AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 1419, 8 April 1879, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Pbe b.s. Austhalia at Biuff.) Bluff, April 7. The b.s. Australia left Sydney for Auckland on March 27th. The following is a summary of Australian news from tha 27th of March to April the Ist. Melbourne, April 1. Parliament has been prorogued to the 23rd of May. The English Commission to the Melbourne Exhibition will consist of hia Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, President ; Messrs Cunliffaud Owen, Secretnries j member* for Richmond and Manchester, Lord Salisbury, Lord Caernarvon, Earl Granyille, Lord Belmore, Lord Kimberly, Sir Michael HicksBraeh, Mr Childere, Sir W. Rose, Sir W. J. Hoskins, Sir B. Loighton, Sir D. Cooper. Profe.-sors Owen and Smith and Mr Morley suggested that the GoTernment should tend the steamer Nelson to Sydney m time for the Exhibition, hb a mark of federal international sympathy, and also to convoy exhibits. Tho Melbourne Meat Preserving Company estimate their loss nt OTer £50 '0 for the last half-year. Owing to the operations of the Stock Tax 300,000 fewer sheep wore penned m Melbourne last year than usual. Dissatisfaction has been expressed with the Minister of Railways for directing 100 men to work last Snndiiy m repairing the Oakleigh line. He alleges ncce^sitj as an excuse. Kdward Monk received another letter from Kelly's sympathisers, threatening his life. Miss Dargon, the American actress, of great ability, is the sensation at tho Theatre Royal. Messrs Rignold and Dampier are playing successfully. Messrs Chamberlain and Kimpton's flour mills at Fitzroy have been destroyed by fire. The building and stock Trere iusured for £1000, but tho loss is estimated at £6000. J j The police subscribed bandsomoly cowards thn murdered police fund. Denny, the defaulting secretary of tho fourth Victoria Building Society, appropriated over £6000. He conducted the business so loosely that it has caused a further loss of nearly £5000. Intelligence has been received of a Spanish vessel, naoio unknown, and bound for Australia from England with flour, liaving gene ashore m December at Tierra del Fuego, and was attacked by Indians. The crew was rescued by a Chilian corvette. Mr W. J. Clarke h»s been presented with a handsomely illuminated address, signed by the whole of the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies m the colony, expressive of the estoem and appreciation of the agricultural community. The Marquis of Normnnby, m presenting it, remarked that if other wsalthy ; colonists were to follow Mr Clurko'B example, • jealousy and envy would be allayed, and Victoria would become a happy, prosperous nation. Mr Clarke replied by urging the estublis-hmcnt of an Agricultarul College. New public buildings are beinji erected on Emerald Hill, m tho suburbs of Melbourne ■ They will cost £25,000. At the ceremony of laying the foundation stone the leader of the Opposition was received enthusiastically. The Industrial Exhibition was opeEed with great ceremony, by the Marquis of Norman by, . on March 26tl\. There were 1274 juvenile i exhibitors, and 518 aiults. Tho articles shown were valued at £100,000. Dr Stanton, Bishop of Northern Queensland, has arrived by the mail. The barque Suffolk, bound from Portland to Sydney, was nbandoned at Wilson's promontory, baring lost hei rudder m a high , ?ea. The Harbor Trust refused to pay Messrs Wright and Orr £5003 for the old dock site on the Yarra. and bo the quarrel proceeds. The Rer. T. C. Cole, Anglican clergyman at Malvern, strangled himself on the 28th of March, while suffering from melancholy. A 1 market gardener at Camberwell, hearing of the occurrence, hanged himself, apparently to 1 cause a morbid effect. The Secretary to the China Famine Relief Committee, at Shanghai, recognises the exceeding generosity of Yictoriun colonists m forwarding £1000. He states the famine is over. Mr Varley, the Evangelist, returni to i England. Mdll. Charbonnet, pianiste, achieved a brilliant success m her first appearance. , Letters by the mail state that the Colonial Wool Merchants Association declared an increase m the number of public sales from four to bix. Sidney, March 31. The Assembly agreed to remit £735,000 due by Iho Sydney Corporation to the Qo- ' rernment, leaving the Council to provide half ■ a million due to other creditors; The Three

Million Loan will be placed on the market I afier Ea«ter. The Election* Qualification Commission rlecileri that Mr Fi z nt-i ■•'< <« en'itled to retain hi* seat, notwithstanding nis pension from the Crown. Upwards of 32,000 more bales of wool were received at Sydney ibis year than lait. The Marine Board suspended the certificate of the male of the Bonnie Dundee for twelve months. The Legislative Council still refuses lo sanction the extraordinary powers the Assembly descru-s un er the .Parliamentary Privilege Bill. A mo i ion is before the Assembly to appropropnate £lU,UOO for the formation of a Working Men's College m connection with Mechanics' luftitute. The Asjembly voted £75,000 for immigration. A boat capsised m Sydney harbor on Sundny, aud a laiy and two gentleman ware rescued alter gnat danger. The ag'.nts of the Ban Francisco Service arrange with jmssengers with thrjugh ticketß. to stop at Auckland. Honolulu, or America from one to six months. IToley, Muce, and Thompson, concerned m the prize fight, tind Hicken, arrested at Sydney, were remanded at Daniliquin. The Exhibition Building 19 progressing rapidly. The dome will be the iarg-st m the Sou'hern Hemisphere. The circumference of the base is 190 feet ; height 220 feet. The Exploring Expedition to New Guinea and South Sea Islands sailed on the 29th m the Sudie F. Caller, American schooner. The party includes B*rou Maelay, Russiin scientist, and Cheraher Bruno. They are well equipped, mid provisioned for twelve months. The object is scientific and commercial. Mr Sutton, lute Minister of Mines, intendß resigning his seat m Parliament. An experience of four years, he says, has shown him th'it, to enßiir.i popular favour m political life, he must be menu, cringing, and servile. The Government' reserved 18,000 acres at Port Hacking, eleven miles from Sydney, for a national park. It is a lovely situation. Adelaide, March 31. Parliament is prorogued to May 6th. Harvest et it ietics show the yield of last season to be over 9,250,000 bushels. The harrest averag-d seven bu.«hels 91bs par acre. The available siport is 175,000 tons. The Batavian Government refuses to accede to the suggestion for further conveniences to tran.-it cable messages unless higher rates are allowed. The Agricultural Society ask the Government to oiler a reward of £4000 for a red rust specific. The Germans prnpose to pre?ent the Emperor Willi.im with a pieco ol gold pinto on the occasion of his golden wedding. The Government is proceeding against an English linn for supplying defective railway mil. The Gawler, Allspice, Martin Company agree to 47 hours as a week'B labor, Brisbane, March 31. The Hon. J. P. 801 l has been appointed President of the Legislative Council. The police officers Kayo and Gougbt, reported to have died of thirst, havo returned safely. One trooper and a bluck tracker and sixteen horses died. Floods m Northern rivers swept a million feet of timber to sea. Perth, March 31. More wrecks ore reported, owing to * hurricane m the North. The ships Gallon and Helena, the American burquo datterham, and tho Bteamer Vice-Ad ruiral are mentioned. It is probable that a company will be floated m London to run steamers between Freemantlo and Singapore. The harvest will average twelve bushels per acre.