AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 6531, 23 March 1882, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Per Rotorua.) PENNY POSTAGE IN VICTORIA. A CHINESE BURGLAR SHOT. THE ADELAIDE INSURANCE FRAUD. COMMITTAL OF THE ACCUSED. DAMAGES FOR SLANDER. (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Sydney, March 16. A departmental inquiry, under Mr Vernon, is proceeding re the recent Oamden tramway accident. The driver of the motor received most serious injuries, but the passengers, fortunately, were only badly shaken. The smallpox patient Beja was released on the 15th, and the quarantine station broken up. The 25-ton guns recently ordered from England have arrived at Brisbane, per Giaucus. These arms are intended for the defence of the harbor. Six hundred orphans fi am Randwick Orphan Asylum had an excursion on the harbor on the 15th. Fears are entertained regarding the safety of . the steamer Southern Cross, which left Sydney on 21st September for the South Sea Islands, and has since been unheard of. Advices from New Britain, dated January 9, state that a steamer, unreported, during a severe gale, visited the coast. The Minister of Mines, accompanied by several members of Parliament, starts on a tour of the north-eastern districts on the 17tb, and will visit Newcastle, Bundarra, Inverelle, Tenterfield, Glen Innes, and Grafton. The surveyof the Illawarra Railway routs is briskly proceeding, and it is expected tenders will be invited soon. The inhabitants of Young have petitioned Government for municipal incorporation. The City Council have voted Inspector Seymour £IOO for keeping the city clean during 1 the smallpox epidemic, and preventing the spread of contagion. £9OOO have been subscribed toward a new building for the Young Men’s Christian Association. Melbourne. It is stated that the Government contemplate the introduction of a penny postage. 1 A. E. Moore recovered £2500 damages for injuries received in the Jolimont colliei m. A Chinese burglar attempted to enter the ' stationmaster’a bouse at Inglewood, and was shot in the kuee and taken to the Hospital, where amputation was found necessary. The Volunteer manoeuvres at Queenscliffe will occupy three days at Easter. > A Beard has been appointed to investigate [ a charge against Sergeant Steele of firing reckj lessly at innocent persons at Glenrowan. t The Government intend planting railway reserves with wattle trees. Mrs Cutler, wife of a man drowned in the collision of the Julia Percy and Nelson ; steamers has served a writ on the Western : Steam Navigation Company for £SOOO damages. ) Evidence given before the Tariff Cominis- - sion regarding saddlery and harness is mainly j in favor of protection. . The Echuca Shire Council intend applying , to Government for £170,000 for construction , of a canal, eighty miles long, through the j North-western district. The Customs’ officers have seized a quantity 1 of cigars aboard a Chinese vessel, ostensibly laden with sugar only. The Premier, several Ministers, and Colonel Scratchley have visited Queenscliff to inspect the defences. Bbisbane. William Alcock, a plumber, has been fined £IOO for having possession of a still. Dr. McCarthy has recovered from Dr. Oaberry £IOO damages for slander. John Newman has been committed for trial for sending a threatening letter to Sir Arthur Palmer. General Fielding's Syndicate has asked a a number of important concessions from the Government. Inter alia a grant of 12,000 acres on the Mitchell and Molnley Rivers, 15,000 thence to Parkea, and site at Parker and adjacent islands. Also, that interest be guaranteed on certain portions of the work. The Government declined the proposals, affirming that the Syndicate had over-estimated the cost of construction and under-estimated the value of laud. Eight thousand aeres of land se’ected on the Mclvor River is considered superior for sugar-growing. The “ Adelaide Register ’’ estimates the harvest yield as giving 155,000 tons of grain i for export after providing for Home require- [ ments. Adelaide. i Major Fergusson recommends the cultivation of various tropical products in the i . Northern Territory, but discourages proposals to grow tea, the rainfall being insufficient. Barker, Forsyth, Hicks, and Dr. Horton have been committed for trial for conspiring to de- ; fraud the Australian Mutual Provident Society by insuring the life of Weatherhead, a consumptive person, who recently died in. Melbourne. Dr. Horton alone obtained bail.