AUSTRALIA.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1534, 17 January 1879, Page 3

AUSTRALIA.

Sydney, January 16. The own'T? of the immigrant riup Hereford were fined £'ooo tor a breach of lue charter party regarding water supply. Montgomery has been committed for trial for the jewellery robbery. Melbourne, January 16. George Martin and Co. have failed. It is stated that their liabilities are large, principally to English creditors; The Lusitania arrived at Adelaide last night. A rich gold discovery is reported at Stawell. On the meeting of the Queensland Parliament on Tuesday, the Douglas Ministry were met by a direct vote of want of confidence. The debate is proceeding, and the Opposition are confident of success. While firing a salute at the opening ceremony two gunners were killed by the explosion of a gun and a third wounded. Both were accorded a public funeral. The Governor, in his speech, stated that on the expiration of the Torres mail service, tenders would bo invited for fresh services, as the present rate of speed is considered inadequate to the requirements of the colony. NEW ZEALAND. [per press agency.] Auckland, January IG. John Pennan, proprietor of the To Aro sawmills was killed whilst working by a blow from a plank. He died in half an hour after the accident. The following were the insurances on the Schiohallion : —New Zealand, £7700 ; National, £6350; South British, £ISOO ; Victoria, £3OO, and Colonial, £265. Napier, January 16. Mr Hoskins and Miss Colville left for the South to-day per Eangatira. Since Mr Hoskins joined the company they have had good houses. Prior to that the theatre was not patronised. Mr Mackay was a passengei by the Hawea to Wellington to-day. It is reported that lie has been offered by the Native Minister the appointment of Chief Land Commissioner; bnt it is thought that Sir George Grey will not resuscitate the office for Mr Maikay’s benefit.

(“from the correspondents of the press.] Dunedin, January 16,

Captain Wilson and Corporal Smith ’will represent the City Guards, and Corporal Richardson the North Dunedin Corps at Nelson. Sergt.Major Paxton represents the Otago staff. Invercargill, January 15.

The educational statistics of Southland district for the quarter ending December 31st, are : —Attendances at tho beginning of the quarter, 2796 ; at the end of trio quarter, 3976 ; average number on the roll, 2900 ; strict average, 2466 ; working average, 2507 ; number of pupils under five years, 80; between five to seven years, 524; between seven to ten years, 1036; between ten and thirteen years, 1045; between thirteen and fifteen years, 297 ; abovo fifteen years, 47. [Press Special Wis’c.] Dunedin, January 16. A telegram has been received by the police, intimating that a man named Robert Macgregor was killed last evening at Maungatira, near Outram, by the upsetting of his dray in a cutting. At a meeting of the Presbyterian Synod to-day, the chairman of tho Professorial Board of the Otago University wrote forwarding a series of resolutions agreed to by the Board, anti which were previously published. Tho resolutions pointed out that Moral Philosophy and Political Economy were already taught in the University. It would be undesirable that an ecclesiastical body should endow a chair of Moral Philosophy, as it would give rise to the supposition that it was intended to subserve sectarian and ecclesiastical purposes. The Board pointed out that tho chairs required were Physical Science and English Language and Literature. The resolution of the University Council, which was enclosed expressed its gratification it tho prospect of a new chair, and also its opinion that a chair of E nglish language and literature and history, or the same together with constitutional history, in tho present circumstances of tho University would be of tho greatest service to tho higher cdncition. Three propositions were then submitted by members of the Synod, and a long dismission ensued, in tho course of which one member of the Synod said the Professorial Board’s resolutions were marked by tho grossest materialism. Tho debate was adjourned until the evening sitting. Messrs M. Fraser and K. Ramsay have been nominated as members of the Education Board. Invercargill, January 16.

A rai way employe, named James Atkinson, died suddenly at Ureti yesterday afternoon. He was loading a truck, and suddenly fell down and d led in a few minutes, it is supposed from heart disease.