LITE AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1172, 1 May 1874, Page 2

LITE AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

A telegraphic correspondence has taken place between the Sydney Government and that of England, respecting a extra penny postage per letter via Suez, to pay for the conveyance between Melbourne and Sydney.' The Homo Government adhere to added rate. The Melbourne Daily Telegraph reviews Mr Parkes' conduct in inviting the Imperial Government to impose an extra penny on tho half ounce letters by the Suez route from Sydncr, and characterises it as crooked policy, a gross breach of faith, and a repudiation of the contract entered into by tho Intercolonial Conference. Numbers of Chinamen are starving in some districts of New South Wales"! A letter from London states that so great is the anxiety to render tho new San Francisco service efficient, that the construction of tho new steamers is being pushed on so rapidly that the first will be ready for launching by May, instead of October as was intended. The Moniteur do la Nouvclle Caledonia, of the Ist. April, says hotliiri" about, tho-escape of Monsieur JJoehofort and his friend^. Lucifer, the sire of Lou Juan, is dead. A suicidal epidemic in tho shape of drowning in the Yarra has prevailed. Three woman during one week jumped into the river. The ship Escort, from New York,

reports seeing a ship on fire, six days after leaving port. Tlio Hon. J. G. Francis, in a recent speech, stated that a revision of the tariff was intended.