AUSTRALIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10566, 28 January 1895, Page 5

AUSTRALIA.

[Special to Peees Association.] DESTRUCTIVE FIRE. HOBART, Jan. 25. A destructive fire broke out. at Port Arthur during a gale. The public buildings, model prison. Government House, the hospital and several, private houses were destroyed. ANNIVERSARY. SYDNEY, Jan. 26. To- day is the anniversary of the colony, and is being celebrated as a general holiday. The weather for the anniversary was wet, though the regatta was a great success. The Intercolonial Eighteen-footer Sailing Race was won by the Ariel, of Sydney, defeating Queensland- The. latter’s representative, the Bulletin, won the Champion, Twentyrtwo-footer Race. ANOTHER LECTURER.' MELBOURNE, Jan. 26, The Rev H. E. Haweis, who is at present in San Francisco, visits ths Colonies in March on a lecturing tour. THE PRIMAGE DUTY.. Government intends to reintroduce the Primage Duty Repeal Bill nest session. If carried it will come into opsratiou in June. THE NICARAGUA CANAL. ’ A meeting of American citizens decided to petition the American Congress to proceed with the Nicaragua canal. THE LAND TAX. Jan. 27. Speaking at the Australasian Natives’ demonstration, the Attorney-General referred to the rejection of the Land tax by the Legislative Council, and., said the people of the colony would not allow the most valuable portion of the wealth of the colony to go untaxed. The Bill, he said, would be reintroduced, as there must be some change of constitution. A HEAVY RAINFALL. BRISBANE, Jan. 26. Heavy rain has again set in, 3in having fallen at Maryborough and Ain at Bandaberg. .' Jan. 27. ■ Heavy rain ; hs? fallen during the last two days, and eight and a half inches were registered. All the lower ’portions of Brisbane and suburbs are submerged. The river is in high flood and still rising, and the people are removing, goods from the wharves. The rain ceased to-nightj hut the woather is still threatening. GOLD-MINING. PERTH, Jan, 26. Fine stone has been struck in. Bayley’s Reward Mine at Coolgardie, while prospecting in the north main shaft. Alluvial gold has also been found in Bayley’s Island, it being discovered in a kind of, cement under some seven feet of .difficult stripping. .