AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Bruce Herald, Volume XI, Issue 1080, 21 January 1879, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Per s.s. Albion at the Bluff.) (Duily Times Special Wire.) Melbourne, January 14th. It is said that the Imperial authorities wi 1 allow the txisting arrange men ts for the distributing of postage and c >rrespondence sent via Suez, San Francisco, and Singapore to remain unaltered until the end of January, 1880. They purposed from the commencement of this year to retain 4d instead of Id out of evtiy 6d collar cied in London. Preparations are being made to put Government houses in proper order in time for the ?eceptica of the Marquis of of Normandy. The marble statues of the Queen, the 'ate Prince Consort, ancl the Prince and Princess ol Wales, executed by the late Mr Summer.*), sculptor, to the order of the Hon W. J. Cla k, M.L.C., were presented by t u at gentleman to the trustees of the National Gallery on January 9th Sir Redmond Barry, the chait mau,iu accepting the donation, expressed a strong opinion in favour of opening the National Gallery on Sunday afternoons Gerald Supple, who is bow a resident in New Zeilat.d, has contributed a poem to the ' Melbourne Review ' a poem entitled ©The Dream of Dam pier." The E ectrie Telegraph Department is about to be reorganised. Mr S. W. M'Govan will be the responsible bead. Ie is estimated that Ibe crops on one** fou'th of the wheat-producing area of Victoria have been destroyed by rust. Many of the selectors will be unable to pay their rents this year. The ship Eurynome, from Liverpool, j reports having encountered an immense number of icebergs on December 6ih and 7ib, in latitude 44 south. . . The annual sale of the Mount Norval shorthorns realised £5733.. Mr Simpson, of New Zealand, purchased a few short; horn heiiers. Samples of cloth made by Chinese, dea era on the Australian coast, forwarded to Shanghai by Mr Munckton Synnot, have been received, and inquiries are made as to the price at which yarns can be furnisher). Cdgli's Opera Troupe, how in India, will visit the Cbionies. The Coys are amobg the artistes. ; r ; Tne estimated yield of gold for 1873 was 753 793 ozs, or a decrease of 39,046 ioz-», on the previous year. The estimated decrease in the number of miners employed is 1500 :■ ; Mr Woods, Minister of Railways, has received a first-class gold medal from the Gircolo del Progoriso of Naples in recognition of his continuoas rail way. brake. ; ; The Concert Hall at, Ingle Wood took \ fire on. tlie lOtb, Qne girl was burned almost to d« ath, and several, others were injured. About 150 were present when the fire broke otit. , ; ; !•■.; ,: ;/ ■ T-he Australian Eleven have just con^; eluded their series of matches. They won the bne-ipningsr match aWa'insb the Sand. [ hurst Twenty~two by 23 runs/ R r Hari-y,--a member of the Northbridge Club, made 69. /The Eleven won their final match against twVnty-two of lngl©wood by 121 riiha. 'During their remarkaVre totJr they travelled 70,000 miles. ' C. Baririermini made the highest batting average— viz,; 24 ! 6— in tKe matches played in England: g&gainst Elevens. A. Bunnerijaan, 2TIO, and C. Bannerman, 21 6, were the highest averages against odds, The English 1

howling averages show that Sp.iffbrth secured 107 wickets for 1254 runs; Boyle, 64 wickets for 620 runs. The Canterbury team were defeated on January 7th by the M C.C, by 469 runs; In the second innings the Melbourne team made 236, The Canterbnrr cricketers partook of tbt hosp tality ofthe Mayor of Melbourne on the 9ch instant. Mr Neilsoa (captain) stated that he hoped the visit of the Eleven would pave the way for a series of Intercolonial cricket matches. i Sydney, January 18. Mr T. Young has the contract for the Intercolonial Exhibition building. The area of floor space provided covers 7£ acres. The total enclosed cpace will exceed eleven million cubic feet. The Duke of Buckingham is said to be desirous of obtaining the Governorship of New South Wales.' Sir J. Fergusson and Sir-Henry 'Or d are also mentioned. -•' The Seamen's Union at Sydney received on account of the Strike Fund nearly £3000, of which £2100 was disbursed. T oubles are arisino; with the coalminers. Large numbers; are forming a union to limit the output. Several companiec have locked out their men.