AUSTRALIAN.

Auckland Star, Volume XI, Issue 3241, 9 December 1880, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

THE SORATA.

MELBOURNE, Thursday.

The Orient Company's steamship Sorata has arrived from Adelaide.

THE CATHOLICS AND EDUCATION.

In tbe Legislative Assembly last night the estimates wete again dealt with.

On the educational vote being proposed, Sir John O'rfhannassey made a strong attack on the education system, and opposed the passage of the vote. Mr Murray Smith also spoke on the question, and favoured tbe appointment ot a Royal Commission to enquire into the means for the, redress, of the grievances of Roman Catholics under the present system of publio instruction, ■ "'■ s'-„ COLONIAL DEFENCE. It is announced that the services of Colonel Scratchley are to be retained by tbe Victorian Government for another year. INTERCOLONIAL CONFERENCE., ' The Queensland and Tasmanian Governments have agreed to send delegates to the International Conference when it meets again in Sydney in January. HORRIBLE MURDER AT A LBURY, SYDNEY, December 8. A shanty-keeper has been murdered at Albury by a swagsman, who also attempted to murder his daughter, and fired the hut for the the purpose of concealing the crime. The murderer has been arrested. it .-'■' Mr Norton, who was shot at Dnbho, is steadily recovering. PUNISHMENT OF. SOLOMON ' ISLANDERS. .: 3YDNEY, December 8." H.M. steam corvette Emerald, belonging to the Australian squadron, has left for the Solomon Group, in order to avenge the murder of the commander and five of the crew of H.M. schooner Sandfly. : iVi.i,