AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Witness, Issue 1242, 18 September 1875, Page 14

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

j Melbourne, September 3rd. A young man, Richard Whycross Sawyer, has been arrested, charged with neglecting to make an entry in the books of the Bank of Victoiia (of which he was a teller) of £1400 deposited there. It ia stated he will be accused of taking part in the robbery of the £2000 worth, of notes, about the loss ci which there has been so much excitement. At a sal« of 400 pure-bred merino rams from the Ercildouu flocks, the lot averaged £4 4s. Wheat has improved— s3 9d is offered. At that price there is much wanted. Flour is not to be obtained'under £11 ss. - Sugar has improved in price. Maize is quoted at 4s lid. - ' f" An Australian Health Society ia projected. Advices have been received that 2250 Martini-Henry rifles have been shipped for the volunteers. September 4th. j The Exhibition was opened on Thursday, and is attracting large crowds to the city. The Government intend to propose a loan of £400,000 for public works. Judge Dunne's resignation has been accepted by the Government. Great floods have occurred at Beeohworfch. A quarter of a mile of railway line was washed away. The Ovens River rose nine feet in a very few hours. £20 damages have been given against the Bank of New South Wales for dishonouring I a cheque. A reward of £200 has been offered for the recovery of the notes Btolen from the Bank of Victoria, and a further sum of £200 for such information as will lead to the conviction o£ the thief. The Easby was loading coal at Newcastle on the 4th, and ia advertised to leave Sydney for New Zealand on the Bth. ; The Rev. Charles Cliuk has given up his congregation in order to devota himself exclusively to lecturing. ' Cohen, late Commitsioner of Customs, has suffered a relapse, and is daugerously ill. j A simultaneous rifle match, between | Sydney and Victoria engineers, was won by j the former by 30 points. The scores were, i 928 ; 898._ The ship Berkshire takes a shipment of horses to India from the best breeding studs in New South Wales. The Rev. Mr Clark' intends «9iting Adelaide and Brisbane in October. John H. Leeds, a drover, and native of Bathurst, committed suicide by taking poison. His cheques had been returned unpaid. The Minister of Education informed a deputation that, in order to carry out the proposals already made for the erection of school-houses, £300,000 will be required. The Rev. Charl«B Strong received a formal call to the Scotch Church. He is very highly spoken of. Leggete, worn, out and fatigued, has returned. His life-boat had reached Port Albert. The machinery and plant, of the City News and Town and Country Economist have been sold. The Whampoa baa arrived from London She brought a company of engineers for Fiji, i under thd command of Major Pratt. I The draught stallion Champion of England was sold for £1115 guineas, and Mr i Muir had imported him for 2000 guineas. \ September Bth. I There is no English News. The Ringarooma brings the next- Suez mail to New Zealand. Stephens, who set out in a life-boat on a voyage to Sydney, only got round Wilson's Promontory in a month, and then returned by steamer. Parliament re-assembled yesterday for the first time with, the new Ministry, and the Chief Secretary volunteered a statement, first with reference to the past and then as to the future. The Government do not intend, to introduce any extensive, measures this session, but will content themselves with a few Bills, reserving until next session* the vexed question of constitutional reform. i The Mining on Private' Property Bill will be 1 the first introduced, theu the amending Land Bill to prevent dummyisin and raise the assesument on stock ; also a short Bill to prevent frauds in passing entries at Customs by undervaluing, and making punishment for such imprisonment instead of a fine. There is a deficit in the revenue of something considerably over £200,000, and this is to be met, in the first place, by a land tax, beginning- with the large . estates, and going gradually, down. The Government propose a loan for completing railways, waterworks, J and- school buildings. The London market is said to be favourable just now for floating a loan. Other financial arrangements will i be introduced on Thursday next, when the Budget speech is to be made. How far ,the Government will have an opportunity of carrying out this policy remains to be seen. A caucus meeting of the Opposition was held yesterday, at which twenty-two members were present ; but although many matters were discussed, nothing was decided upon. As yet, the Government has been unable to find a representative in the Upper House. At beat, they are but a scratch lot, but it is thought they will be allowed to carry on until they come to propose some extensive - legislation. The only business done last night was the passjngjof a Supply Bill for £700,000, ' v *

morrow.

2nd, when, all the (Mpui§s\*wijefe represented excepting New. Zealand and Queensland..--The exhibits are very numerous, and occupy^ | a large amount of apace. There are separate! *8, departments for j ; Japan/ ; Singapore, the; Northern Territory, . Tasmania, and South Australia. The whole collection sh'tfws theY industrial and manufacturing progress of the; Colonies. Over • 5000 -season { tickets have, been sold, and the, daily .attendance up to. the present has been, on an average, nearly4000. The Machineiy Court" is a great, feature in the Exhibition, and is the most, attractive portion of .the building. , , The steamship Whampoa made the passage from London in 46, days. Sherbrought a 'letaehment of the jßoyaT Engineers for Fiji. : ' . *- - ,f - A. woman named Selburn ,was burned' to death in a hut in Gippsland during a drunken orgie with some men, who 'were also much- injured." Unusually heavy rains and melting snows have caused, floods in various parts of the country. , A Ciiinaman named Ah Maa has been cxc» cuted at Melbourne Gaol for murder. " lima Ac Murska'and Ristori are both playing in Melbourne, and Madame Janansehik in 'Sydney. - Both De Murjska arid. Ristori l' are causing a stir, the, former drawingjsplendidly ; ' the latter being an Italian, does not do|so well. Some anxiety was felt about, the Omeo h ' • which arrived from New Zealand several . days late, being detained by .contrary .winds* and running short of fuel. "' September 9th. At an early hour last night the Assembly _ adjourned to Tuesday, for the purpose of al-~ lowing the Treasurer itime' to' prepare hi% Financial Statement. - - — During the twelve months ending Jim© 30th, 1876, the proposed expenditure on railway works already • authorised ■ is ) es.-i* v timated at £640,200. " ~ The Town Hall' committee have- resolved •not to let the Town Hall on Sundays -until a poll of the citizens has been taken on tha question. - „ '„''•_* "7 Designs for a new Club House next the,- < Town Hall, Collins,, street, have been sub-. . mitted. It will cost £12,000.,, . .' ' ' During a thunderstorm yesterday, a youngwoman In Stephen street had a"' narrow es-'' " cape from' death.' She was- struck by- a.'--blinding flash, and rendered insensible for . half an hour. The reef was struck in the Magdala Mine,- ' Stawell, tbi3 morning, at a depth of 168i£ft. and drilled into three feet without being through, • ' * The cable is expected to be repaired tomorrow. '" -' ' { Ristori gave a grand performance of "Judith" last night. ' The telegraph line to Sydney is interrupted to-day through very stormy weather. ' Sailed from Newcastle, Bobycito, for Dunedin. ' " >-> i . The Parliamentary campaign has s re-com» menced, and there is likely to be some, hard fighting. A caucus of the Opposition, was held yesterday, and resulted in nothing, and it is likely nothing will be done^ until the Government propose some extensive piece of legislation. The Hon. J. A. M'Pheraon is hors de combat^ and not allowed to take any- < parb in public affairs * for at., least three months. Mr Ed." Cohen is also, again veryill, and confined, to bed. Other., members ,,. ? aTe apathetic, and many, "mere ifeaY '"a dissolu-r' tion, and probablythe loss .of, three hundred '- a year. So the probability is that the pre- r sent set of incapable* "will, be 4 allbwed^iix, "« possession of She' (Treasury'Benehes untU, some party ia strong enough' itq oust them., .. The postponement 'constitutional reforni" •" will not. suit the .rabid members who want * , another quarrel With the' Cpper" House, bufe".^ the Government are well aware they^ could' do nothing with ii this session, ,'whicll must close before Christmas. ." /■■'•, The Exhibition,' as a show, is a* great flue* cess, but the exhibits hardly fairly represent, the great industries" of tEe'Dolony—but' ' rather the shops of /Melbourne. Indeed Melbourne is much more represented- than - * the Colony generally, and the want of classi. fication makes them more conspicuous. It is, and will be, a very popular resort for. the next two months, that is shown 1 by the-^v"; fact thair over five 'thousand seiTson'.tiok'eto' 1 "' have been issued. ' The Taßmanian'Odurfia"-"*'' the best in the whole collection; and reflects * ' fairly the industries of that Colony. .u-j The weather has been most disagreeable, - more rain than in any previous year causing l floods in various parts. A few days : bf very warm weather and north' winds ine'lted the snow in, the mountains, and for a time ' r caused fears -of- disastrous - fleoda~in™the northern and eastern; portions of the Colonies, but the danger haß happily passed. - away. . . . .* , |By the explosion of fire-damp in the Baud and Albion Consols Mine, Baliarat, two men ;were killed. ( I ; z The" case of the Bates children and Father ": Dalton has been" settled by the Supreme . Court ordering thY youngest child to remain " where she is,' 1 and 'the eldest to : go ! where she l likes. i ' ■•* . "• -'r'.r " f I Bishop Thornton' has commenced a tour of ' 'his |diocese. r The Rev. Charles Strong, selected by Principal Caird in Scotland for the Scots" Church, Collins street, has commenced his duties. ■He is thought highly *of. " The Roman Catholics are petitioning that : - their schools may be officially inspected like Stajte schools, and payments made upon the claim and certificate usually adopted by the Education Department. • ' : _ r . . A heavy punishment has been awarded- to, : a man belonging to the turret-ship Cerberus, under v the. Discipline Act, of fiVe t months' hard labour, the first week of each month ;< solitary confinement, and then to be- dis- [ charged from the service. , lima de Murska has' created quite a furore, aud has taken about a thousand pounds a week. She is a, very charming singer. She sings with the Philharmonic , Society in " The Creation " next Monday. Ristori- is hot drawing, so well. Her prices ' are higher, and the performances are in Italian, but she is very>gre'at f and Has a fine and complete 'company. ' ' ", ■.• - ,; ., Goldsbrough's victory in the Metropolitan was a complete upset to the public, who had pinned their faith' to * Eihgsborbugh J a'nd' ; Calumny principally, but any others would have. 3iuted wellr Thirteen Wrtedraad ~~ ■ • ' ' • . ' .-' '•, j a j\i it r~\

Goldsbrougn was at 10 to 1, with a few takers. He will now advance for the Melbourne Cap and Champion Race, for which latter he is already largely backed. The Japanese Commissioners are enjoying themselves, and going; about everywhere. Communication with Europe is interrupted, jußt at a time when we aro desirous of hearing the result of the insurrection in Turkey and the upshot of the China question in relation to Bunnah. The break is between Batavia and Singapore, and there is no saying when it will be repaired. The Golconda left here yesterday with gold and specie valued at three-quarters of a .million. At a dinner recently given at Mort's Meat .Freezing establishment in New South Wales, ' -all the viands had been preserved for two years. The French war steamer Curiceus has called in here en route to New Caledonia. An immigrant ship, the Star Queen, with 350 souls aboard, put in short of provisions, on the 87th day out. All the biscuits had been given out, and there was no stock of preserved fresh meat. The vessel was bound to Queensland. The Torres Straits mail brought the following items of news :—: — The English news states that Sir D. Forsyth's mission to Burmah has not resulted satisfactorily, and that the Burmese are levying double "duty on English goods. Much excitement has been ciused among the Chinese traders in Rangoon, and strong representations have been made to the British Government. A movement has taken place in China to stop the exportation of women to California. There was much excitement about the weakness of the British naval force in the ' China seas. •Sydney, September 3rd. At Mudgee, William Hopkins, an old resident of the district, was burnt last night when in bed, at the Shamrock Hotel, through lighting hia pipe. He died .to-day, . At. a meeting of the members of Tattersail's Club at Sydney the attendance was very numerous. A fair amount of wagering took place upon the Derby and Metropolitan. Valetta colt was supported so steadily at 2 to 1, that at last 7 to 4 was the best offer against him. Richmond came into great favour at sto 1 ; Sylvia colt, Redwood, and Ringwood, were nibbled at, but New Holland and Bullion were put out of court by 100 to 5 being laid about the pair coupled. Prices remained unaltered for the Metropolitan, save that Kingfisher is teach firmer at 100 to 5. The following additional scratchings were posted : Hurdle Race — Stronger, Coxcomb, Hobanner, Young William Tell, Australian Mountaineer, and Lenceppe. Trial Stakes — ■GueWer Rose. Derby — Young May Morn, The Niger, Lady Superior, Guelder Rose, 'Ginger, Gascony, and Meteor. Epsom Handicap—Cyclops, The Dark Flight, .Rose de •Amour, Burwood, Lord Lyon, Arne Lard, •John Whoa, Sterling, Calumny, and The jJHook. Srceplecha c— Young William Tell, Postboy, and Muscovite. September Bth. Mr Foster, Treasurer, goes Home by the [October mail at the solicitation o*. his colleagues. It is believed he will become - Agent-General; The missionary schooner Dayspring, while ■'a^ the New Hebrides, had a boat's crew fired •on by natives at one of the islands, and some j "*were wounded. J. and J. Skinner have failed, with liabilU 't ©i £64,000. A letter has been published from Madame ■RastouL stating that her huabind and the 'other Communists who escaped from New <Caledenia have arrived at Fern. A white man named John Renton, a native o€ Scotland and aged twenty-sevan, has been rescued from the natives on the Island of Malayta, one of the wildest of the Solomon group. He had been in the hands of the natives for the last eight years. H.M.B. Dido has arrived, from Auckland. ~Sha encountered heavy weather. f The racing at Randwick resulted as follows :— A. J.C. Derby : Richmond, 1 \ Vatella Colt, 2 ; Valentine, 3. Time, 2min. j 44sec; 'It was a splendid race. The Spring •Stakes were won by Kingsborough, with 'Goldsbrough second, and Imperial third. For the Epsom Handicap, Evangeline firet ■canght the judge's eye. Goldsbrough, won • 3he Metropolitan, with Kingsborough second, •and Kiogfisher third. This was a grand race, and was only won. by half a length. Time, Spain. 32£ sec The Maiden Plate was won by Bullion. Adelaide, September 3rd. A fresh addition has been proposed to the Stamp duties ; on lawyer's annual certificate, £10; Queen's Counsel, £20. The extra stamps otf policies bave been expunged, and en annual feo substituted of £50. Local marine companies' fee, £25 for fire, and £25 extra for foreign companies. I Biahop Short was thrown from his carriage and considerably bruiied, but nothing Serious. The, racecourse is a swamp. The river Shirt overflowed. The people of Glenelg Vere nompelled to leave their housea. Numbers of sudden deaths have occurred j lately. The Williamsons opened on Saturday to a crowded house. Mr Frook, a member of Parliament, has given notice that Tobin's system of ventilation be »dnpte I in all public buildings. Wheat i» easier at as 7J. - .^ , - September Bth. . The second reading of the Stamp Bill has been carried. The tax on dividends is vxpanged, and the feo=i on lawyers reduced. AjLirg* quantity of rain has fallco, exdeeding any previous year. I Brisbane, September 3rd. Henry • Jordan, one time Agenc Central, nas been appointed Master of Titles. The Premier, Mr M'Allister, leaves for London by the next Torres Strait mail. The ship Star Qaeen, with immigrants for Brisbane, which vessel called in at Melbourne for proviaionß, will form the subject of a rigid enquiry here and at home. The immigrants appear to have been on ' halfrations for a week previous to the ship's ar« rival at Melbourne. The Government papers 'show that certificates were signed for full rations for 140 days. ft U thought) that thy Education Bill wilt

be shelved, owing to the action of the President of the Legislative Council. Mr Mackay, the editor of the QueensJander, has been appointed Commissioner to represent the Colony at the Philadelphia Exhibition. - *

Mr Warry, grocer, has suspended paym rtrt Hls liabi Kties are stated to be about £20,000, of which £4000 are due to Sydney creditors. J J

. September 4th. 1 he motion for a grant of money from the public funds to Dr Lang has been withdrawn.

An English company proposes to open np the coal resources of the Endeavour River. Samples obtained by Mr Augustus Gregory near Bingra prove that a valuable coal-field has been discovered in the Colony of Queens-