AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume X, Issue 4071, 28 March 1888, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Electric Telegraph— Copyright. (per united press association.) Received March 27, at 0.40 p.m. Sydney, March 27. The John Knox put in at this port short of provisions. She is from Kiipara, aud reports meeting with a succession of heavy gales. The storms wore so violent that the vessel was run to the north to escape their fury, thus protracting the voyage. Melbourne, March 27. The Jackson Reef Company, whose mine at Kimberley was utterly oondemood by the manager some time ago, subsequently sent a party to inspeot and make a report on the mine. They have just received a report stating'that some splendid stone has been found. The manager now admits that he was altogether wrong in his former statement as to the worthless character of the Indications. At the licensing poll at Geelong on Saturday the local optionists wore victorious. Arrived—John Beodersen, from K»l----para. Brisbane, March 27. The Louis Lamont, which struok on a coral reef some days ago, has been towed off apparently little damaged. The exports for the year ending 31st December, 1887, amounted in value to L 5,538,000. The report on the Stock Board shows that the disease which recently appeared among stock in different parts of the colony is contagious and is 'due to vegetable parasites. The disease does not affect the wholoaomeness of the flesh, but causes the animals to shed the wool and hair. A remedy is being Bought for the disease.. Adelaide, Maroh 27. Fifty-four applications have been received for the Assistant Railway Commissionerships of South Australia. Some of the applications are from New Zealand. Cooktown, March 27.

The Albatross has just arrived here with three French esoapeas on bowd. They were discovered and taken off an island in Torres Straits, where they had been for two months. Received March 27, at 10 p.m. Sydney, Maroh 26. A number of the " leading " pugilists were summoned before the Magistrate's Court thia morning on a charge of creating a breach of the peace by participating in glove fights. The cases were dismissed on the ground of insufficient evidence. Mr John Haynea, M.L.A. for Mudgee, has issued a writ against Mr James Fletcher, M.L.A. for Newcastle, claiming L4OOO damages for the assault oommltted upon him in the House of Assembly on the 21at Inst. Received March 27, at 10.30 p.m. Sydney, Maroh 27. Enormous numbers of mice are making their appearance in the Ourrabubala district, and the devastation of orops is moßt serious. Since the passing of the Rabbit Act in 1883, the cost of means taken to exterminate them has been Is per acre, and eaoh rabbit destroyed has cost 3£d. The population of Now South Wales Is put down at 1,042,019. The evidence adduced at the inquiry into the origin of the fire on board the ship Arlstomene at Newcastle showed that three distinct fires wore wilfully or carelessly caused. Melbourne, Maroh 27. Charles Eaoott, formerly employed in the office of the Lyttelton Times Company, Ohristchurch, as clerk, has been arrested on a charge of embezzling moneys belong* ing to that company. Messrs Gavin and Gibson, boot importers, intend to sue the Government for LIO,OOO damages for injuries sustained in the Windsor railway accident. The population of Victoria is estimated at 1,036,110. Adelaide, Maroh 27. The Moonta Copper Company have sold the output of their mines for two years to the London brokers at L 5 advance on the average price paid for Chilian copper. The Paris syndicate offered a minimum price of L6l per ton. The Maude River Ruby Company havo discovered on their property stones which are supposed to be diamonds.