AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 919, 27 March 1879, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(PER CLAUD HAIMXLTON" AT HOKITIKA.) Melbourne, March 20. Out of the new loan, L 120,000 has been applied to building new schools. It is intended to graft penny savings banks in connection with State schools on the Post Office Savings Bank system. The Government intend to propose the abolition of the endowment of local bodies, and to subsidise main roads according to mileage instead. The system is unpopular. The Municipalities suggest that the Government should take charge of main roads. The officials of the railway department are to be compelled to contribute towards the Sick and Superannuation Fund. The City of Glasgow Bank Relief Fund amounts to LISOO. An attempt will be made to increase it to L2OOO. The Government is likely to grant the Melbourne Juvenile Industrial Exhibition LIOOO. Boronet, a member of the Leichardt search exhibition of ISC3, has died at Sandhurst. The railway department is prospecting a Gippsland coal seam two feet thick, lately discovered. Andrew Colm, serated water manufacturer, has been committed for trial, charged with stealing 50,000 gallons of Yan Yean water. The evidence is not clear. The revenue has declined L 59,510, maiulv through the abolition of tolls. Arthur M'Covey, soft goods merchant, was found guilty of fraudulent insolvency, and remanded for sentence, pending an appeal to the full Court. Monol, a barber, was sentenced to twelve months for trying to bribe a juror at David Henry's trial. The Government ordered 10,000 copies of the Illustrated Australian News for distribution at the French Exhibition, and paid L-IS3 out of the building vote of the International Exhibition. The audit commission disallowed this, and the Finance Committee of the Exhibition, under pressure, charged it to the general expenses of the new Exhibition. Yonzel Berg, an old man living at liarnstable, committed suicide by putting gunpowder in a dish, and deliberately resting his head on the dish, fired the powder. His head was completely blown away. A Queensland aboriginal tracker has died from cold. Sydney, Marcli 19. The Assembly disqualified the Chinese owning land. One of the largest French iron-masters is endeavoring to open a trade with the colon v. The City of Glasgow Relief Fund is nearly LIOOO. The " Vagabond " was severely assaulted, it is believed for an onslaught on spiritualism. Tile Government intend to negotiate with ihc contractor to complete the through line of railway from Melbourne to Sydney in time for the opening of the Exhibition. Brisbane, March 19. A coal truck and two passenger carriages left the rails near Ipswich, while crossing a bridge 100 feet high. By the merest accident they did not fall over. One person was injured. There is a very unsettled feeling with the natives all along the New Guinea coast. Adelaide, March 19. Professor Tate has returned without finding geological indications in the northwest. He encourages the sinking of artesian well. The Glasgow Bank Fund amounts to LCSO. Perth, March 19. The barque Manfred foundered near the Lacepedo Islands in a hurricane on January 24. The crew were saved. The whaler iLunn\ mode went ashore on Brouse Island. O .er wrecks are rumored. The hurricane was severe at Rochorn.