AUSTRALIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 8395, 2 February 1888, Page 5

AUSTRALIA.

[Special to Peers Association.] rßeoetrad Feb. 1, at 9 p.tn.l A STRANGE DEATH. SIDNEY, Feb. 1. A peculiar accident is reported from Orange. A man, while drinking at a waterhole near there, swallowed a snake, and died from suffocation. THE MOUNT RENNIE OUTRAGE. The Evening News declares that if the facts of the Mount Rennie outrage were to he reviewed it would result in the certain release of two of the prisoners. A JUBILEE FUND. MELBOTJBNB, Feb. 1. The Wesleyan Jubilee Fund has reached £38,000. A VINEYARD DISEASE. A disease is prevalent in the Mooroopaa vineyards, which is said to be due to excessive moisture. The loss will be a very serious one if means are not devised for extirpating the disease. AUSTRALIAN DIAMONDS. ADELAIDE, Feb. 1. One hundred stones found on the northern diamond fields have been sold in London at £2 per carat. [Received Fab. 1, at 2 p.m.] THE WESLEYANS IN TONGA. SYDNEY, Fxb. 1. The Wesleyan Conference passed a resolution, affirming their intention to stand by the Wesleyans of Tonga, and declining to withdraw from the Islands. The resolution further affirms the intention of the Conference to re-appoint the Rev Mr Moulton to the Tongan Wesleyan Mission. AN AGGRIEVED BISHOP. MELBOURNE; Feb. 1 The Right Rev Samuel Thornton, D.D., Anglican Bishop of Ballarat, is much displeased that the Roman Catholics took such a leading part at the Centennial celebration in Sydney, and at the alleged domination exercised by them over the arrangements. He complains also of remarks made by His Grace the Arch--1 bishop of Melbourne at the Centennial all ’defewnce-to hift

Grace he (Bishop Thornton) thinks it is going too far to say that the Catholics got the lead because they were organised, and recognised one bead, whilst the Fro* testants were disunited. He objects also to the remark that the gorgeous robes of the Catholics put Bishops’ aprons and gaiters in the shade. Bishop Thornton would be willing to stalk about in pea* green if it would benefit his diocese. SHIPPING. Sailed, yesterday afternoon—Rotomahana, s.s., foe Bluff. FATAL STABBING AFFEAT. FEBTH, W.A., Feb, 1. A desperate affair is reported to have taken place between the crews of some pearling vessels at Shark Bay, by which two men were killed and a number stabbed. No particulars of the affair are to hand, but seven Manilla men have been arrested by the police. LBeoeived Feb. 2, at 1,20 a.m.l DISBANDED. SYDNEY, Fan. 1. Tatters all’s Club has been disbanded. A POLITICAL PICNIC. At the Chamber of Commerce picnic, held to*day, Mr T. Mackenzie, M.H.E. for Clutha, Otago, in responding to a toast, advocated the free exchange of produce between the Colonies, and eulogised the efforts made by New South Wales in that direction. Mr Mackenzie’s speech was greeted with applause. THE SILVEE MINES. The Warden at Tenterfield has furnished a report on the recent find of silver at Fairfield, in which he states that an enormous quantity of silver ore is visible, and there is no reason to believe that the first estimate of the yield is in any way exaggerated. THE BABBIT PEST. Babbits have made their appearance in the Bathurst district. •» MASONIC, The rupture which took place between the several Masonic Lodges in this city has been healed through the efforts of Earl Carnarvon and Lord Carrington. The four Constitutions have amalgamated, and Lord Carrington has been installed First Grand Master. Lord Carnarvon has given an assurance that the English Grand Lodge will consent to the step taken. A LEGISLATIVE BLTTNDEE. MELBOUENB, Fbb. I, The Licensing Act has been discovered to be inoperative, through a blunder in the penalty clause. A " DUFFER.” A great sensation has been caused in mining circles by the report from the manager of Jackson's mine, Kimberley, to tbe effect that the mine is not of the slightest value. The capital of the Company formed to take over the mine is one hundred and twenty thousand pounds, and was principally subscribed here. Legal proceedings have been threatened over the affair.