■ > ■ itELBOTTBLNE, Dec. 9. Mrßalfour withdjew his motion for a call of tlie Council on the Payment of Members Bil 1, and the second reading of the measure is fixed for Tuesday. There fore, there is but a slight prospect of pro rogation before Christmas. Ithaß been elicited that the Govern ment do not intend to subsidise a line of steamers by -way of tho Cape. : The weather has b<»en oppressively hot. There is nvudh sickness about. The excursion steinner Goldan. Crown lias, arrived fi-oia New Zealand. '. iiTlie body iof the gb:l Elizabeth Gordon, missing ft'ou i home,-, -has-b.eea- found, m the Yarra. Mr Bosisto > has be ien elected for .Rich mond over S niith by J. 87 vote 3. _±^ i^j^

A proposition has' been made by the American transit parties that all expedi tions meet m Melbourne m February. Tho Tower Hill has arrived at Mel bourne from Wangaroa. Sxbkett. Arrived — December 6, Atlantic, from Lyttelton. December 5, Glengrove and M. A. Amerson, from Lyttelton ; Helen, from Napier. Sailed— December 5, Wave for the Bluff; Wboiville, for Dunedin. De cember 6, Isabella, for Lyttelton._ Breadstuffs are unchanged and firm. Wheat is at 5s 3d to 5s lOd. Great political excitement exists. Thir- I teen candidates have been nominated for I East Sydney — Messrs Parkes, Forster, Cameron, and Davis had a show of hands. At Newcastle the Treasurer was opposed by Mr Stevens. Mr Sutherland, Minister of Works, has been returned unopposed. The Mayor's salary has been fixed at £800. The Townsville coach upset near Mil chester. Mr Whitehead, the manager of the National Bank at Queensland, was killed. The Torres Straits steamer Normanby arrived at Townaville yesterday morn ing. The Wonga sails for Auckland on Sat urday. Forty-three nomination* .have been made for the Gold Cup. * ' Adelaide. The mortality is very great at Yorke's Peninsula. Thirty deaths have occurred during this month. It is estimated that 200,000 tons of breadstuff's will be available for export this season.- : ...-. - UNPUBLISHED. ; The weather cleared during the after noon, and enabled a splendid 'transit ob servation to be made atßeechworth.The weather was fine, and the first contact was distinctly observed by Mr .James Ander-^ son, of New York. At the other stations' h&rd from the weather was favorable. Auckland, Thursday Evening. 