Australian News.

Pahiatua Star and Eketahuna Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 168, 31 January 1888, Page 2

Australian News.

Sydney, January 2N. The Wesleyan Conference have decided to establish a centennial thanksgiving fund of £50,000, and m one hour subscriptions in aid of it. amounting to £7200, were collected. The Daily Telegraph, in referring to tho statements made by Lord Augustus Loftus at his bankruptcy examination, states that he Ims slandered the colony, and urges that Parliament should deal with it. Lord Agustus was handsomely remunerated, and if lie did not save money it must have been because he was loaded with European debts. John Stapleton, a miner und a nettarrival in the colony, was found dead yesterday on the road near the Hillgrove mine, about 81.9 miles north of Sydney. When picked up it was seen that his throat was cut und that lie had also received several scalp wounds ; in fact, the hast, of the kull had been

fractured. The watch which he was known to have worn when lift seen is uiissiug, aud it is supposed that he was murdered. There is great distress among tbs unemployed, and to-day one of their iiumlier com mi tied suicide owing to his being unable tc obtain work. The Broken Hill mines still continue to gives large yield.- of silver, especially in the principal claim. This week the returns have been exceptionally large. A considerable number of new claims have been pegged oiT, and in ■» few hours companies are tfouted to work them. Adelaide, January 28. In this city a perfect silver mama has set in. The excitement is quite unprecedented. A number of shopmen in the town have thrown up their engagements and repaired to the field on speculation. One of their number is reported to have made £20,000 iu three months, but most of them have everything. One mining broker has cleared £l4t.<¥K) this week, but should a sudden fall in the stocks take place it means ruin to a large number. Brisbane, January 29. Rutter, Mayor of Rockhampton, hits been sentenced to seven years' penal servitude oil the first charge of false pretences. Ac. It is said that mining and land operations wtre the cause of Ins downfall.