The Westporfc Goal Company deny the corrootnoss of tho item of Australian news that the Victorian Government hat accepted their tender for 50,000 tons coal. Thoy were unable to tender owing to the works for deepening the harbor not boiug pushed on by Government. A Royal Commission is urged to lift the circumstances connected with the alleged misbehaviour of Quin, the master of the Benevolent Institution, towards female inmates. The new JjVeethoiiijht Lyceum will be opened with a leoturo by IVJr Stout — " What is Freethought."* A Dnnodiu gentleman, who was a passenger by the March mail to San Francisco, has telegraphed that Shepherd, the Timaru defaulter, landed at Honolulu. Any steps to arrest Shepherd will, there fore, most probably be fruitless.
DUNEDIN. April 23.
INTERPROVINCIAL. (BY TELEGRAPH.)

Melbourne, April 22. The firms of Bfeadway find Bell and David MaBtortoii of this city have become insolvent. It is apprehended that other mercantile houses will shortly be compelled to suspend pay ment.
April 23. A o se of attempted murder aud suicide occurred to-day in llusaell street. A. Hungarian named Silber shot at and dangerously wounded a baimaid. and subsequently killed himself. The crime is attributed to jealousy. Tho Australian overland telegraph lino is intorruptcJ.
LATE TELEGRAM. [Received in Oamaru at 1 a.m.] (REUTERS—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

No fresh case of smallpox has been reported by the health officer. The body of a man believed to have been murdered has beon found in the Friendly Society's grounds at Rich mond. The supposed murderer has been arrested by the police. The proprietors of the Melbourne Age have brought an action against tljo proprietors of the World weekly news paper to recover payment for supply of spocial European telegrams,

AUSTRALIA N. (REUTER'S— PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. ) Melbourne, April 22.
