AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9241, 19 December 1888, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Received December 19,1.10 a.m. THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN" SYDNEY. Sydney, December 18. In the House of Assembly this eveningSir Henry Parkes made a statement to the effect that the Government had with great reluctance decided to proceed with the business on the Order Paper as usual. There was much to be said in favour of the Government resigning, and to leave tho settlement of the difficulty to those who had brought it about; but, considering the public inconvenience, and serious interruption which would result to ordinary business, the Government felt it their duty to remain in office for the present. THEFT OF SECURITIES. " V Melbourne, December 18. . A clerk in the National Bank of Aus* tralasia, named Onigons, has been, arrested on a charge of stealing securities. The amount involved is believed to be as much as £40,000. A CAPTAIN CENSURED. _ Adelaide, December 18. The Marine Board find that Captair Whitmore, of the ship Ashmore, which ran ashore at Marion Kee'f, on Novem* ber 6, was guilty of gross carelessness in not verifying the position of his vessel; but that, as there was no loss on board, they have no power to iniiict any punishment. THE WEATHER.

Sydney, December 18. The accounts of Sunday's storm from the suburbs and country districts report heavy damage by flood waters. The rain will have the effect of bringing on grass rapidly. Official reports state that the prospects of the back country are gloomy. The Wilcannia district is suffering severely from drought, and it is described as practically a desert. Chaff is selling at £25 per ton. In some districts the crops were damaged by Sunday's storm., RECALLED. Brisbane, December 18. Mr. Paterson, the Queensland Execu<tive Commissioner at the Melbourne Exhibition, has been recalled for congratulating the Victorian Parliament on its action with regard to the appointment of colonial governors. RUSSIAN WARSHIP AT BRISBANE. k _Jj Brisbane, December 18. Arrived: The Russian warship Nayednick. DEATHS FROM HEAT. Brisbane, December 18. Two more deaths have been caused by the excessive heat at Croydon. ARTESIAN WELL. Sydney, December 18. An artesian well supply, giving 400,000 gallons of water daily, has been struck on the Nocobehe station, near Bourke. CRICKET MATCH. Sydney, December 18. A one-innings cricket match between a New South Wales eleven and eighteen of the American baseball players was played this afternoon. The latter went in first, and scored 81. The local team knocked up 111 runs for six wickets, thus winning by 30 runs and four wickets.

SHIPPING. Sydney, December 18. Arrived: The s.s. Waihora, fror Wellington.