AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1422, 22 February 1879, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Psr Press Associated Special Wire.) Bluff, February 16tb. The following is a summaryjof Australian news by the Albion : — Melbourne, February 11th. Sir Archibald Mitchie, Agent- General, has announced bis intention of returning lo Melbourne soon. Pastor Chiniquy has arrived in Melbourne. The railway to Horsham was opened by the Governor on the sth instant.

The Rev. Thomas Jones has, in consequence of failing health, recommended the congregation of Collins street Independent Church to find a successor for him.

Siguor Luigi Marinucci, consul-general for Italy, died on the sth instant, at his residence in East Melbourne,

It is notified that Mr O. M. Spencer has been appointed Consul- General for the United States at Melbourno, with jurisdiction in Aus. tralia, Tasmania, and Now Zaalaud. The weather has been again vory hot, and cases of sunstroke have been numerous. Bush fires have been racing in all parts of the

Colony. Near Colac a settler named Turnbull, his wife, and five children were burned to death.

The s.«. Kerangie was wrecked at 10 p.m. on Friday near Cape Everard, during a dense fog. The second officer and four men were despatched in a boat by the captain to report the occurrence at Gabo Island, and arrived there on Sunday. The steamship Victoria has been sent to the wreck to render what assistance may be required. There are four nominations for the vacancy in West Bourke— viz., Alfred Deakin (Government), Wm. Gaunson, Robert Harper (Opposition), and Thomas Eldridge. The eleccion takes place on the 13th instant. New South Wales. Dispatches have been received intimating the inability of Russia and the Spanish Colonies to be represented at the Sydney Exhibition. Wanganheim, the well-known publican, is insolvent. The space applied for by Colonial exhibitors far exceeds the amount available. The blackfellow M'Pherson, outlawed for murdering a countryman, has been shot, by the police near Glen Innes, after a despsrate resistance. The Estimates show a decrease of L 400.000 when compared with those of the Farrell Ministry. South Australia Fifteen parties have been appointed for rabbit destruction. i An anti-Chinese meeting at Unley resulted in a fiasco. Government contracts are in future to contain a clause prohibiting the employment of Chinese. Extensive bush fires have occurred at Middleton, Strathalbyn, Mount Pleasant, Echunga, and Mount Gambler. The Government intend having the Colony represented at the Sydney and Melbourne Exhibitions. Rafferty, a contractor, was burned to death in a bush fire north of Port Lincoln. # j A strike has been inaugurated by the ironworkers in consequence of employers requiring men to work nine hours a-day. Queensland. A gentleman named Hirst died from lockjaw, due to an omnibus driver's whip cutting his eye-ball. The Premier has been re-elected unopposed. Another case of smallpox has occurred on board the Somerset. Captain Sykes and Mr Hartley were speared by blacks on the 6th instant, within five miles of Cooktown, and the former received dangerous injuries. The country is suffering from drought.