AUSTRALIA.

Southland Times, Issue 3306, 24 January 1879, Page 2

AUSTRALIA.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION'S SPECIAL WIRE.) SYDNEY. J AX. 23. When addressing his constituents, Mr Barbour affirmed that the squatting organisation had an income of £200,000 annually applicable to political purposes. Three horsc-stealers have been arrested at Canterbury, and are identified as the men who, when crossing th<3 Murumbidgec, were mistaken for the Kelly Gang. The mining lock-out dispute at Bnlli will probably be settled next week. MELBOURNE. Jan. 23. Tenders are invited for the erection of the Melbourne Exhibition building. BRISBANE, Jan. 23. The wreck of the Mecca is hard and fast on the reef and is likely to remain there. Everything saleable in the vessel has been takeu to pieces. She possibly may be launched again. The Melbourne and New Guinea expedition by the brig Dove found no gold, and suffered fearfully from fever. Several died and many others were prostrated, so that the vessel had to be laid to, and afterwards made for Ambora and were she was attacked near Threefold Bay by natives, but managed to beat them off. When at set again, the brig sprang a leak and was relieved by the ship Lanncelot, and the crew lauded at Yokohama. A terrific fire has occurred at Hong Kong destroying 3GS houses, including the police barracks. The cause is believed to be incendiarism, and the loss is estimated at £200,000. The total failure of the Melbourne and New Guinea Expedition is reported; the narty are prostrated with fever, and four died.