AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 5981, 18 January 1881, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

| ,[PER S.S: RINGAROOMA, AT iTHE BLUFF.]

VICTORIA. : . : —: Mel-bottrne;- January 11

is nothing, stirring in.'the. political .world. - j The Governor is absent on a } shooting expedition to the.Gippsland Lakes. ■ :The jndges of the wool exhibition-had gfreat difficulty in deciding uppn the awards., jMuch- disappointment is consequently exr 'pressed, by the, visitors at the delay. The decisions, however, have given satisfaction. : ■No first prize was.given for long wool..; The. {Press generally agree that the most sanguine j expectation regarding the quality is more ! than realised..; Tlie following are the'general] 'results,:—Victoria' takes' 20 first prizes, 13 6. third ; South' Australia, 5 first I and I second ; Tasmania, 2 first, 3' second, j land. 2 third'; New Zealand, 2 first, 1 second, and 1 third; Silesia, 1 first; New South 2 second, and 1 third ; 'and Queeris!land, 3 second. ~ The Melbourne Chamber of Commerce ;addressed the Government, requesting the delegates to take steps to secure ■ the cooperation of . the other representatives at the Sydney. Conference, in the general substitution of a uniform decimal system of weights and measures. Steps have been likewise j' taken by the Chamber to promote direct 1 trade with India and Australia. .. The Insurance' and Banking Record ■ states ; that a further reduction of rates of interest to 3 per cent. 1 is inevitable, and that the banks of Victoria are only waiting similar action on - the part of the banks in the other ; colonies. - ' Thirty-five entries were made for' the Aus- ■ traliah Cup at the V.R.C. Autumn Meeting! . The entries include Progress, Flaneur, Camballo, and other leading horses. Camballo is . entered for the Newmarket Handicap! ;

The gold returns of Victoria for ISSO show that the yield has increased by 90,0000z5. as eOmpared with previous years.

NEW SOUTH WALES,

Sydney, January 11. The'exports exceed the previous year by two, and a quarter millions, and the imports by six hundred thousand. More bales of wool were also shipped last season than in the previous year. The schooner Mavis arrived from the Solomon Group, reports that the Zephyr, belonging to Ridley, was attacked and captured, and burnt The captain and crew murdered, and part of the crew of the Frencli barque Gabriel. The crew of the Alice, when leaving New_ castle on Saturday for Mauritius mutinied," and were overpowered, and placed in irons, arid so taken to sea.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Adelaide, January 11,

The' Cliimborazo struck on' the Marion reef, Troubridge Shoal, Gulf of St. Vincent, at 3 o'clock on Sunday morning. The. tugs immediately went to her assistance. . Eighty passengers and'the mails were taken off. The weather was light and calm when the vessel struck in 17 feet of water. The cause of grounding appears to be that a haze led the captain to imagine Troubridge light six miles off, whereas it was only two and a-half. Not much damage was apprehended, and a number of the passengers remained on board. The vessel remained in the same position till Sunday night, when lightering commenced. By the aid of a strong tug the Chimborazo was floated early in the morning, and made for the Semaphore. She has suffered no apparent damage. The Adelaide Marine Board met yesterday to consider the advisability of inquiring into the stranding of the Chimborazo, but defects in the Act were pointed out. It was, however, resolved to hold an inquiry, and summonses were issued to the master and officers to uttend, but the steamer having sailed, no inquiry was possible.

QUEENSLAND. Brisbane, January 11. Further news of the massacre of the crew of the Prosperity by the natives of Morsley Island state that the men were beheaded, and their remains smoked and dried, and afterwards placed in the mission house as trophies.

• The ship Chance, from the South Seas, reports that the Tauna natives fired on the Jabberwock's boats.

News that the Maglata natives captured the schooner Borealis and murdered the crew, except the captain, is fully confirmed. The schooner was regained by the schooners Flirt, Stanley, and Dauntless.; Oooktow-N", January 11. The. trading ship Hongkong , reports having been attacked by the natives in the South Seas. The crew were all killed, except the captain. : The vessel was plundered. " . A telegram from Blackall states that Leichardfs fate is now ascertained ; that Classan's grave was found in the locality. It was expected to bei Mulligan's river. TASMANIA. ' . , Hobart Town, January 11. The revenue for the last year is £437,000, being an increase of £71,000 and £13,000 in excess, of the estimate.

The new taxation realised £58,000. The revenue exceeds the expenditure by £19,000.