The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1873-12-17
From Australia.

By the schooner Letitia, have received Mel
bourne papers to October 5 for which we are under
obligations to Messrs. Walker d Allen. They con
tain summary of colonial news to shat date of more
than usual interest
Politics in Melbourne have been disturbed by the
release, under writ of habeas corpus issued by the
Supreme Court, of two notorious South Sea Island
slave dealers. who, after fair trial had been convict
ed and sentenced to fifteen years Imprisonment at
hard labor The Court, alter long argument, grant
ed application for a habeas corpus the ground
" that they not in the proper custody" The
result took the government by surprise, and effort
made to re-arrest the offenders, but the magis-
trate before whom they were brought decided he had
jurisdiction and they released and succeed
ed in eecting their escape In the Victorian Parlia
ment attempt was made to censure the Govern
ment for the release and escape Of these pirates but
the ministry sustained by decisive vote of 40
to 20, though the scene in Parliament during the
debate extraordinary one. 1t is stated that
when the Attorney General " to explain his con-
duct, all his attempts to speak were drowned in
wild discord of noises of every description, and
eventually the house adjourned without ransacting
any business" On the following day, after a full
debate, the Ministers were sustained by the above
vote.
The Victorian Governments receipts for the year
ending September go 1878, amounted to over sI9,-
600 against SIS, 900 for the proceeding twelve
months and for the twelve months of 1873 it was ex
pected they would exceed $40 900 900.
The Melbourne Argus says that the prosperity of
the colony exceeds any thing ever recorded in its
history. Land is in great demand, and at extraor-
binary rates. sale of land, located in the suburbs
of the city, the estate of deceased clergyman, is
nstaneed example. The property consisted of
about two acres in extent which cost originally $780,
1t realized at public auction Ell 572 l5s, with the
few buildings it.
New South Wales.
Parliament was opened on Sept. 9th. In his speech
the Governor Sir Hercules Robinson alluded to the
continued prosperity of the colony, and the steady
expansion of commerce and industrial enterprise in
directions, and remarked that it was gratifying
to learn that the general progress which every
where to be seen accompanied by marked i'm
psovement in the public revenue. With respect to
the San Francisco mail service it was stated that an
agreement had been made in London between Mr.. |
Samuel, behalf of New South Wales, and Mr.
Russell, the accredited agent of New Zealand, by
which the two colonies would join in the contract on
equal terms, increasing the size and speed of the
ships, and dividing the burden Of the subsidy. The
New Zealand Government have since confirmed the
contract and orders have been given to expedite the
building of the necessary steamers The first mail
will leave Sydney on December 16 ria Fiji and Hon
olulu. Some American capitalists are interested in
the undertaking.
It has been decided to deepen the entrance to Port
jackson by the eastern channel. 1t will take two
years to complete the work. but the largest vessels
will then be able go in and without any trouble
The astronomer of New South Wales has estab-
shed three stations for observing the transit of We
nus.
The French rOnelad Atalarte has been successfully
locked at Sydney.
H. NJ. S. Clio left Sydney on October 1, for Ports.
mouth, Eng, ria Wellington.
The quantity of coal raised last year slightly ex-
ceeded 100000 tons. The single seam at Newcastle
that is at present being worked, estimated to con-
tain coal enough to keep up that rate of production
for 5l2 years.
The bark Oscar, 300 tons, Captain KiOlseth, from
Annoy, wrecked at the Sydney Heads on Friday,
18th September. The vessel was being brought
through the Heads by pilot, when squall took her
aback and the vessel struck the rocks and the pas
sengers and crew obliged to leave her.
New Zealand.
In New Zealand a conflict between the Upper
House of the Legislature and the popular element
represented by the Ministry and their following in
the Lower House, seems to have commenced. The
members of the Upper House are nominated for life
by the Crown, that is, by the Ministry of the day,
and in that Chamber the pastoral interest, against
which all the rest of the community is arrayed is too
powerful not to excite the popular jealousy. The
immediate quarrel between the two houses is in con-
nexion with the Provincial Loans Bill, which asks
for authority for the government to make another
loan, amounting to 42,75O 900 (sls75O OOO), in ad-
iion to the present debt which now stands at f6,-
ssl POI.
Queensland.
The prospects of the pastoral and agricultural in
terests in this colony are reported to be excellent.
The cotton crop of this year throughout the Ipswich
district amounted to considerably over million and
4 half of pounds. There is great demand for la
Dor in the settled districts Many of the sugar plan
ers said to be disposed employ white lsborers
If good character in preference to Polynesians.