AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5564, 28 January 1879, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

(PER ROTORUA AT THE BLUFF.) Melbourne, January 21st.

An influential meeting of Scotchmen was held, to take steps to initiate a fund for the relief of the shareholders impoverished by the City of Glasgow Bank failure. A strong committee was appointed, with Sir James McCulloch chairman, to collect subscriptions.

A ballet girl was severely burned at the Academy of Music through her tarletau dress catching fire from a gas jet underneath the stage. A Queensland exploring expedition has arrived at Powell’s Creek all well. They report the country very dry, little rain having fallen for two years. Some places the expedition had visited had been without rations for a long time, and bad supported themselves entirely on big game. Seven horses had died from want of water. So far as surveys extend a good line exists for railway purposes. Major Smith, in opening the new State school at Sandhurst, intimated that the Government purposes dispensing with the services of unclassed teachers, and is considering the beat means of establishing State schools and saving banks. A rich gold discovery has been made at Pleasant Creek, in the Cross Beef claim, at Stawell. Stone showing splendid gold. No particulars are to hand about the wreck of the Loch Luuart. It is believed a considerable portion [of the cargo will be saved, though serious damage is reported, but no loss of life. The barque Schiehallion, which left Auckland last September, became a total wreck on the Isle of Wight. A Victorian Anti-Chinese Association has been formed, its objects being the restriction, and if necessary the complete prohibition of Chinese immigration to the colony, and the absolute discontinuance of trade and traffic with the Chinese already here. A railway porter at the Hobson’s Bay line, named Albert Anthony, was accidentally run over by a train at Pralirau, He received terrible injuries to his feet and legs, which were nearly severed, necessitating amputation of both legs. He has since died, after lingering in great agony. An extensive fire broke out on Friday last, by which a large coach factory, belonging to Walter Chevalier, of Commercial-road, Prahran, was totally destroyed. Considerable damage was done to his stock of vehicles. The loss is estimated at £2500. He was insured to the extent of £2OOO. Another fire occurred by which three houses at Collingwood were totally destroyed and three children in one family named Blake were burned to death before they could be rescued. The damage to property is estimated at £IOOO. A woman named Summers, the mother of eleven children, was accidentally run over by a train on the Stawell and Horsham Hue, and killed, her head and right arm being severed from the body. Deceased was crossing the line in a wagonette, ami could not get out of a rut between the rails, and the approaching train ran into the wagonette, and Mrs. Summers was thrown on to the rails and run over. A batch of twenty prisoners, lately arrested under the Outlawry Act for aiding and abetting the Kelly outlaws, was brought up at Beechworth Court on the ISth. Thirteen were again remanded for eight days, to obtain the attendance of witnesses for the prosecution, who are principally constables out after the Kelly gang. Six others, namely, Perkins, Delaney, Woods, Muller, and two Stewarts, were discharged, the charges against them being withdrawn. A very unhealthy sympathy with the Kelly gang prevails throughout the Beechworth District. Benjamin Gould, who was brought up at Euroa previously, charged with being a cooperator with the gang, was committed for trial. The question of want of employment is again cropping up, and a memorial is being signed by the working men tor presentation to the Governor, asking the Executive to throw open more public works.

A gentleman named Travers, of Queensland, has been murdered by the natives of the Northern Territory while travelling with stock. A large body of police has just returned from the search for Kelly unsuccessful.