AUSTRALIAN NEWS. (Per Mararoa, at the Bluff.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1970, 22 August 1889, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS. (Per Mararoa, at the Bluff.)

Melbourne, August 12. A large fire took place on the morning of tbe 11th at Robb's buildings, Collins street, in which the audit branch and engineers' office of tbe the Victorian railways was gutted, and valuable plans destroyed. A fireman named Fox sustained a compound fracture of one leg. A complimentary dinner was tendered to General Edwards by the Naval and Military Club, at which he stated be hoped to submit a scheme for united action in the defence of the colonies which would be approved of. He expressed himself gratified at the condition of the works already completed, and gave credit to the artillery for their care of the guns and batteries A oerdict waa given in favour of Mrs Browne for £4927 damages against the National Bank on account of the loss of debentures deposited in the bank and stolen by Onjons, the security clerk The Budget debate drags slowly onward. The Opposition have not yet succeeded in completing arrangements with the conntry members in reference to a sliding scale for new duties on atock and granting bounties to farmers for the exportation of wheat and readjusting other duties to which exception has been taken, but negotiations have not yet been abandoned as hopeless. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of James Alexander Matheson, accountant of the Australasian Discount Company. His supposed defalcations are about £400. It Is the intention of the Government to move in both Houses an address to Her Majesty praying that a constitution be granted to Western Australia. .A libel action, in which £1000 damages are claimed, arising out of the conteßt of Emerald Hill constituency" at the general elections in March, has been commenced in the Supreme Court by George Gray, contractor, against Henry and Co., publishers of a local journal called the South Melbourne Citizen. Commercial.— The first cargo of new season's tea arrived in Melbourne per Isman on Monday. The wheat market is quiet, prime milling bringing from 5s to 5s S|d. Flour, £11 to £11 10 a per stone made, and £12 for roller made. New Zealand oats sold at' 4s to 4s Id for feed sorts; market dull. Sugars : Queensland counters, £21 to £21 15s; greys, £24; fine, £26 15s; Mauritius ranging from £23 to £25 10s. Dr Samuel Brierly, a well known. city practitioner, was charged at the City Oourfr yesterday with assaulting jind robbing Davidson,

A sharebrokert and formerly lessee of the flheatrs Royal llotel. At a meeting of the preabytery it was decided to urge the General Assembly to move in the direction of the reinstate ou-nt of the Bible reading in State schools. Influence is to be brought at next election to pledge candidates to this end, and that the Government bbould be urged to grant a capitation towards the support of Roman Catholic schools. August 13. Two bodies of men, identified as those of a carpenter named Calkett and a contractor named Freeman, have found floating in the Sfarra. A man named George Scurr attempted to commit euicido on Saturday evening by drown* .ng himself In the Yarra.but was rescued by two men who jumped iv after him. Two men named Wilksand Morgan quarrelled in the street, when the former struck Morgan, inflicting serious injuries necessitating his removal to the hospital. Wilks has been arrested. At Clark's Hill, Bun gar cc, Eliza Heaney, aged 14, was acoidently shot by her brother, aged 17. The lad was shooting sparrows, when the gill suddenly coming round the corner received the shot in the head. No hopes are entertained of her recovery. Stdnet, August 11. Alfred Critcher, residing at Bellambi, near Woollongong, attempted to murder his wife on Saturday by stabbing her in the abdomen with a large clasp knife. He then trkd to commit fiuioide by stabbing himself with a butcher's knife. Both were removed to the hospital, when their wounds were found to be very serious, so much so in the case of the woman that her depositions were taken last night. Critcher had previously been convicted] r.f ill-using his wife. They lived apart for some time, but were lately reunited. The trial of the prisoners George Johnson and George Dignam, accused ef shooting Cotistable Slater, was concluded yeßterday, the jury returning a verdict of "Not guilty" in each case. Two more bodies, identified as thoss of Dan Mason and Elder Peate, were recovered from the Giebe pit on Sunday. Paul Turnbull, oversman, and two deputies made their way from the place where the rescue party are at work over a fall as far as the end of the crosscut flat, where further progress was barred by another large fall. In coming back the head of Mason was noticed protrnding from a mass of fallen coal. "While Mason's corpse was beinjf taken out the body of Peate was found and disinterred. August 12. Recently writs of ejectment wftre served upon a number of persons occupying and claiming a large area of land at North Willoughby. The total area exceeds 1000 acres, and is worth fully £300 an aore. The claim is by a grandson of the original grantee, on the ground that the property had been entailed by the will of Nicholls, and that all alienations in defiance thereof are null and void. The same person is also making claim to 30 acres of city land in Surrey Hills, the value of which is enormous. August 13. The synod of the diocese of Sydney was opened to-day, and met for business in the afternoon, when the president (Dean Cowper) delivered an address, in the course of which he dwelt upon the aotion taken in tilling up the yacant see by the appointment of the Rev. W. Saamurez Smith as successor to Bibhop Barry. Adelaide, August 11. Adolph Witt, a sharebroker, committed suicide by shooting himself. He is supposed to have lost heavily on the share market. August 13. A shocking occurrence took place at Brompton Park, near Adelaide, this morning. A single woman named Catherine O'Brien wao found iying in an outhouse with a stillbsrn female child beside her. She wi\h afterwards safely delivered of a living male child. The neighbours bad cruelly refused to attend the suffering woman. Brisbane, August 13, Biahop Webber has sent a telegram to the Vicar-general, Sydney, with reference to the appointment of Canon Smith as Primate of Australia, stating that ho wrote Bishop Goulbarn last week objecting to the procedure, and must now respectfully protest against Canon Smith's appointment as invalid. It is understood Bishop Webber is of opinion such a mode of appointment virtually deprives the Bishops of Australia and Tasmania of the right of choice. The schooner Wanganui has arrived at Cooktown from Sadest with 32 passengers and 200oz gold, and with two men sick, and a third dipd during the voyage. Reports of the goldfields in New Guinea are very discouraging. Three Frenchmen were charged at the Police Conrt yesterday with being escapees from New Caledonia. Thursday Island, August 11. The Government steamer Albatross has returned from Batavia river with a boat belonging to John Williams, mnrdered by his crew. The boat was found 12 miles from the river high in the sand. Provisions and a dingey had been taken. It is unknown when or how Williams was murdered, but it is supposed he was thrown overboard soon after leaving there. Hobaht, August 13. In the Assembly to-day the Treasurer, Mr Fyshe, gave notice of motion for the suspension of the Standing Orders that the House might adopt a memorial to the Queen asking that responsible government be granted to Western Australia, thus, advancing the cause of federation and unity by gdding Western Australia to the group of loyal, contented, and autonomous colonies. At a later period a motion was also carried in the Legislative Council, and the memorial will be handed to the Governor to forward to her Majesty.