AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 869, 28 January 1879, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(PER ROTORUA, at the bluff.)

Melbourne, January 21.

The Acting Chief Secretary intimates that the Victorian Government is fully impressed with the necessity of united action by the Australian Colonies to meet the impending danger of a large Chinese immigration. Mr. Graham Berry will arrange with the Imperial authorities for the appointment of an Engineer officer to supervise Colonial defence, the expense to be borne proportionately by the various Colonies. Colonel Stewart, R.E., is named for the post. All State school pupils who pass a special examination will soon receive tuition in extra subjects free. State School Savings' Banks are to be established, and so are model workshops, as soon as possible. A ballet girl was nearly burnt to death at the Academy of Music on the 14th.

A fund is being raised for the relief of the impoverished shareholders of the City of Glasgow Bank. George H. Richardson, Collector of Customs, Belfast, has been arrested on a charge of embezzlement. One hundred and sixty-two thousand acres of the Cape Ottawa Forest have been thrown open for selection, thus naturally destroying the forest. The Victorian Anti-Chinese League Association define their aims to be the restriction and, if necessary, complete prohibition of Chinese immigration, the absolute discontinuance of trade with the Chinese already here, and the agitation for the effective legislation on the Chinese question. The Californian salmon in Victorian waters are protected from capture until 1882.

The suspension of George Martin and Co., merchants, Melbourne, was caused through the stoppage of their London house, F. M-Comas and Co. The Melbourne liabilities are small, but the European ones will probably amount to L 150,000. Lady Bowen has been presented with the bullet with which she scored a bull'sr eye when opening the Williamstown butts, It was elegantly mounted.

The Melbourne Cricket Club have en* gaged Charles Bannerman. The Victorian Government will probably grant L2OOO in connection with the International Exhibition at Sydney.

Three children named Blake were burned to death at Collingwood on the lf)th. Their mother escaped from the house with four of her children. Sydney, January 20. The International Exhibition will be opened on September Ist. Mr. Augustus Morris is appoined Secretary. It is proposed that Captain Cook's statue should ribe placed in the building to mark per : j manently the site of the first Australian Exhibition. 2p0,000 feet of space has been applied for by European exhibitors. The estimated cost of the buildings is LIOO,OOO. The owners of the Orient Line are seeking concessions for their steamers from the Government. A portrait of Shakespeare on a panel, dated 1611, has been found in Sydney. A similar painting, dated 1610, has also been found in Melbourne. Admiral Thouars, the French commander in the Pacific, arrived in the Victorienne. The New Caledonian insurrection is I. suppressed. Hundreds of the rebels were killed or died of their wounds or starvation. Horrible cannibalism is committed by both hostile and friendly natives. Adelaide, January 20. It is feared that Capt. Thyle, of the barque Runnymede, and four seamen, have been drowned at Port Pirie. They left the ship in a boat, and have not since been heard of. A well 370 feet deep has been sunk in the hitherto waterless country, south of Lake Frome, and a supply of 10,000 gallons of water a day obtained. The carrying capabilities of the country are immensely increased. Rust is very general, and the wheat average will be reduced from nine to seven bushels per acre. South Australian bonds to the amount of LI, 175,100 have been sold in London for L 1,036,242. Natives have murdered Mr. Travel's at Limene Bight River, in the Northern Territory. Queensland, January 20. The Queensland exploring expedition report a great drought in the interior of the continent. Two large lakes and one lagoon were the only permanent water met with.