AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6400, 23 May 1882, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

• [PBS 8.3. TE ANAU, AT THE BLTJTS , .] ~ : VICTORIA. . '....'" Melbourne, May 16.,.:', JIeI Francis, who was taken'/suddenly ill while: Addressing the Assembly, is now better, but is ordered' perfect rest. It was | an attack of apoplexy. ... ■'..'." : The agricultural statistics for the year fading March 31st show a material falling off in cultivation as compared with the corresponding year. There was "a decreasein the quantity of land under tillage to the extent of 184,000 acres, of which 56,269 was land - previously sown with , wheat, which decreased 1,913,326 bushels. Oats increased 1,258,061. The. other increases are maize, peas, beans, potatoes, and hops, and a decrease in hay, barley, tobacco, and grapes. The average yield of wheat, per acre was 9*45 agaiast 9 55 bushels, but the average yield of oats was 24-57 against 17'16 in the previous year. The hay crop is a very poor one, lower than any in the past 11 years. Dr. Brownell, the present, Vice-Chancellor of the University, is nominated for the Chancellorship. • i , The steamer Despatch has returned without obtaining any tidings of the missing vessel Caltamor, which war, in the same gale as the Te Anau. She was delayed ten days in tihe Straits coming from. Tasmania, was driven for shelter under the island, but at times was in a dangerous position, and ran short of provisions. r , The Hon. Francis Ormond intends completing the Ormond College, ,at a cost of £80,000. ■'.'■, ... Australian Oourssing Club's Cup, to be run for next month, is. worth 500 sovereigns, in addition to 50 guineas. , Mr. F. M. Inne3, President of the Legislative Council, Tasmania, is dea;d.| '■'..., . NEW SOUTH WALES. . Sydney, May 16. The death of David Lord, amateur and champion oarsman of the colony,,has caused ; general regreL , ; • . . The . missionary schooner John Williams reports good progress having been made at; all the miseJon stations of New.Guinea. _ . The weather is fine and dry. Rain is, much wanted throughout the country. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. • ■ ! Adelaide, May 16. 1 Fourteen candidates are nominated for the; six seats in the Legislative Council. ' ■■ ' The meeting of . the South Australian Jockey Club was in every way successful. ; The racing was excellent, ; Most' of the; finishes were very close and interesting.; The; Goodwood Cup is the next principal race to "the Adelaide Cup, bat a; protest was entered on the ground and that the winner ■ ish.ould.Have carried a penalty, for winning the; Free Handicap at Randwick, butitissaidthis' cannot be sustained. ~:.[,'' - 1 ; Application has been received by the city; corporation for leave to ; search for coal or kerosene shale on a -portion, of the-city park lands. - : \ . .'■ . ' j A. breakwater is to be formed across Lake Torrens , for the preservation of fish. I A telegram from Yam Creek states that eight .tons from the United Company's claim yielded 2300zs of smelted gold. . , The etatement thai the Orient Company, have decided that some of their outwardbound steamers should pass the Semaphore is exciting much attention. ■ At ; a meeting of the South Australian Gas Company, a resolution was adopted, empowering. ;the directors to procure a private Bill to ena.ble to manufacture and distribute i;he electric light. ' * ''■; Great indignation is eepressed in the district of: West Torrens at the escape of sewerage from a main into the river. The fish are said to be dying, and cattle refuse to drink tlie water. ' "'..-, , '.. . • Apair of horses were standing in a buggy, at Port Balaklava, when a starting train frightened them;' They bolted ,for home; and reached the railway crossing as the train came up. One horse-was killed, and the trap was smashed, but, fortunately, no one was in "it.-' ; ' ;, '" ' '. ';: : ; -- : .•". .'. .. ; It was announced at a meeting of the.Hospital Board to-day, that 35 casee of typhoid fever are under treatment in that institution. Tenders are to be called for the erection of the new Parliament Houses in the course of tsvo or. three weeks. A company has been projected to purchase 2000 acres near Port Darwin, for the cultivation o.'t" sugar and other products. i .The Rev. E.' Rorke has been nominated moderator of the Presbytery of Sonth Aus- * -tralia. ■' . . ■ ' , ■ ; " The South Australian Electric Light ConiT ' pany have' introduced the Ught for the first time in, Adelaide. - '. "■ ; The agricultural statistics for 1881-2 show, as . compared with those ; of 1880-1, an indreaso of acreage of 35,239 acres ; a decrease of produce of 519,478 bushels, or an average ■• decrease per acre of 241bs. The total quantity of produce was 8,870,000 bushels. ■'