AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6052, 11 April 1881, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

—: * [per s.s. ringarooma, at the bluff. J VICTORIA. Melbourne, April 5. Replying to an inquiry in the Assembly on Thursday, Mr. Williams said the Government did not intend to do anything to carry out the recommendation of Messrs. Gordon and Black for water conservation. ' After discussion, Mr. Langdon notified a motion for the appropriation of £100,000 for this purpose in the northern portion of the colony. • The Argas says the supplementary estimates now amount to no less than £180,000. The Torpedo Accident Board sits daily. They visited the Cerebus on Thursday, and examined the scene of the accident and electric apparatus used ; also inspected the hulk, where the explosives are kept, and found a parcel of dynamite not entered in a book. Doyle, a member of the corps, stated that he had seen dynamite on the binnacle stand of the Cerberus the day of the explosion, tending to lead to the conclusion that it was placed with a quantity of gun-cotton lying about in the torpedo, thus causing the accident through exuding from the cartridge. The British exhibitors presented Mr. Herbert Sandford with £300, as a mark of esteem. Mr. Sandford announced that he would spend the money on pictures of Australian scenery. John Sergeant, late temperance caterer at the Exhibition, committed an assault yesterday on Mr. James Muhro opposite the Argus Office. He struck him with a ring on his finger. One of Mr. Munro's eyes were knocked out. Sergeant was pursued, and endeavoured to evade pursuit, but was finally arrested, and is unbailed. NEW SOUTH WALES. Sydney, April 5. The Orange Slaughter-house Company has contracted with the agents of the Orient line for the whole space available iu the steamer fitted with frozen chambers for the first cargo. Three hundred tons of frozen meat will be despatched from Orange, and will consist of a consignment sent by squatters on their own account. A sham naval fight, in which 12 a-piece of the crews of the Wolverene, Emerald, Cormorant, Miranda, Alert, Conflict, Sandfly, and Beagle take part, also the Naval Brigades of Sydney and Newcastle. QUEENSLAND. Brisbane, April 5. The returns for the quarter show the receipts to be £319,367, as compared with £287,993 for the last quarter. The returns for the nine mouths show a satisfactory increase, especially in the Customs. There is every prospect of future prosperity. The returns all through show an increase upon the whole revenue, except for the transference from the railway reserve fund.