AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 5348, 27 June 1884, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

(PER UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.)' (PER CITY OF SYDNEY, AT AUCKLAND.)

Sydney, June 19.— The question of Feder ation of the colonies was referred to in the Council yesterday, and the general expression of opinion was unfavorable to such a course. * In the Supreme Court a decision has been given in' an action for damages against the •Government, that the tramway have not a monopoly of the public roads, or any rights over and above those which belong to other street vehicles. In the particular case £900 damages tvere awarded for injuries caused by a collision. '

Splendid reports are received from the. Silverton silver mines. They are distant about 800 miles from .Sydney, and near the South Australian, border. Many of the assays have yielded at the rate of from 15,007 to 19,000 ounces of silver to a ton of ore. Only a few days ago, a solid block* of ore weighing 2581 b, and estimated to contain £300 worth of silver, was obtained only 18 inches under the surface of one of the claims. • The country has been pegged out for miles „ in all directions.

The insurances on the fire at the Richmond Tobacco Works amounted to £15,000 : United, £5,000 j Manchester, £3000 ; New Zealand, £7000 ; -a large amonnt being r<3 • i asured in other companies. The damage ia estimated at about £8000. There was a good deal of confusion and an absence of discipline. Melbourne, . June 19.— The Age New Guinea exploring party have returned, with ' one man missing. ' They entered the mouth of the Macassar River, and proceeded northwards and westwards for 120 miles. They discovered nine large rivers, draining 10,003 square miles of fine pastoral country. At the mouth of the Macassar River, they v found the river blocked with 'a number oflarge canoes, containing trom 1000 to 1200 natives, who drove them back,' The party had to abandon their vessel and take to the mangroves, and were attacked by a party o f natives, One of the party was wounded. They managed to baffle pursuit, and camped in the mangroves for three nights, suffering from want of food. They marched waistdeep in the sea during the day,' and spen t the- night in trees on the edge. of the beach. ' Finally they reached the Point, Mission Station and reached Thursday Island. Th 3 country, as a rule, was healthy— good soil, with valuable timber, and the plains wpuld make a splendid cattle country. Hobart, June 19. — Mr' Giblin will pro- ' bably be appointed Agent-General, and has intimated that he would accept. . (per s.s. te anau at the BLura.)

Hobart, June 18. — James Parsons, residing near Brighton, has been arrested for shooting his father. A Bill, is to be shortly introduced into Parliament to authorise the construction of tramways in Hobart. * ' '

; The Cabinet has nnder consideration a proposal for a direct steam serriee between England and Lannceston. ' The Chamber of ' Commerce held a meeting, and condemned the acceptance of any scheme before Parliament has had , an opportunity of considering the same. Adelaide, June 18. — A special inquiry of a searching nature is to be made into the recent outbreak of opthalmia at Magill Industrial School. . * \ ■ . The Chief Secretary has moved the "adjournment of the House for a fortnight.' Mr - Bray deprecated a delay of a fortnight when business was so pressing, and taunted the Government with being divided on the tax- 1 ation and land question, - Brisbane, June 18. — The consignment of > 14 Hereford bulls have been landed safely from New Zealand,

Messrs McMurdo and Davis, charged with infringing the labor traffic regulations, will be sent to Fiji by H.M.S. Rairn to-morrow for trial by the High Commissioner of the Pacific.