AUSTRALIAN.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 5013, 22 May 1889, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

(Pee Electric Telegraph —oopikiuht.)

(Per Press association.) (Received 11.30 p.m., May 21st.) OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. Brisbane, May 21. Parliament was opened to-day by His Excellency the Governor in person. Sir Henry Norman, in the Speech from the Throne, said that ho had been greatly impressed since his arrival in the colony with the evidence everywhere visible of the progress and prosperity of the country. He referred to the disastrous drought, which the colony had experienced, but expressed a hope that, with assistance derived from the recent bounful rains, the colony was entering on a season of renewed prosperity.

THE RUAPEHU. Hobart, May 21. The Ruapehu arrived last night with 57 passengers for Australia and 90 for New Zealand. She left again at 5 o’clock this afternoon for Wellington, AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS. The agricultural statistics just published show an increase of 107,000 bushels of wheat over the preceding season, and a general increase in other grains. Potatoes show an increase of 23,000 tons. JACK THE RIPPER. , Melbourne, May 21. It is reported that when the police paraded at the barracks this morning, the men were warned to be on the alert, as it was believed that Jack the Ripper, the alleged author of the recent Whitechapel horrors, had arrived in the colony, the police having received information that he had been seen in Melbourne. Rumours of the warning were afloat in the city during the day and caused a great sensation.