AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5459, 13 August 1879, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

(PElt TARAItUA, AT THE -BLUFF.) Victoria. Last year's yield, of wheat is now estimated at 0,060,737, and of oats 2,3GG,026 bushels. The first official returns were grossly incorrect as regards wheat. The Acclimatisation Society of France have awarded to Sir Samuel Wilson a gold medal of the first class for successfully introducing Californian salmon into Australian waters. A. B. Nathan, a clerk in the Crown Land Department, has been charged with receiving a gold watch valued £21, alleged to be stolen from a young man named Thirates. Mr Service, the leader of the Opposition, severely criticised the Budget, showing that Mr Borry commenced, in office with a surplus of £200,000, but now showed deficit of £137,000, owing to constant departmental extravagance. Despite Black Wednesday, the ordinary salaries of the departmental officers had increased over £100,000 during the last two years. Mr Service condemned the estimates of revenue as utterly unreliable, and ridiculed the absurdities of the nevr tariff. He caused considerable excitement by pledging himself, if he succeeded to office, to review the appointments of the Berry Government, in order that justice might be aAvarded to the victims of Black Wednesdaj'. A number of Ministerial supporters intend opposing the Reform Bill, and it has been referred to , a., select committee. .*.. . It is rumored that a claim is about to be made against the Government for immensely valuable land in Melbourne, on which are extensive manufactories, and part of the Hobson Bay Railway, valued altogether at £5,000,000. The alleged owner claims that the land was absolutely sold under an old Government grant 'before the separation of Victoria from New South Wales. The pursuit of the Kcllys has cost Victoria £20,000. New South Wales. The diggers on the Echunga field, have petitioned Government to frame regulatians to govern the diamond-fields. An extraordinary accident occurred at the Lothgon sawmills. The shaft of the machinery becoming disarranged, tho circular saw smashed into fragments, flying in all directions, with a terrific noise. One man was lolled, and two . thrown into tho air, but they escaped with little injury. A Frenchman has hanged himself in Sydney. It is stated that he has left a, wife and family in New Zealand. QUEENSLAND. The New Guinea natives stole some iron bars from tho missionary steamer Ellengood, A party under Captain. Dudfield landed to recover the property, but the natives surrounded the party, attacking them with spears and stones. Captain Dudfield killed one man, and the Europeans escaped to tho boat under cover of the confusion. The H.M.S. Beagle afterwards recovered the property. She proceeds to Cloudy Bay in pursuit of the murderers of Jones, and will biimtho villages and plantations unless the murderers are surrendered.