AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 19 October 1880, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(PER A? AUCKLAND.) NEW SOUTH WALES.

The Hydra rush, Cooma district, is a rank duffer. The original prospector, who hoisted the red flag, was a local publican.

A meeting of farmers at Carina,? adopted a resolution to use influence to secure the naming by Parliament of an ad valorem sliding scale against imported produce from other Colonies. An advertised meeting of the Committee appointed at the recent public meetings to arrange for to recoup the Evening New§' fine and costs for recent cqijtpsnpt lapsed, only three p.eygons beiiig present besides reporters. It is stated in some quarters that arrangements were previously made, and. consequently the Committee did not attend, but that subscriptions are proceeding. A prospfect of a grain and a half to the dish was washed out at a claim on the back lands of the Bermagin, causing a little rush there again ; but the field is regarded as exceedingly doubtful, and there are far too many there already. It is reported that four bodies were washed ashore p.f Bermagin. ftre supposed to be the remains of a party, including Lamont, the Government Geologist, whose boat was previously found staved in on the,beach. Discoveries of gold have recently been made on the bank of Walladilly Creek, at Temora. Great importance is attached to the nature of the strata Qpd wash. It is believed that it indicates that a new Head following the old bed of the river has been struck. The excitement at the Wanga rush, near Beda, has increased. One hundred men are on the ground.; but the authorities regard.it as .unimportant. VICTORIA, Tho opening of tjbe Exhibition at night continues to be muoh debated. The New South Wales have sent back their invitations to the proposed oonversiusiouo, and several Foreign Commissioners notify that they will close their oourts with substantial shunters ; if the building is lighted on Thursday Mr. Berry, speaking at ;OlMUes v on the 7th inst, stated %it. he won id introduce a Reform Bill immediately Parliament reassembled. , Tho minor that 120 post-office officials nrp to \>o dismissed is officially contradicted. ""' SOUTH AfTOALIA. immigration yote of fifteen thousand hps passed tho Assembly with little op-, Eosition. The amendment to reduqe it y five thousand was Assembly Messrs., /Wesfc and Erskine seY.erely ariippiadverted ton the ppndujpt'qf th©

defective rails supplied by Hopkins, Gilks, and Go., of Micldleton, for the Port Augusta railway, and charges him with a series of blunders* The Treasurer defended the Agent-General, but the Commissioner of Works admitted that he had possibly committed an error of judgment to allow six ship loads of defective rails to leave England after attention was called to the fraud being committed. QUEENSLAND. A Bill to reduce the Supreme Court Judges from three- to two lias passed its second reading iii the Assembly. The Opposition have resolved not to allow the session to close till the Supreme Court has decided if the Premier (Mr. M'llwraith) and the Colonial Secretary (Mr. Palmer) have forfeited their seats by acting as Government contractors. This will defend on the issue of the case Miles v. M'llwraith, now sub judice.