AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5373, 5 February 1879, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[from patbrs, per s.s. ' zealandia,' to JANUARY 30.] A mnbtino of stockowners was held at Brisbane for the purpose of strengthening the hands of the Queensland Moat Preserving Company. Mr. A. H. Browne occupied tbe chair, and it was agreed that the site of the proposed works should be on tidal waters near Brisbane. £1900 was subscribed in the room, and a very influential provisional committee was formed. At the annual meetiDg of the Melbourne Hospital, the establishment of a Convalescent Hospital and paying ward was strongly advocated. Tlie endowment fund now amounts to £SGSS. Savanaka is best favourite for the Geeloiig Gold Cup, Tom Kirk for the Handicap, and Abdallah for the Hurdles. The Melbourne Metropolitan Gas Company has declared a dividcud of 8 per cent. The report states that tbere are now 32,000 consumers on the books, and that new offices are about to be erected at a cost of £<iOOO. H.M. s. Sapphire will leave Sydney on the Ist February for Aucklaud, wliere she may bo expected on or about the ICKIi prox. After a stay of about seven days, the Sapphire will leave for Plymouth to pay off. At the inquest on the body of Mrs. tirett, who was killed by a railway train at Footscray, a verdict of accidental death was returned. The jury added a rider that the present crossing is unsafe. An inquest on the body of Mrs. Collins, who died under suspicious circumstances, was commenced at the Morgue ; aud after several witnesses had been examined, the inquiry was adjourned till next day. Mr. Casey appeared to watch the esse on behalf of Dr. Crooke, who attended the deceased aud gave a certificate. The evidence adduced shewed that houses exist in Melbourne for the convenience of lady patients, aud one witness stated that during two years five illegitimate children had been born at her house, aud three had died.

Important changes are pending in the Victorian telegraph office as alTectiug intercolonial telegraphy.

At- the Rochester races, a jockey named Nesbit, riding The xsut, cannoned agaiust another horse, aud was picked up dead. An American schooner arrived at Cooktown on the 27th Jauuary, haviug left San Francisco in July last to search for guano deposits on the New Guinea coast. She found the island but no guano. The schooner struck ou a coral reef, aud was much injured. The captain abandoued the voyage, as the vessel was Jeakiug badly, and will come on with her to Brisbane for repairs. Th© 20th January was the hottest of the season. The thermometer at the Melbourne Observatory registered 106 degrees. There are complaints of want of rain from all parts of the country.

A Board of Inquiry has been appointed to inquire into the escape of Maitiu implicated in stealiug 5000 sovereigns from the s.s. Avoca.

The captain of the barque Veritas denies any intention of abandoning his vessel when she struck on Corsair Hocks.

Gold has been struck at Scrubby Plains, Parko3, New South Wales. Frampton and party out of eleven dishes washed 3dwts., averaging ljozs. to the load. The siuking is 77 feet, and the locality is two miles only from tho celebrated Wapplug claim. There is great excitement.