AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 852, 8 January 1879, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(PER CITY OF NEW TORK, AT AUCKLAND.) Melbourne, January 1. At Mr. Garden's sale of cattle, Matilda, a double Brunswick, was bought for New Zealand for 100 guineas. In the Champion Race Vulcan did the running for the first mile, but then fell back. Calamia and Roodee were well up at the finish. Wellington took the. lead from Vulcan, and was never headed the whole way.

The schooner St. Kilda colUded with the barque Seagull off Wilson's Promontory. The latter was abandoned, and the crew taken on board the St. Kilda.

Sydney, January 1.. A disastrous fire occurred at Parkes, by which, eleven buildings were totally demolished, including the Commercial Bank. The loss was L7OOO.

The new steamer Teranaroona, which has just arrived from Glasgow, claims salvage for towing the steamer Ocean off the reef.

(per steamer at the bluff.) Melbourne, undated. . The ambassadors (Messrs. Berry and Pearson) left on their mission by the Assam on the 28th December, accompanied bj' Mr. Haighen, their secretary. Thirty-five members of the Ministerial majority attended at the mail steamer to say farewell, but there was not' much public interest exhibited in the departure.' The Government steamer Victoria, with a number of embassy sympathisers on board, convoyed the Assam down the bay for about six miles. Before Mr. Berry's departure, a warning letter was addressed to the Chief Secretary, signed professedly by a German, intimating that an infernal machine was to be placed in the Assam,' to explode thirty hours after the yesßel left. port. The letter was, of course, a hoax.

The Henderson farce collapsed with the refusal of the P. and O. Company to allow him a passage by the mail steamer. A mock indignation meeting was held, and it was resolved that the Secretary of State should be requested by telegram not to receive the Ministerial Embassy until Mr. Henderson arrived.

Major Smith has been sworn in Treasurer, and Sir Bryan O'Loghlen will administer the Chief Secretary's department during Mr. Berry's absence. Peter Tyson, the millionaire squatter, has married Mrs. Crawford, the plaintiff in the recent action against David Henry, the money lender, now under sentence for embracer}'. The Kelly gang are still at large, but have been seen near Alexandra. There is much dissatisfaction with the police force. The latest about the Mansfield murderers is that they are understood to be resolved upon making an attack on the Beechworth Gaol, for the purpose of liberating some of their imprisoned friends. Precautions have been taken by sending up more of the Garrison Defence Force. The s.s. Kent arrived on December 28, after a passage of days. The steamer had on board Muscat, a very fine thoroughbred, intended for stud purposes in New Zealand.