AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1418, 25 January 1879, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

— «. — SUMMAET TO 14th JANUARY. Sydney, January 18th. Mr T. Young has the contract for the International Exhibition building. The area of floor space provided covers 7£ acres. The total enclosed space will exceed eleven million cubic feet. The Duke of Buckingham is said to be desirous of obtaining the Governorship of New South Wales. Sir J. Fergusson and Sir Henry Ord are also mentioned. Tne Seamen's Union at Sydney received on account of the Strike Fund nearly L3OOO, of which L2IOO was disbursed. Troubles are arising with the coalminers. Large numbers are forming a union to limit the output. Several companies have locked oat their men. Melbourne, January 14th. Pxeparations are being made to put Government House in proper order in time for the reception of tho Marquis of Normanby. The marble statues of the Queen, the late Prince Consort, and the Prince and Princess of Wales, executed by the late Mr Summers, sculptor, to the order of the Hon. W. J. Clarke, M.L C, were presented by that gentleman to the trustees of the National Gallery on January 9th. Sir Redmond Barry, the chairman, in accepting the donation, expressed^ strong opinion in favour of opening the National Gallery on Sunday afternoons. Gerald Supple, who is now resident in New Zealand, has contributed to tho Melbourne Review a poem entitled " The Dream of Dampier." Trie Electric Telegraph Department is about to be reorganised. Mr S. W. M'Govan will be the responsible head. It is estimated that the crop 3on one-fourth of the wheat-producing area of Victoria have been destroyed by rust. Many of the selectors will be unable to pay their rents this year. The ship Eurynome, from Liverpool, reports having encountered an immense number of icebergs on December 6th and 7th, in latitude 44 south. The annual sale of the Mount Norval shorthorns realised L 5733. Mr Simpson, of New Zealand, purchased a few shorthorn heifers. Samples of cloth made by Chinese dealers on the Australian coast, forwaided to Shanghai by Mr Monckton Synnot, have been received, and inquiries are made as to the price at which yarns can be furnished. Cagli's Opera Troupe, now in India, will visit the Colonies. The Coys are among the artistes. The estimated yield of gold for 1878 was 753,793 ozs, or a decrease of 39,046 ozs on the previous year. The estimated decrease in the number of miners employed is 1500. Mr Woods, Minister of Railways, has received a first-class gold medal from the Circolo I del Progoriso of Naples, iv recognition of his continuous railway- brake. The Concert Hall at Ingleweod took fire on the 10th. One girl was burned almost to death, and several others were injured. About 150 persons were present when the fire broke out. The Australian Eleven have just concluded their series of matches. They won the oneinnings match against the Sandhur&t Twentytwo by 23 runs. R. Harry, a member of the Northbridge Club, made 69. The Eleven won their final match against twenty-two of Inglewood by 12L runs. During their remarkable tour they tiavelled 70,000 mileo. C. Bannerman made the highest batting averaze— viz , 2i'Q— in the matches played in England against Elevens. A Bannerman, 21 10, and C. Bannerman, 216, were the highest averages against odds. The English bowling averages show that Spofforth secured 107 wickets for 1254 runs ; Boyle, 64 wickets for 620 runs. The Canterbury team were defeated on January 7th by tho M.C.C. by 169 runs. In the second innings the Melbourne team made 236 The Canterbury cricketers partook of the hospitality of the Mayor of Melbourne on the 9th instant. Mr Neilson (captaiu) stated that he hoped the visit of the Eleven would paVe the way for a series of Intercolonial cricket matches. It is proposed to establish, a Coru Exchange in Melbourne, and ta hold periodical markets throughout the country for the mutual convenience of faimers and millers. If, as appears highly probable, this design is carried out, it will be a great advance upon the existiug system, under which millers sent out agents into all parts of the country, who purchased at different prices, according to the competition in particular districts, without regard to the condition of the market. The project has received commendation from all sides, and will probably be realised at an early date. The revenue returns for the quarter and year ending December 31ot have just been published, and present satisfactory evidence of the prosperity of the Colony. The revenue for the quarter is £1,138,108 11s 3d, showing an increase upoa the corresponding quaiter of the previous year amounting to £37,284 13s 3d. Tho total revenue for the year was £4,595,307 5s Id, showing an increase of £53,046 2s 10c! upon the previous year. The land tax has occasioned this advance, together with an increase in the railway returns, and from the post and telegraph offices. On the other huid, it may bo noticed that in New South Wales, owing to the cessation of the wholesale land sales, the revenue for 187S shows the startling decrease of £759,959 on that of 1877, and that tho expenditure ia over £100,000 more than the receipts ; and in Queensland thero ia a decline. j?rom thu companion it appoaisi thai; Vlctorl.. ia aoi, quite vuiued vol., even by a Libe.al Ministiy, and that ifc id possible for a coneuivativo Colony to retrograde financially.