AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXI, Issue 7228, 30 April 1884, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

■ » —— [Per Press Association.] (Per s.s. Eotomahana, viA the Bluff.) VICTORIA. Melbourne, April 24. The anniversary of tho eight hours’ movement was celebrated on Monday by the usual procession and a fete. A bazaar has been held for the benefit of the Austin hospital for incurables. It realised over £2OOO clear. Professor Miller and Donald Dinnie wrestled at the Exhibition on Saturday night, and during the struggle Miller broke his ankle. Another railway accident, which might have been attended with serious consequences, took place on Monday evening close to the Spencer street station. A passenger train was leaving the station for Williamstown, and when crossing over the points was run into by an incoming train, the engine of which first took away the side of one carriage, and then crushed in the next one, which fortunately was empty. The passengers in both trains were seriously alarmed, hut noone was injured. The driver has been suspended. It is stated that he disregarded the danger signal. Captain Smith, and John M'Leod, first engineer of the s.s. Battman, were charged before the Steam Navigation Board with drunkenness during the voyage from England. The Captain’s certificate was suspended for two years, and the engineer’s for one month. The Intercolonial Trades Congress is now sitting to discuss various matters affecting the industrial classes. The City of Melbourne Bank has declared a dividend of nine per cent, adding £IO,OOO to the reserve fund, and carrying forward £2815. The prisoner Bourke is now on trial at Geelong for the murder of Francis Beach at Pettavel; but tbe evidence so far is purely circumstantial. [Bourke has since been re-committed to the Asylum.]

, The Honorable P. T- Sargood has been appointed Minister of Water Supply, vice Mr Deakin, who resigned that portfolio. It is understood that Mr Sargood will be assisted by the Hon Mr Thomley.

TASMANIA. Jt is considered probable that the direct service between Hobart and London mayfall through, as it has transpired that the Orient Company do not intend to send direct from London, and will only allow steamers to call on the way from Sydney. NEW SOUTH WALES. The convict William Rice was executed on Wednesday for the murder of James Griffin. Mr James Watson, Colonial Treasurer in the late Administration, was elected for Gundagaiby a majority of six over Mr Want, the Ministerial candidate. Mr M'Elhone, M.L.A., leaves for England by the Pacific mail steamer to-day. Mr A. G. Taylor has been suspended ■from sitting in the Assembly for a week in consequence of his obstructive tactics. He has issued a writ foir .£IOOO damages against the Sergeant-at-Arms in order to test the case. ; The statues by Signor Fontana which recently arrived from England, have been placed in position in the' public offices, and are much admired. j Drought is still prevalent, and stock is dying wholesale in tie back districts from lack of feed and writer. queensi]and. The barque Lanarkshire, bound from Queensland to Lyttelton in ballast, which went ashore in PlindersjPassage, has been floated uninjured. I - (Per s.s. Australia, / via Auckland.) NEW SOUTH WALES. The barque Castleton, from Dunedin, about which some groundless fears appear to have existed, arrived at Newcastle on March 20, and sailed for Mauritius on April 21. The report on the M'Elhone-Wandsacker case was agreed to in the Assembly last night. Mr M'Elhone affected to treat the entire matter with contempt. The Gundagai election was in the nature of a surprise. It is regarded as a defeat for the Government, as Mr Watson was chaperoned by Mr M'Elhone, No rain has fallen for the last two days, and the weather is again fine and warm. The health of the Marchioness of Normanby has much improved during her stay in Sydney. ■ Messrs Mort and Co. are about to erect new wool warehouses on Circular Quay. The floor space will amount to four acres. The city is at present full of clergy, including eleven Bishops, from all Colonies and the provinces in New South Wales. VICTOEIA. Mr Glover states that thirty thousand persons have taken the Blue Eibbon in Victoria. . , . Government intend introducing a now Licensed Victuallers Bill. At a mooting of the trades Congress Mr Service expressed the necessity of resisting an influx of French convicts, and the establishment of a Federal Executive as recommended by the Sydney Convention. No match has yet been made between Hanlan and Hunt, as the former requires that Hunt should pay a forfeit for the Nepean match. So far matters remain in abeyance. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. The second batch of elections yesterday shows a decided preponderance in favour of the Opposition.