AUSTRALIAN.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5378, 19 January 1889, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

[Per Press Association*— Copyright.] SYDNEY. Jan. 18. Unless rain falls immediately thousands of head of stock will perish in the Wairaldia district. Mr Twopenny, Executive Commissioner of the Dunedin Exhibition, is visiting New South Wales in the interests of the Exhibition, but owing to the political crisis ho hal practically done nothing. He waited on Mr Dibbs immediately the new Cabinet was sworn in, but the Premier's time is too much pressed by political business to allow him to be interviewed on the subject at present. Ho suggested that Mr Twopenny should inter* view him again in a fortnight, when he would be better able to deal with the matter. Mr Twopenny has left for Melbourne. A [proclamation dissolving Parliament i* gazetted on Monday. Writs will be issued ©a Wednesdayaud made returnable in thirty-five days. Owing to a clause in the recently introduced Electoral Act 137 members will be elected to the new Parliament instead of the present number 124. There are already a large number of candidates in[the field. MELBOURNE, Jan. 18. At the luncheon given in the Exhibition building by Sir James Mcßain, president, Mr McCoppin, Commissioner for the United States, said America 'waa striving to pro" serve the autonomy of Samoa, but the Aus* tralian colonies remained silent. He thought it would be a most deplorable thing if thd independence of Samoa were sacrificed to the "give and take" policy of European statesmen. Mr McCoppin's remarks were warmly applauded, and Herr Wermuth, German Commissioner, became irritated and left the room. He contends it was a breach of etiquette to raise the question of foreign policy at an International Exhibition. The following awards were made by the Exhibition jurors for silversmiths work and jewellery :— S. Kohn (Wellington), firabj S« Dauneford and Co. (Auckland), second ; fine arts department : Mrs Rowan, Miss Kata Sperry (Wellington), late John Gully (Nelson), firsts ; Miss Kate E. Sperrey (Welling* ton), Jenny Wimperis (Dunedin), J. Feel (Ambcrley), A. Gear (Christchurch), T. R. Drnmmond (Auckland), seconds; Isabel Hodgkins (Dunediu), E. Chapman and Rosa p udden (Christchurch), A. Sperry, (Wei* lington), N. Atkinson (Auckland), Wm Oibbf (Christchurch), Miss F. Richardson (Wei. liugton), Miss Isabel Hodgkins (Dunedin), Frances Mary Wimperis (Dunedin), T. L. Drummond (Auckland), R. Beetham, ChrUfcchurch), and A. H. Gear (Christchurch), thirds ; K. Watkins (Auckland), J. Grant Wellington), B. A. Branfill (Nelson), fourths ; etchings, L. J. Steede (Auckland) second. The jurors were greatly interested in the varied display of work* of art from New Zealand. They gave an ex* pression to the deep regret they felt at th« loss in art suffered in New Zealand in the death of the late John Gully. BRISBANE. Jan. 18. Distressing accouuts are coming to hand from Darling Downs and the interior of tha South- West. Crops are stated to be dying Dff, and water disappearing. The heat fa sxcessive.