AUSTRALIAN.

Auckland Star, Volume XII, Issue 3555, 30 December 1881, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

FIRE IN BRISBANE.

BRISBANE, this day.

A serious firc.rcßultingin the destruction of three shops, occurred last night in South Brisbane. Tho insurances include £600 in New Zealand offices, THE OUTWARD S.F. MAIL. SYDNEY, December 29, Sailed, this afternoon : The Pacific Mail Company's steamship' Australia, for San Francisco, via Auckland. Sir Henry Parkes and Miss Parkos are passengers tor England by her. SIR J, ROBERTSON JOINS THE MINISTRY. SYDNEY, December 29. It is announced that Sir John Robertson returns to the Ministry as Secretary for Lands, vice Mi' James Hoskins, and that he will perform the duties ef Colonial Secretary during tho absence of Sir Henry Parkos. Evening. Sir John Robertson was sworn in to-day as Secretary for Lands, vice the Hon. Jqhn HoakinSi THE EXHIBITION AT CHRISTCHURCH. MELBOURNE, December 29. Mr Twopenny.one ot the promoters of the Exhibition, will leave Melbourne by the s.s. Arawal.'i to arrange for the opening of the International Exhibition at Christchurch. Marcti 15 has biea fixed as the date for the ceremonial. Over two hundred applications for space lave already been leccived from England by intending exhibitors. Commodore Krskiue has promised to take the Australian squadron on to Lvttelton at an early date, and will assist at the opening ceremony. It is expected that tho Exhibition will be very successful. MELBOURNE, this day. Arrived : This morning, steamship Arawata from the Bluff, It has transpired that the Hon, J, G. Francis has declined-the Agent-General-, ship for Victoria in London, The homeward mails per Orient steamship, John Elder, which left Melbourne on November 19, were delivered via Brindisi yostcrday. ,