AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1488, 22 May 1880, Page 10

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Pee s.s. Wakatipu, at Wellington.) Wellington, May 18th.

NEW SOUTH WALES.

During yesterday's gale the ketch Seabird capsized off Bird Island coast, near Newcastle. One seaman was drowned ; two others and the master were rescued by a passing steamer.

Diphtheria is prevalent at Rybtonj there have been 23 deaths.

Tho Assembly carried a motion by a private member affirming that it is undesirable that grants of land for church-building or religious purposes be continued in future. Ministers voted against the resolutions.

The Irish Relief Fund has now reached L 28.000.

District Engineer Bnrthon, at Miranda, while temporarily insane, escaped from his watchers, and committed suicide in a lagoon.

Two women named Thompson, mother and daughter, were charged with smothering the illegitimate twin children of the elder prisoner, but were acquitted in consequence of the indecisive nature of the medical testimony.

Some French merino sheep, belonging to the French Government, were sold at prices ranging from 30 to 150 guineas each.

The late rise in the price of wool has affected the values of woollen goods, and merchants announce an advance in blankets, &c. of 20 per cent. A rich reef has been discovered in Baraba County, beyond Taraworth. The stone obtained is 15 feet thick, containing coaree gold.

In explanation of the recent fall in wool, as compared with the opening sales, the Sydney Morning Herald states it to be due to the decrease ia the French demand, in consequence of Btrikes in France.