AUSTRALIAN.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4295, 4 May 1885, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

[per rotomahana at the bluff.] Melbourne, April 28. The Victorian Commissioners of the Colonial Exhibition to be hold in London next year, held a meeting to cordial support the efforts to ensure a creditable representation of the colony. Circulars have bean adopted in reference to educational, scientific, and artistic sections, also the mining and machinery department.

A long consultation on Friday last was held by the Ministry on tho subject of the defence of the colony. Among other arrangements it Avas decided to construct a shelter trench for riflemen along the neck of land between Queenscliffe aud Point Lonsdale.

The Governm?nt are waiting an opportunity of floating a redemption loan of four millions. It has boon thought Avhcn the money market is more settled the loan could be floated at three and a-half per cent., but probably it will be issued at four per cent. Sydney, April 28.

The intercolonial eight-oared boat race on Saturday was A-ery exciting. The weather was fine and a strong flood tide Avas running against the competitors. Victoria, New South AVales, Queensland, and Tasmania competed, A r ictoria being the favorite, but at the start Sydney was most fancied. Victoria and Ncav South Wales wero the first to get away, roAving forty strokes per minute, Victoria led up to the mile point, which was done in five minutes and thirty seconds, but half a mile further Ncav South Wales pressed them very closely. Near Tennyson's Point the A r ictorians, after a desperate struggle, resigned the lead to Now South Wales who passed the Avinning post two lengths ahead, with the same distance between Tasmania and Queensland. Time nineteen minutes twenty-eight seconds. The wins now stand five for Victoria, and threo for New South Wales.

As soon as it Avas known that it Avas probable that the Imperial Government would, for a time at least, abandon military operations in the Soudan, MrDalley communicated with the Home authorities to enquire what was to be done Avith the Australian contingent. On Saturday Mr Dalley received a telegram from the Agent-General, Avho stated he had intervicAverl Lords Derby and Hartington on the subject, Avho stated it Avas impossible to state their destination at present. The matter has been discussed at a Cabinet meeting Avhcn it av;is decidpd to offer the services of the contingent for India.

Adelaide, April 2S

Capt. Holmes, of the steamer Monmuir, which arrived at Adelaide from Singapore, states Avhen he left Batavia there Avere tAvo Russian ironclads iv port. Water being scarce, the water had to be apportioned to each vessel in small quantities, but the Russians were in such a hurry they emptied the water in the boat, and sailed away first beforo Capt. Helmes departure. A telegram has been received stating the arrival of two other Russian cruisers at Batavia.

By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright,

[Reuters Telegrams.]

(Received May 4, 2.15 a.m.)