LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 234, 8 November 1873, Page 2

LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Melbourne, October 25. An abandoned infant hai been found under a seat in St. Patrick's Church. John Walker, residing at Greendale, was caught assaulting a young child. He out his throat at Greendale, near Bnlltin, but still survives in a precirious state. Mr Wi'bb won the Civil Service Cup. The Colonial Bank has declared a dividend of eight per cont. The National Bank has declared a dividend of ton por cent., and carried £2000 to the reserve fund. It. has made a reduction, on account of premises, of £3000, and carried a balance to next hnlf-jear of £9567. A number of city properties weir in the market to-day; a block for warehouses, with frontage to Flinders lane, Queen street, sold for £14,000. October 28. At a meeting of the Church Missionary Society last night the Bishop condemned certain statements made tor the Rev Pr Lang in Auckland. Notice of motion has been given in the Assembly for the continuance of payment of members. October 31. A meeting of woolgrow ers hai been held to consider the question of drift. Afttr a lengthy discussion, a resolution was carrsed to the effect that the meeting resolves to adhere to the arrangement made hvt year with woolbrokerg, that no draft be allowed to buyers of wool. Henry Morgan Murphy, a member of the Legislative Council, has been adjudged insolvent, and his scat becomes vacnnt. The Awe-xbly has passed the Mining Accident Bill and Railway Bill The chief harbour master reports very favorably of Johnson's rockets and distress signals when inndc nt a distance of three miles at sea by the City of Adelaide and Maccdon, steamer*. The Police Bill is before the Assembly. It proposps the capitalisation of a sum to provide £9000 on interest, to defray retiring allowances on ■» liberal scale. Kit ensive machinery is ordered for the repair of iron ressels in connection with the new graving dock. Sydney, Oct. 31. The Binqara diamond fields continue to yield excellently. The return for the month has been £19 gems', of rather more superior quality. At Eaglehawk. Messrs McCair and Westcote, with their individual labour *•- sisted by their children, xinearthed '186 diamonds. The extra duty proposed to bo levied on tobacco has been withdrawn. ;It is rumoured that Mr Butler, the Attorney -General of the present Administration, who, in accordance, with English precedent, is held to have a claim upon the office, will have the office of Chief Justice conferred on him, vice i-'ir Alfred Stephen, resigned. An attempt to oust the Government for appointing Moriorty, failed. The police intend prosecuting Father McGinn, for desecrating a grave npar Berrima. In reference to this caee, questions were asked in the House, and elicited the following reply: — "Mr Parkes stated thnt about a fortnight «?o it came to the knowledge of the police that nn outrage had been committed upon the grave of a person interred in the Roman Catholic cemetery, Berrima. The police were set in motion, and enquiry had been going on ever since. It appeared from the correspondence received that the Eev Father McGinn i took a person named Phclnn (Ins servanl) in a buggy to the graveyard, near Berrima, ami requested him to demolish with an axe the pallisnding round the grave of Mrs Walsh, the deceased wife of a warder then in Berrima gaol, now in Darlinjjhur*t. The reason Father McGinn gave for the outrage was that Walsh hnd not paid the Church dues. He (Mr Parkes) had no doubt that a case wuuld be made out for the prosecution of Father McGinn."' The first sf-pamer with the? California mail proceeds direct Tia Fiji and Honolulu. The Bank of New South Wales hare declared * dividend of 15 per cent. Adelaide, October 27. News has been telegraphed that a fault in the cable near Hongkong has been eaust i by its being wilfully cut with an axe. The Hongkong Goi*>'rniiu'nt Are offering a reward for the discovery of the perpetrator. Brisbane, October 24. A telegram from George Town states that numbers are returning fhm Ihe Palmer River. They report favourably of the diggings, but ore scare,d at the prospect of starvation. They speak of going back after the wet season, of the early commencement of which there are indications. Thunder showevs aro already bringing down the rivers. Teams are proceeding slowly. The roads ore bad ; the grass is burnt. JJor*es aro knocked up. Publicans have been threatened that their rum casks will be staved. One bag of flour has been sold at Is 6d per Ib. Two loaded drays have turned back. — At the Kthcridge. it is expected that many will bo overtaken hy the wet season. A digger has returned, having obtained 4iozs. of gold on the bnnk of the river in two days and a-half. The blocks aro troublesome. Three diggers have been speared, but not dangerously. — A number of Charters Towers and Eavcuswood Uiiners are setting iv here.

A learned doctor lias given his opinion that tight-lncifig is ft public benefit, inasmuch Of it? tendency i» to kill off all the foolish girie, and leare tUe him* ones to grow iuto woineu.