AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7004, 29 April 1884, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[bedter's telegram.] GREAT FIRE AT DtTBBO. Sydney, April 28. A destructive fire has occurred at Dubbo. The loss is estimated at £32,500. THE WEATHER INT NEW SOUTH WALES. Sydney, April 28. Rain fell here to-day, and showers have been pretty general throughout the country districts. A SUPPOSED LUNATIC MURDERER. Melbourne, April 28. An escaped lunatic, Burke, who was arrested last month on suspicion of being concerned in the Peltavel murder ; in January, has been discharged from police custody, and has been again i placed in the Asylum.

THE FRENCH CONVICT QUESTION. Melbourne, April 28. M. Courmeaux, the French Commissioner, has been • interviewed by 'a reporter of the Melbourne 'Daily Telegraph. He expressed himself as being opposed to the French Recidivistes Bill, and announced that he had submitted a report to the Government against the measure, to which, great opposition was shown, in New Caledonia. !

THE SUEZ MAIL. Melbourne, April 28. Arrived, yesterday : The P. and O. steamship Shannon, with the English mails. ' THE WAIRARAPA. Sydney, April 28. Arrived, this afternoon : The Union steamship Wairarapa, from Auckland. NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS. , [press association.] v " WANGANUI, Monday. The Circe leaves to-night for the Manukats with Auokland railway station timber. A fire occurred yesterday in Mrs. UTj Walker's millinery shop. The insurances are:—Stock, £1000 in'the Royal, £1500 la the Fire Association, £500 in the National, and £500 in the Union Offices; building, £1500 in the Northern Office ; furniture and fixtures, £200 in the Royal Offioe. An inquest will probably be held.

CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. At a meeting of the Bsard oi Governors of the Canterbury College a discussion took place as to filling vacancies on the Board by votes of graduates. The required number (30) of graduates now exist, but eight have not yet received their diplomas. The question .whether they can vote is to be referred to the College legal adviser. The Hon. Mr. Rolleaton goes to-morrow via the Hawera Plains to Blenheim and Wellington. Mr. Alfred Saunders met some of his friends at Rangiora this morning, and after a long discussion arrived at the decision not to contest Kaiapoi election with Mr. Riohardson. At the Supreme Court the case in which P. and D. Duncan, implement makers, sued for £1000, Booth and Mct)onald, rivals in the trade, for a libal contained in a protest at the last show, which accused the plaintifis of collusion with one of the judges, was part heard to-day, bnt came to a sudden termination, the defendants consenting to judgment for £40 and costs, £75. It has been resolved to wind up the Linseed Oil Company. The deficiency to date is £778. TIMAKU, Monday. D mining's Opera Company's stay is ex« tended two nignts. Mark Christy, aEas Walter Thompson, was committed for trial to-day for ottering a forged cheque for £49. Frederick Murray was sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour, for indecent exposure. OAMARU, Monday. The programme of the Oamara J«okey Club winter races, to ba run on the 12th of Jane, was drawn up this evening, and is aafollows :—Maiden Steeplechase, 40sovs. ; Oamaru Winter Handicap, 60sovs. ; Oamara Steeplechase, lOOsovs. ; Kedcastle Handicap, 40bovs. ; Handicap District Race, 25sovs. ; Selling Steeplechase, 20aovs.; Consolation, 30sovs. DUNEDIN, Monday. The annual meeting of the Acclimatisation Society was held to-day. Mr. J. P. Maitland was re-elected president. Notice of motion wa3 given that subscription be reduced from £1 to 10a, in order to encourage a wider interest in the operations of the society.

For an aggravated assault on an arresting constable, committed on Sanday morning, Geo. Child, painter, was fined £10 or two montliß' imprisonment, and a mate named Anderion, who tried to assist him, was fined £5 or one month. \ Constable Or. Kaney, of Tapanni, made a raid on a Chinese gambling honse on Saturday night. He arrested fonr men, and seized the gambling instruments, money, and. jewellery. * The final arrangements have been made in connection with the removal of the Public Works Department to Wellington.. To-'day the office furniture was packed, away for transmission to that city.