AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6255, 3 December 1881, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[PER S.S. WAKATIFC, AT WELLINGTON.] NEW SOUTH WALES. Stdnzv, November 26. The Trades Union Bill passed the second reading and the committee on the 25t!i. Mr. George Campbell and Mr. Baker, late Minister for Minea, were nominated for Carcoar. The election is on the Ist of December. Mr. Baker addressed meetings at Blayney and Carcoar, and received votes of confidence at both. The land on which Prince, Ogg, and Company's premises stands in George-street was sold on the 24th for £45,000, equalling £900 per foot frontage. The Herald states that an English company, with a large capital, lias offered to construct a bridge to North Shore, if a Government give a guarantee of 3.J per centum per annum interest on the outlay, and further to hand the bridge over to the Government at the end of 21 years, on the repayment of the cost of construction and maintenance. Private telegrams report that the balance of the meat ex Garonne sold in London at 5d per lb. In consequence of the prevalence of smallpox in the neighbourhood, the Board of Health ordered the public school in Sussexstreet to be closed for three weeks. During the past week the disease appears to have spread seriously, but at the present time

the patients are reported to be progressing favourably. The Telegraph publishes telegrams from Tasmania describing the extraordinary natural phenomena and land slip that occurred twenty miles down the river Derwent, below Hobart, causing heavy floods. On investigation being made, it was found that the mountain was on fire, and the flames were described as rising to a great height, with an intense heat. A dense mist prevented the people going near. It has been suggested' that a seam of coal in the neighbourhood had taken fire. In the Assembly on the 22nd Mr. Stuart criticised the budget. While congratulating the House on the prosperity of the colony, he considered the finances were not so flourishing as represented. He maintained that the surplus was principally due to large land sales. The colony was at present living to a large extent upon the laud revenue. He said the expenditure was yearly increasing without a change in the ordinary sources of revenue. Mr. Lloyd congratulated the Treasurer on the satis-

factory statement, whi jh he was glad contained nothing on Protection. Mr. Reid contended that the fiuancial statement was less encouraging than the Treasurer made out-arguing that little or no surplus could if the land revenue had not exceeded the estimate. The conference between the Legislative Council and the Assembly agreed upon a compromise of the disputed points in the Chinese Bill. The payment of £10 poll tax was agreed to. The election for Argyle, consequent on the death of Mr. Myers, is fixed for the 9th of December. The Government are resolved to resume the possession of the Pyrmont Bridge. Notice was formally served on the company that the bridge reverts to the State next January. An important discovery of coal was made twenty miles north of Gosford, and two miles from the proposed line of railway from Sydney to Waratah. The interview between Mr. Lakey and Mr. Bent at Albury, regarding the railway bridge over the Murray, was postponed in consequence of the meeting of the Victorian Parliament. The total force of military volunteers in the naval brigade, New South Wales, is 2755, costing an average of £32 per man. The telegraph wires in operation in New South Wales amounted to 13,059 miles, and tha revenue £84,000. In Victoria, G075 miles, revenue £85,000. In New Zealand, 9557 miles, revenue £73,000. Harris, the accountant in the Government Lands Department, was arrested on the '23rd, in consequence of defalcations in his accounts. He was committed for trial on the 25th, on a charge of stealing a cheque for £10. The extent of the frauds by the prisoner is believed to be £200. In the match, the English Eleven against twenty-two of Maitland, ended on the 25th in a draw in favour of the Englishmen. Twenty-two made 113 in the first innings : A Bignall, 22; Wyndham, 17 ; J. Bignall, 12. In the second innings the total was 123, of which Austin made 43. The Eleven made 175 in the first innings—Ulyett, 5S ; Bates, 42; Barlow, 21. In the second innings they got 15 runs with the loss of one wicket, when time was called. In the match at Newcastle on the 25th the English Eleven in the first innings made 118—Ulyett, 40; Shaw, 24; Selby, 17. The home team lost twelve wickets for 34 runs, the only double figures being Smith, who was bowled for 17. The Wagga races commenced on the 23rd. Sires' Produce Stakes : Cambric, 1 ; Loiterer, 2 ; Treasure, 3. Trove Selling Race : Bryan O'Lynn, 1 ; Gamecock, 2; Johnny Crappaud, ■>. Wagga Cup : Martindale, 1 ; Sccundus, 2 ; Rainbow, 3. Hurdle Race : Ethel, 1; Zanga, 2; Climb Up, 3. Maiden Plate : Exeter, 1 ; Outlaw, 2 ; Anglesea, 3. Mile Handicap: Milbrodale, 1; West Country Dick, 2; Era, 3. Two-year-old Selling Plate : Gretna Green, 1 ; Eugenie, 2 ; Loiterer, 3. Steeplechase : Young Deceiver, 1 ; Maritana, 2; Climb Up, 3. Substitue Stakes: Gipsey Cooper, 1 ; Rainbow, 2 ; Milbrodale, 3. Final Flutter : Game Cock, 1 ; Bryan O'Lynn, 2 ; Jim Fyson, 3.

VICTORIA. Melbourne, November 20. The prospectus of a new banking company has been issued under the title of the Bank of Australia, with a capital of a million, in £5 shares. The Hon. James Munro, of the Union Bank, demands a retractation and apology from the Age newspaper, for the recent statements of alleged irregularities in the bank. Mr. Matheson, the manager of the Bank of Victoria, intends resigning. Mr. Shann, the assistant-manager, has tendered his resignation, which has been accepted. Mr. Boyd, the assistant-inspector, is appointed assistant-manager. It is stated that a clue has now been obtained to the theft of £15,000. A test action will shortly be commenced, to ascertain the legality of using the totalisators on the racecourse. The Assembly adjourned on the 22nd, for the funeral of Mr. Johnstone, a late member. Twelve additional refrigerating cars are being constructed for the Vicitorian railways. A boarding-house keeper named Burns was fined £10, or two months' imprisonment, for crimping seamen. A man namad Watkin was sentenced to six months for attempting to pass an advertisement bank note as genuine. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. Adelaide, November 26. The Government has appointed Major Ferguson to proceed to India to make arrangements for the introduction of Coolie labourers to the Northern Territory. QUEENSLAND. Brisbane, November 26. Mr. Griffiths, the leader of the Opposition, was entertained at a banquet at Warwick. He denounced the Government sending to India for Coolie labour, without the consent of Parliament. He maintained that the Transcontinental railway scheme will place twenty million acres of land in the hands of the big corporatian, and considered the scheme a dangerous one. The Premier also was banquetted at Aramac, and said the Government were procuring a powerlul diamond-drill, with which it was intended to thoroughly prospect the Western districts for water. Messrs. Money Wigrams' steamer Durham is being chartered by the Government for the conveyance of 400 immigrants to Queensland. At Cooktown an inquiry into the loss of the steamship Brisbane was concluded on the 22nd. No blame was attached to the captain and officers. The wreck was sold for £50.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA. Perth, November 26. The Intercolonial Exhibition was'opened on the 22nd. Governor Robinson, replying to an address, expiated on the resources of Western Australia. The Cantata was theu performed by the choir and Australian Band. The Governor, with Lady Robinson, went through the buildings, and scatined the number of exhibits, and accepted the medals for the Queen and the Governor, specially struck for the occasion.

Xu another column "will be found the usual intimations of religious services being held in many of the city and suburban churches to-morrow. The mombers of the Auckland Bowling and Lawn Tennis Club will meet to*day (Saturday) at 2 p.m.