AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8951, 16 January 1888, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[PBESS ASSOCIATION.]

RUBIES AND GOLD.

Adelaide, January 14. Eight hundred and sixty men are afc present engaged gathering rubies ovei a large area in the Alice Springs dis trict, while many others are working on a good, goldfield. A FRAUDULENT MAYOR. Brisbane, January 14. John Wallis Rutter, Mayor of North Rockhampton, who was arrested on £ charge of forgery, and who attempted to commit suicide in prison, has been committed for trial. The forgeries have been ascertained to amount to £9500.

THE MINING BOOM. Melbourne, January 14. The excitement in the sharemarket continues, and yesterday half a million pounds worth of stock changed hands. THE PACIFIC CABLE. Melbourne, January 14. Sir Graham Berry, Agent-General, wires to the Government that the Admiralty are willing to survey the route of the proposed Pacific cable if the colonies will bear the cost.

DEFRAUDING THE CUSTOMS. Brisbane, January 14. Joseph Levy, who had just arrived from Paris, has been fined £400 for . landing precious stones at Thursday Island, on which the duty had not beei paid.

THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS. Sydney, January 14. The proposal to change the name of the colony, as well aa the intention to erect a State House, have, it is underetood, been abandoned; also the proposed Centennial Musical Festival. Melbourne, January 14. Two hundred riflemen will go to Sydney from this colony to take part in the shooting contest in connection with the Centennial.

Wellington , , Sunday. Sir William Fitzherbert will attend tbe Centennial demonstration in Sydney on the 26th instant in his capacity as Speaker of tbe Legislative Council, and will express to the Government of New South Wales the regret of the New Zealand Government that no minister of this colony can be present.