INTERCOLONIAL.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 343, 19 July 1875, Page 3

INTERCOLONIAL.

By way of Auckland we have Australian news to the 3rd instant. The following items, taken from our Auckland files, supplement the news already telegraphed :

NEW SOUTH WALES.

For the first time in the history of the colony we have to report the passage from England, via the Cape of Good Hope, in fifty days. This has been accomplished by the steamer St Osyth after a detention of more than a day at St Vincent, and three days at Melbourne. This vessel arrives just in time to take advantage of the new regulations issued by the Colonial Treasurer, which will facilitate the discharge and reduce the fees on vessels frequenting this port. Parliament is still in session, pending and passing of the new Land Bill, now before the Upper Chamber. If it become law, it is expected to prevent abuses such as have arisen under the present Act, and to facilitate settlement by agriculturists. From the pastoral districts satisfactory reports continue to be received. The increase to the flocks of the squatting interest is expected to be unprecedently large. Extensive preparations for the American Exhibition of next year are in progress under the supervision of the Koyal Commissioners appointed for that purpose. The collection of specimens of mineral deposits will be the largest and most complete yet exhibited by this colony. The public finances continue in a most satisfactory position. The large Burplus of revenue on hand has induced the local bankers to address the Government on the inadvisibility of doing all its business with one bank. Mining affairs progress steadily, all the feverish excitement having died out, and been succeeded by more substantial development than what prevailed during the "mining mania." Railway extension is going on satisfactorily, though somewhat retarded by the very inferior character of some of the material imported from England. Sir Arthur Gordon intends making a short cruise through Polynesia in one of her Majesty's ships, and will probably visit New Guinea. Monetary matters are quietly recovering from the effects of the recent disturbance. Capital is plentiful, and the policy of the banks liberal. On Thursday night a young man named George Sinclair, employed on board the mail steamer Cyphrenes, fractured his right arm through falling down the hold of that steamship. The Sydney Morning Herald says:—We are glad to hear that the contract for the cable between New South Wales and New Zealand has been signed, and that there is every reason to hope that we shall be able to communicate with our New Zealand friends by cablegram within a year. At Newcastle on the 2nd a heavy southwest gale set in, accompanied by torrents of rain. The Mystery, tug, has arrived. She cast off the ship Norham Castle at Bungaree Norah, as the sea became too heavy. The ship was standing off the land when last seen. The shipping in harbor suffered some damage. The barque Springbok broke from her moorings and collided with the brig San Juan. The barque lost her mizenmast. A ketch was off the port yesterday. The lookout man was about to fire the signal gun when the ketch suddenly disappeared, but whether she foundered or not is uncertain. The gale made sad havoc in the town ; part of Woods Brothers' brewery, in course of construction, was blown down ; also a house at Wickham, and another at Hamilton. The planter, barque, from Adelaide, was taken in tow by the steamtug Goolwa this morning, which had let her go, as the bar is too dangerous. The vessel stood out to sea. The brig Ben Nevis, from Melbourne to Newcastle, tried to enter Nelson's Bay, but was unable; the vessel is in danger. The steamers Agnes Irving and Ballina went out to try and bring the crew ashore ; the Ballina returned, unable to render assistance ; the crew may get ashore on a raft. The Waratah, steamer, arrived this morning with the barque Stag in tow, from Sydney ; when rounding Nobby's the line broke. The barque drifted down the bight, and was in great danger, but she fortunately managed to get an offing and stood out to sea. The Star, barque, has lost both her anchors. Another ship was beating into Port Stephens, and also a steamer with three masts and a black funnel. They cannot get in as the sea is too rough. The Ben Nevis has gone ashore on North Head, Port Stephens, and it is supposed that two men have been drowntd. The ship Result is ashore on thesandspit inside, oppo-

site Nelson's Heads. She had signals of distress flying. She is said to have six feet of water in her hold. The Ballina attempted to put to sea yesterday afternoon, but shipped a heavy sea, which injured two seamen. A man named Cummings attempted to commit suicide by jumping off the steamers' wharf this afternoon. At Forbes a man named M'Pherson attempted to stab three others in the Albion Hotel ;he was committed for trial. The Lachlan is in full flood, and is higher than any flood since 1872. Communication on all sides is stopped, except by boat. The flood causes more inconvenience than damage.

VICTORIA.

The news from Melbourne is to the 2nd inst. Sir George Bowen leaves England for Victoria on August 3rd, and is expected to arrive on October 16th. The Government have released the seamen of the Calcutta imprisoned for desertion. A child fell from a window to-day twenty feet., and sustained fracture of the skull. The mail news states that Admiral Rowley Lambert is to have command of the flying squadron, vice. Admiral Randolph. The Victorian Academy of Art opened to day. It includes about two hundred oil and water-color pictures. The estate of Thomas Luke and Co. shows liabilities to the amount of £36,000. The deficiency is likely to be small. The flooded state of the country will prevent the railway department from opening the first portion of the Beechworth line on the Ist July. The cargo of the Feronia, reported to have parted from her anchors in Rivoli Bay, is fully insured, but the vessel is not covered. It is intended to try O'Ferrall on another charge of fraud. An inquest was held on the body of an infant found in Latrobe street, and a verdict of wilful murder returned against some persons unknown. Large sales of rice have been held. 1500 tons were cleared off, and an advance is expected ; 900 bales of cornsacks sold at full rates; wheat is scarce at 5s 2d; flour £lO 15s; maize, 4s 7d to 4s 7£d. Nine cases have arrived from Singapore for the Exhibition. A fire took place on June 28th in Elizabeth street, at Allard's produce store and Lincoln's clothing factory. The buildings were insured for £I9OO. An inquest it being held. Fears are expressed for the safety of the ship Crown Prince, which left London in January last, and of which nothing has been heard. The Supreme Court declined to interfere on application to compel the Medical Board to register a Chinese doctor. At a meeting of the creditors of Thomas Luke and Co, the liabilities were shown to be £41,713, and the assets £36,038; a committee was appointed to report on their estate. The whole of the early part of the sitting of the Assembly this evening was occupied in a discussion on a matter submitted by Mr Higinbotham in reference to a debate in the House of Lords on the prerogative of pardon. He characterised Lord Carnarvon's instructions as at variance with the laws of these colonies, and said that a remark in Lord Lisgar's speech to the effect that persons intrusted with authority and the friends and relations of prisoners moved closely together, was an insult to the whole of these colonies. The Premier, in reply, stated that the Governor had invariably followed the advice tendered by Ministers, and in this respect the Home practice was adhered to. It was likely Parliament would be asked to repeal the Act giving the power of pardoning criminals after two years, on condition that they left the colony, simply as a matter of experience and in justice to other colonies. An application from Miss Cowan, of Allahabad, has been received for a grant of land for silk culture. The creditors in M'Ewans's estate agreed that the bank be paid 6s on their claim and the estate be afterwards wound up on behalf of the other creditors. An amendment in favour of leasing land instead of alienating it altogether was moved in the Land Bill yesterday evening, and the debate thereon was adjourned. Unseemly proceedings took place in the Assembly, caused by the conduct of Mr McKean towards other members. He was frequently called to order by the Speaker. A report shows that there are 1553 aborigines settled on stations in Victoria, under the protection of the Board. A fire occurred at Richmond this morning early, by which two shops were destroyed, uninsured. All! hopes have been abandoned of saving the Blenoathra. A grand coursing match has been arranged for to-morrow, and Ministers have been invited to witness the sport, which is to take place on Keilor Plains.. The Rev Mr Clark has been requested to lecture on behalf of the Tichborne claimant, and promised the use of some fresh documents, but he has declined. Two clothing manufacturers have been fined £lO each, with costs, for a breach of the Factories Act, in defective yentilation. The schooner Don is ashore at Point Lonsdale; it is expected she will be got off, as the water is smooth. The wreck of the British Admiral was sold for £7O. The River Murray is still rising at Echuca; all the flats for miles round are covered, and people are making preparations for escape.

SOUTH AUSTfiALIA.

At the quarterly meeting of the Pirie street Wesleyan Circuit a resolution was carried that the constitution adopted by the General Conference of Melbourne, respecting lay representatives, is illiberal and inadequate, and regrets the strong tone of sacerdotalism which characterised remarks from the leading members of the Conference, and also protests against the way ministerial changes have been settled by the Conference. A commission has been appointed to inquire into the best plan for promoting technical agricultural education. A dividend of 10s has been declared by the Moonta Mining Company's directors. The revenue for the quarter ending June 30th is £281,123, being £70,000 more than the estimate. The Register advocates the starting of a plantation at the Northern Territory by the Government to show the capability of the soil. The Cobenthar Factory has manufactured sufficient tweed to entitle the proprietors to the Government bonus of £2OOO. Large numbers of miners are waiting at the Endeavor River for the opportunity of proceeding to the Territory. Sturge's (Jompany is crushing, and expects lOoz to the ton. The Alexandra Company averages soz to the ton. All the shares in the Eastern Suburban Tramway Company are taken up. The Board of Education examination of teachers has commenced; there are 120 competitors. The Gothenburg committee have allotted the fund, reserving £IOOO for fresh claims or subsequent distribution. The total disbursements amount to £8375 10s; the expenses are under £l2O, which is covered by the interest allowed by the banks.

VITAL STATISTICS.

The vital statistics for the month of June in the various boroughs was as follows: »£"■ Births. D-H-.n-*'

Although the Auckland and Hokitika Hospitals are situated outside the boundaries of the respective boroughs, yet the deaths in them have, for the sake of uniformity, been included in this report. The population has been estimated by adding the excess of births over deaths since the Ist March, 1874, to the then census population. It is impossible to estimate the increase from immigration. The births were 61 in excess of those in May. The deaths were 59 fewer in number than the deaths in May. Of the death?, males contributed 97; females, 55; 59 of the deaths were of children under 5 years of age, being 38-16 per cent of the whole number ; 40 of these were of children under 1 year of age. The deaths of children under 1 year of age were 10 fewer than in May; the deaths of those from 1 to 5 were 26 fewer than in May. There were 12 deaths of persons of 65 and upwards—l male of 71 iu Auckland; 1 male of 66 at the Thames; 2 males of 72 and 81 in Nelson; 1 male of 82 in Wellington; 1 female of 70 in Christchurch; and 3 males of 65, 67, and 78 respectively in Dunedin.

Auckland ... 13,043 48 35 2'68 Thames 8,238 20 6 0 73 Wellington.. 10,919 68 18 1-65 Nelson 5,799 21 19 3 28 Christctaurch 10,582 67 31 2-93 Dnnedin ... 19,107 83 32 1-67 Hokitika ... 3.464 12 11 318