AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 857, 14 January 1879, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(PElt S.S. RINGAKOOMA, AT THE BIA7FF.) (Press Association.) Melbottkne, January 7. The Victorian revenue returns for the quarter ending December 31st have been issued. The total sum received during the quarter was L 1,138,106, and for the year L 4,595,307 —an increase as compared with the previous twelve montlis of L83,04G. The Treasurer has now received L 2,305,529 for the financial half-year. According to his estimate of revenue, he should have received L 2,477,000, so that there is a deficiency of receipts when compared with the estimate of L 172,000 for the half-year. The sixth annual sale of Messrs. Robertson Brothers' shorthorn and Hereford cattle was held at Colac on January 3rd. The competition was small, and many of the beasts were quite sacrificed. The total receipts were L 5481 10s Gd. Mr. Simpson, of the Northern Island of New Zealand, obtained several grand bargains in heifers, and purchased some lots of high quality. He secured the 11th Earl of Alvie, by the sth Earl of Derrimut, for 50 guineas ; Maid of Oxford by Oxford : Cherry Duke for 125 guineas ; Countess of Colac, by Earl of Geneva, for 100 "uineas ; and five pure shorthorn heifers for 45 guineas each, and four for 30 guineas each. The stock has been shipped by the Ringarooma. His Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson arrived in Melbourne on the 3rd instant on a visit to Mr. and Mrs. A. K. Finlay, of Glonormiston. He travelled overland in 27-i hours, a trip unequalled on record. Only "24 hours were actually spent in travelling. The mail takes 43 hours. Sir William Jervois returned to Adelaide on the 7th. The police have arrested a large number of persons in the north-eastern district under the Outlawry Act, on suspicion of being bush telegraphs for the Kelly gang. Most of them are confined in the Beechworth Gaol, and a detachment of the Garrison Artillery has been sent up to protect the gaol against attack. The deep-sea sailors at present in Melbourne have struck for L 7 per month for direct Home voyages, A mooting of sixteen persons (chiefly artisans) on the 3rd instant decided to form an Anti-Chinese League in Melbourne, and to try and extend its influence throughout the Colony. The settlement of the strike in Sydney was strongly condemned as being quite adverse to the seamen. Their Excellencies Sir H. Robinson (Governor of New South Wales), Sir W. F. D. Jervois (Governor of South Australia), Mr. F. A. Weld (Governor of Tasmania), and Sir A. E. Kennedy (Governor of Queensland) have all consented to become patrons of the Intercolonial Juvenile Exhibition to be held in Melbourne in October next. There are many inquiries for information from Sydney, Adelaide, and New Zealand, Sir John Coode has notified to the Harbor Trust Commission that he expects to complete his report on the Melbourne Harbor Works this month. Edwards, the pedestrian, failed to walk 110 miles in 24 hours, at Ballarat, owing to the great heat. He completed 108 miles 097 yards in 24 hours. A proposal has been made to establish a new bank in Melbourne, to be called " The Australian Gold and Estate Bank," to aid in the development of mining, farming, and manufactories. Mr. W. S, Lyster, the operatic manager, will leave England by the January mail. A portion of his new company will arrive in Melbourne by the Lusitania, and ilie remainder, including Mdlle. Rose Hersec, by the Chimborazo. The Royal Commission on the Lands Question has reported adversely of Mr. Byron Moore, the late Assistant-Surveyor-General, but the animus of the Commissioners is obvions. The Oceania, a barque which left Hokianga, New Zealand, on the 7th ultimo, met with severe weather on her voyage to Melbourne, on the 20th December, The barque was struck by a very heavy sea, which floated all the deck cargo, stove in the galley, and did other damage. She arrived on January sth. The Pride of England, in her voyage from Quebec to Melbourne, passed along a line of icebergs, 10 in number, and extending a distance of about 74 miles. This was on December 2nd, in latitude 43.3 S., and longitude 3.25 W. The position of the vessel was critical in the extreme. An inquiry was commenced on the 6th inst. by the Steam Navigation Board into the circumstances attending the collision between the schooner St. Kilda, which was coming from Grevmouth, and the baroue Seagull, off Babel Island, on December 27th, but was adjourned till the oth insfc. ; in order that the master of the Seagull might attend. The evidence showed that every effort was made to save the unfortunate man who fell overboard at the time of the collision. The Seagull was in such a bad state that dii'ecily the ships came together there was a stampede of "the sailors to got on board the St. Kilda.

Sydket, January 7. The seamen, firemen, and others on strike, by a large majority endorsed the action of the Committee of the Seamen's Union in terminating the strike. General satisfaction is felt at the settlement of the difficulty, except on the part of a few agitators, who think the men should not have agree:! Most of the objectors belop : v to the Political Reform Union and Eight' Hours' Conference. The men resumed work on January ii, A public trial of- a new brake under Grosse's patent has been made on the Newcastle Railway, and resulted satisfactorily. A waggon was stopped in 176 feet against 4G4 feet by the ordinary brake. The Bulli Coal Mine proprietors have locked the miners out, and the lock-out ia expected to last three months. The supposed object is to break up the proposed union.

It is stated that there Is leprosy among the Chinese employed in a tobacco plantation in Woolongong. Robert Purvis and three Solomon Islanders were murdered at Malambin, in the Solomon Islands, about November 25. Their bodies were cut into small pieces by the natives, and hung up. Adelaide, January 7. The South Australian revenue for the quarter amounts to L 463,365, and for the half-year to L 755,119. A letter has been received in Adelaide from the Southern Rugby Football Union, expressing its ■willingness that an English team should visit Australia it' sufficient inducement is offered. Hobart Town, January 7. The new Tasmanian Ministers have been re-elected without opposition. The Treasurer, Mr. Lewis, has stated that the Government had no scheme of taxation at present. He did not think the taxation proposed by the late Government necessary. Brisbane, January 7. Tiie revenue for the December quarter was L347,55G, and for the half-year L 782,02S —a decrease compared with same period of 1877 of L 41,586. (EER PRESS AGEiS'CT.) Melbourne, January 7. The weather was very warm on Saturday. There was very vivid lightning, but no rain, which is very much wanted. Wheat is lower, only large deliveries being from the country. There is quite a lull in politics, and most of the ministers are absent from Melbourne. The Governor is at Colac, on a visit to Messrs. Robertson Bros. The revenue returns, which have been issued, show a surplus both on the quarter and on the year ; there is a great falling oil' in the Customs, especially in spirits and articles of general consumption, as well as wharfage rates ; but there is an increase on railways, owing to the increased mileage open : and the land tax swells out the surplus, which on this quarter amounts to L 37,284, the total for the quarter being LI, 138,106. So far as the Kellys are concerned, there is no information ; neither is there any tidings of Wieberg, who escaped from the police in the Gippsland district. At a sale of thoroughbred horses recently held, the well-known brood mare Rose'tle Florence was sold for 1000 guineas, and Wellesley, full brother to the Derby and Champion winner, was sold for 325 guineas. The termination of the seamen's strike in Sydney is a cause for congratulation. The A.S.N. Company have, now resumed their regular trade. Over 10,000 bushels of wheat have recently come forward. The failure of the wheat crop) in some districts of the Colony is reported, and many selectors are in consequence unable to meet their pecuniary liabilities. The question will probably have to be dealt with by the Cabinet. Very good entries have been received for the Australian Cup and Newmarket Handicap. Le Loup and Trump Card are included in the Cup, and Le Loup in the Handicap. Wellington, Swiveller, Melita, Bosworth, Richmond, Warlock, Columbus, Glenormiston, and Aconite are all in the Cup, while in the Handicap there are 52 entries.