AUSTRALIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 5011, 12 March 1877, Page 3

AUSTRALIA.

Our flies are to March 1. We make the following extract*: — The South Auniralian Reg inter states that the telegram received by His Excellency the Administrator of tho Government of South Australia relative to tho appointment of Sir W. H. D. Jorvois, K.0.M.G., and Colonel Soratohloy to advise on tho defences of the Colonies, mentioned that those officers would leave for Sydney on Mav 3. At tho afternoon performance of Bailey and Cooper’s circus, at Stawoll, a man named Fraser, who said ho know how to tame lions, put his hand into tho lioness’s cage, and she seised it with her paw, completely stripping tho skin and flesh off. Fortunately, the trainer was near, or tho lioness would have drawn tho man’s whole arm in. The incident caused a groat sensation amongst tho audience, whioh numbered over 4000 persons. Information was received, says tho Argun of Fob. 28, of an interruption in tho cable communication between Batavia and Singapore. Wo are without information a* to tho cause or extent of tho_ damage, and it may possibly bo some considerable time before direct communication is again resumed.

“Vignerons," Bay* the Ararat Advertiser, " describe the grape vintage this year as being light, but of excellent quality. Owing to the absence of rain the berries are small, but this, as everyone knows, moans a full rioh-bodied wine. To use a Continental saying, the wine producers of this district ' have got plenty of sun in their cellars,’ and no doubt when the wine is matured there will be a largo demand for the vintage of ’77.” Regarding the vintage in tbo Albury District, the JJanner says :—" The late rains, though not sufficiently heavy to be of much service to graziers, will be of material benefit to vigncrons. The grapes are now nearly ripe, and the showers which fell towards the end of last week have had the effect of increasing the size of the berries, and, consequently, the quantity of juice. The vintage will probably commence in the course of a fortnight.” By telegraph from Brisbane, we {Argus) hear of the loss of three vessels in the Eastern seas, with considerable sacrifice of life. In the case of the ship Isabel and the steamer Park, the farmer of which was lost off Bangoon, and the latter between Saigon and Hong Kong, all on board appear to have perished. No details of the disasters have yet reached us, and we are not able to identify the Isabel with any vessel which has recently sailed from this port. In all probability it will be found that the vessel alluded to is a French ship called the “Isabelle,” which occasionally trades between Bangoon and Melbourne. With reference to the yield of the late harvest in South Australia, the Register says it is calculated that about 970,OOl) acres were under crop, and deducting that which, in consequence of the drought and the scarcity of food was out for hay, the quantity may be roughly stated at 950,000 acres. The average yield is about six bushels, or a total of about 5.730.000 bushels. For our home consumption we shall require about 1,237,003 bushels, and allowing for an increase of 50,000 acres in the land to be sown this year, 1,493,000 will be required for seed. This will leave about 3,021,000 bushels for exportation, or, in the form in which it is usually sent out of the colony, say 75,000 tons of wheat and flour. The surplus last year was more than 200.000 tons. The coasting steamer Lubra has reported to the Harbour department that on her voyage to Portland on the night of Feb. 20, whilst running down the West Channel, she ran into a small outward-bound schooner which showed no lights. The Lubra, after sheering off, hailed the schooner to ascertain if any assistance was required, but received the reply that the steamer was more damaged than the schooner. The Lubra then continued on her course. The captain of the steamer believes it probable that the steering gear of the sohooner was injured. The name of the schooner could not be ascertained, os the night was a dark one, nor has she reported the occurrence at any of the out-ports. It is probable that a reward may be offered for the discovery of the schooner’s name and destination, so that an inquiry into the affair may be held. Daniel Downey, Alfred Warburton, and Patrick Joyce, were brought up at the Belfast Police Court on Feb. 25, charged with setting fire to the stations of Messrs Baird, Turnbull, Murphy, Urquhart, and Stewa-t Brothers on Feb. 6 and 7 last. The case lasted all day. The prisoner Joyce turned Queen’s evidence, and disclosed that the three men had systematically set about, on the date mentioned, to sot fire to the whole country round about Hawkesdale. When they had run short of matches, they rode back about a mile and carried fire sticks from the burning fences, so as to complete the work at other places. Samuel Baird, of Kangatong, deposed that his loss is not less than £6000; Stewart Brothers said theirs was £1000; Mr Turnbull’s loss was £3000; Mr Murphy's £SOO, and so on. The prisoners, Downey and Warburton, were committed for trial. The steamer Blackbird arrived at Cooktown on Saturday, and landed three wounded men from the schooner Douglas. The story of the crew and their encounter with the blacks is a most extraordinary one. The Douglas loft Cairns last month for Guano Island. On the way, she called at an island off Cardwell and procured three aboriginals. On her arrival at Guano Island, two of the crew and two blacks went ashore, when the latter killed the former; then swam to the vessel and killed the mate with an axe. Two other sailors and the captain came up on deck, when they were attacked, wounded, and forced to retire into the cabin. The cook took refuge in the galley, and the three seamen in the rigging. Next day the cook shot one of tbo blacks. The crow then armed themselves, and shot another black in the rigging) and afterwards the third, who had jumped overboard. Three applications for letters-patent were granted on Feb. 28. The first was the adjourned application of Gresley Lukin, of Brisbane, far letters patent for the better clarification of oanejuioo, &o. The second was that of Mr Henry Bossies, manager of the Walballa Gold-mining Company, for letters patent for the extraction of gold from pyrites, by grinding them raw and without mercury, and subsequently amalgamating them with mercury in separate vessels; and also for the combination with such process of Tyrolese mills, and dollies having their faces coated with’amalgamated copper plates. The last was that of Mr George Boy, of Bung Bong, for letters-patent for a combination of levers, &0., to tip the platform of reaping machines by means of a hand lever or treadle, and so give a back delivery, the stuff out whilst the delivery is going on being supported meanwhile by a horizontal rod about IBin. above the finger-bar. Mr Moule appeared for Mr Lukin, and Mr Waters conducted the other applications. .... , Two deaths from lightning were reported at Deniliquin police station on Feb. 16. The first case (says the Riverine Advertiser) was that of a selector named William H. Jones, who was struck dead on the Albury road, about six miles from Deniliquin, when on bis way home. The horse he was riding was also killed and both bodies were found as they fell, the rider’s legs astride the saddle, proving that death in both instance* must have been instantaneous. The deceased’s hat and coat were burnt on one side, and his head and body much discoloured. He bad apparently been struck on tbe head, and the deadly current had then passed downwards through the body, and thence into the horse. The other case was that of a shepherd named Harkom, in the employment of a selector named Benjamin Lawrence. When he started out with the sheep m the morning, he was instructed by Lawrence that in the event of a storm be was to round up the sheep on the nlain and return home. Lawrence did not Lain see him alive. Hi* body was found in the afternoon, about six miles from Demhquin, between the Hoy and Oonargo roads. 4 aJ « laruolv attended meeting ol the Garnni«r.’ a ß nd Joiners’ Society, held in the Cdes-haUon Feb. 26, a progress report was Irades nauou <( „ itteoi From STSiitf aV- <5- ss«sr mtmun. «

tho following dav, and Agreed that a meeting of tho trade should be hold on the evening of tho 14th inst. That meeting woe duly hold, and tho following resolution was onrriod : contractors for tho Ohiof Secretary's offices (Messrs Dick and Turnbull) having taken place in the recognised rate of wages of carpenters and joiners in Melbourne, and no reasonable ground having been assigned for the same, wo club ourselves to maintain in its integrity tho standard rate of wages agreed to at a public meeting of The trade, hold in tho Trades-hall on October 2, 1873." It was further resolved that on and after Monday, tho 19th inst,, they would withdraw their labour from any works whore tho standard wage of 10s per day was not paid. Tho report also stated that several mon had already been taken from Messrs Dick and Turnbull’s employ by the Committee j that tho Committee had come to tho conclusion that there was no other course loft than tho withdrawal of all members of the society from tho employ of these contractors ; and that such members should be paid the current rate of wages of the society. After some discussion tho report was adopted unanimously, and the Strike Committee were authorised to enforce the withdrawal of all members from the employ of Messrs Dick and Turnbull until that firm paid them tho standard rate of wages fixed by tho society. Tho Cooklown llerald has the following concerning the northern pearl fisheries:— “ Tho schooner Kingston, Captain Robinson, from tho Malaccas and the pearl fisheries on our northern coast and Western Australia, now lying at tho North Shore, brings late and reliable information from those localities pertaining to that importaLt industry, Tho Kingston, though its owner had on two previous cruises made profitable trips, has for tho past 16 months been very unfortunate in obtaining shell. This has not been owing to tho scarcity of shell, but to the obstacles cast in their way by the Butch and Queensland Govern moats. The former have recently required that a bond, supplemented by a cash deposit of 200 rupees, be entered into by the owners or captain of any craft visiting the Celebes for tho return of any native divers or seamen shipped' there. This prevents the Queensland crafts from obtaining divers and experienced crows to carry on the work. Tho outlying islands of the Celebes and Ooremeso are known to abound in pirates, acknowledging no allegiance to the Dutch Government, who make the best of divers, and from these localities expert men can be obtained ; but as soon as the vessel having them on board puts into a Queensland port for supplies or in distress it is immediately pounced upon under the Polynesian Aot, and the result is confiscation, imprisonment, and ruin. There are now about 80 vessels averaging 35 tons each, some being craft of 90 and 100 tons, engaged in pearling about the islands of Macassar, Delhi, Copang, Timor, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday Islands, and Cape York. These vessels, provided generally with Malay crews, now go long distances out of their way for their supplies, avoiding Queensland ports on account of the obstaoles which they encounter as soon as they enter, and the large trade whioh we otherwise would derive wholesome advantage from is now diverted to Singapore and Western Australia, both free ports, where every encouragement is given to the pearl-fishing trade, realising its importance, and affording every facility to ensure co-operative confidence with those engaged therein."