are not equal to supplying it. Bullock teamsters find that carrying from Cooktown is a much better occupation than gold digging. Everything is quiet and orderly.