AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2275, 18 July 1881, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

[By Tbubsbaph.J [Per ss. Albion at Auckland.] MELBOURNE, July 9. The Ocean has been admitted to pratique after examination by the health officer. Seventy-two Chinese landed in Melbourne, and upwards of 200 remain on board awaiting their return to Sydney. Amongst the passengers is a Chinese merohant, who com. plains strongly of the circumstances attendant on the detention of the vessel on the voyage. He states that he will send a full statement of the treatment received at Sydney to the authorities at Pekin. A second Refrigerating Company has been formed at Rosodale, Gippsland, with a capital of £IO,OOO. Sir B. O'Loghlen drew the attention of the House to the faot that on account of not passing the Customs' Bill just expiring, quite a scare has been caused in the city. Maize had that day fallen from 4s 2d to 3s 7d, and business in many lines was paralysed. Mr Berry explained that the Bill in question was awaiting final sanction, and as soon as the new administration was formed and got to work, he and his colleagues would do all they could to assist in passing the measure. The responsibility of dealing with the rejection of the land tax by the Counoil would have to be assumed by the next Government. Mr Berry then went on to speak of the case of the ship Ocean, from which four hundred Chinese had been landed in opposition to his wishes. He had issued instructions that the vesael should be put in quarantine, and only knew that his orders had not been obeyed by reading the morning papers. Mr Berry explained that through the indisposition of the Under-Secretary the post had been filled by a subordinate, who neglected to carry out his instructions. SYDNEY, July 9. Mr Walsh, the agent of the Irish League, held a meeting at the Exchange Theatre, Albury, when resolutions were carried expressing the sympathy of the meeting with the objects of the League. A considerable sum was subscribed. A civil action is pending against the late oity architect and contractor for the Town Hall foundation. The Oynica reports having passed a large quantity of wreckage off Cape Darwin. The Influx of Chinese Restriction Bill has been read a first time in the Assembly. Under its provisions vessels arriving with Chinese on board perform quarantine whether there is at the time of arrival or has been during the voyage any contagious or infectious disease or not amongst the passengers. The number of Chinese brought in a vessel is-to be limited to one for every 100 tons of tonnage. The vessel, master, owner, or charterer are made liable to a penalty of £IOO for each Chinese in excess of the limitation. A poll tax of £lO per head is to be impoaod on every Chinese arriving in the colony by vessel or otherwise. A certificate of exomption in certain cases may be granted by the Treasurer. Chinese who are British subjects are exempt from the operations of the Act. BRISBANE, July 9. The Governor opened Parliament on Tuesday, and in his speeoh referred to the increasing prosperity of the oolony. A preliminary agreement has been made between the Government and a company for a railway to Point Parker, and it was hoped that Government would be able to submit a Bill this session. Negotiations had been opened to extend the Western Railway to the border of New South Wales. ADELAIDE, July 9. The report from the Engineer-in-Chief regarding the adaptability of the Great Northern railway for a section of the transcontinental line has been laid on the table_ of the Assembly. Mr Mais says that if the line is intended for the conveyance of passengers and mails at a high speed to compete with the ocean steamers it should be on the broad gauge, but it has been given in evidence to be of no advantage to run at a high speed across the continent.

Applications for space in the Exhibition are so numerous that it will be necessary to erect additions. The work is progressing rapidly. A meeting of the committee appointed to take steps to obtain the reading of the Bible in State schools was held on Wednesday. The syllabus adopted by the .London Sohool Board was read, and a representative committee was appointed to draw up a syllabus based on that to be submitted to a future meeting.

[Per s.b. Botorua, at the Bluff.] MELBOUENE, July 12. The new Ministers assumed control of their departments yesterday. The Government will support Mr Cooper for the chairmanship of committees, rendered vacant by MrGaunson's acceptance of office, but Messrs Mason and Mirams are also candidates. The new Ministry is spoken of in most uncomplimentary terms by the press generally, and the general opinion outside is that it is only a stop gap for a coalition Ministry, whioh it is well known several prominent men on both aides desire.

Soon after the commencement of the ball at Government House on Thursday, about a hundred weight of plaster fell, striking Mr Lecren, the Secretary for Public Works, on the head and shoulders. For some time he was rendered unconscious, but has now recovered.

SYDNEY, July 12. The fresh cases of suiall-pox whioh have occurred during the past few days have revived the alarm. There are now about twelve infected houses in the city and suburbs, each being guarded by a constable. The Government is taking every step to prevent tho spread of the disease, and with that object has decided to appoint a Board of Health, with power to act in cases of emergency. It is proposed to erect a Small-pox Hospital forthwith. A quantity of frozen fish is now being placed on board the ©uzoo for Kngland. The Orange Slaughtering Company has engaged the entire refrigerating space. The Cuzco also takes 130 tons of meat.

The schooner Sophia, from the South Sea Islands, became a total wreck on tho North Heads on the morning of the 10th. All hands were saved. The captain held an exemption certificate, and did not Bignal for a pilot. When nearing tho Heads, the wind changed, and the vessel was anchored. Suddenly the cable broke, and tho vessel drifted atern foremost on the rocks, and « ent to pieces very quickly. Next morning not a vestige of her was visible. An inquiry was held, and the Board reserved its decision. One thousand two hundred invitations have been issued for the ball in Government House in honor of the Princes. ADELAIDE, July 12.

The. inauguration service was held in the Exhibition building on Sunday, July 10*. Nearly ton thousand people were present, including four hundred volunteers and the choir. The Austrian band also took part. Everything tends to show that the Exhibition is likely to provo a great buccobb. The opening takes place on the 21at.