AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Press, Volume XXI, Issue 2611, 18 December 1873, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Melbourne, Dec. 11,

There bas been a miners riot at Clunes, Jtfthftii Company refused a mall coaseeoion

demanded and proceeded to bring Chinese labor from Ballarat. A thousand miners armed with pick bandies erected a barricade at the toll gate outside the town. When the coaches containing the Chinese, guarded by mounted and foot police, appeared, they were , met at the barricade with a volley of stones. The police behaved gallantly trying to storm j the barricade, but the miners, assisted by their wives, obstinately opposed them, and the police retreated, escorting the Chinamen and coaches back to Ballarat. The miners had a conference with mine owners subseauentlyand amicable arrangements are likely to be made. Meanwhile a large body of armed police were sent to Clunes. The weather was excessively hot yesterday ; 97deg in tbe shade. Eighteen of Victoria will meet the English eleven. . There were more murders and suicides during the past week than ever was before known in the same period. The Ballarat sewing girls gave a ball and banquet to Major Smith for his services in passing the Female Employment Bill. Wheat, 5s 6d. Oats, 4s 2d to 5s 6d. Inferior and ayerage wools lower. Sydney, Dec. 10. The Hon G. W. Allen has been appointed Minister of Justice.

The tenders for the Queensland four per cent loan were below the minimum of ninety. Mr Goold has been elected Mayor. A new Electoral Bill has been read a first time. It proposes increasing the Assembly to ninety members. A number of passages has been secured by the Macgregor for California, leaving Sydney on the 20th. A discovery has been made of a new coal seam at Berrima seventeen feet thick. Adelaide, Dec. 10.

Wheat, 5s 2d to 5s 4d. A rope-walk at Hindmarsh has been destroyed by fire. An alluvial goldfield has been discovered north of Howley Creek. Large bush fires have destroyed a great extent of station property.