AUSTEALIAN.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume V, Issue 735, 29 February 1884, Page 2

AUSTEALIAN.

(per united press association.) MELBOUBNE, February 20. Alice Rees, the well-known singer, is dangerously ill of gastric fever. Capl. McLellan, the Lyttelton harbormaster, accompanied the Melbourne Harbor Trust Commissioners iv their recent inspection of the works in progress in the river, and in the bay. The new Law Courts were opened for business without any ceremonial. The Melbourne Jewish Club has been opened. The members include ladies as well as gentlemen. Charles Rice has been found guilty of manslaughter of his wife at Prahran, and has been sentenced to fifteen years' hard labor. B. B. Fletcher, the legal manager for a large number of Sandhurst mining companies, is found to have misappropriated the funds of at least twenty companies interested. It is stated that his deficiencies amount to about .£2OOO. Two Government auditors have been investigating the accounts of the Echuca Shire Council in consequence of the defalcations of the late treasurer. Messrs. Booth and Glover commenced their gospel temperance mission at the Exhibition Hall last night, when there was a large attendance. The tender of Mr. Gardener has been accepted for the works at the Fisherman's Bend, where a straight channel is to be cut in the Yarra, and the contract has been signed. The amount is .£63,000. The Commissioner of Railways has commsneed. an official inspection of the Victorian lines. The question of the quality of wines, spirits, &c, supplied to the Melbourne Hospital has been raised. The analysis showed all of the goods were of the most inferior quality, and were totally unfit for consumption by invalids. News from Noumea states that a gang of convicts boarded the cutter Taremha and thrust three of the native crew overboard, aud left with the vessel. A meeting of members of the Church of England has been held to make arrangements for the reception of Bishop Barry, and it has been decided to entertain him at a luncheon. SYDNEY, February 18. A deputation waited on Mr. Abbott, the Minister of Miues, with reference to the outbreak of scab iv imported American sheep. Mr. Abbott stated that the Cabinet had resolved to destroy all American sheep, and also to burn the paddocks and sheds where the sheep have been depastured aud quartered, aud also to allow the owners some compensation. A meetiug of pastoralists has been held at tiie Royal Hotel to take steps to prevent the spread of scab. A resolution was passed thanking the Government for the prompt bteps they have taken to stay the disease.