AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3689, 29 July 1886, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(By Teleobaph.) (Per Wairarapa at Auckland.) Sydney, July 23. Good progress is being made with the Customs Bill. Government lost night declined to adjourn fdr the Mayor's fancy dress ball. Sir John Kobertson is very ill. Lee and McAllison, first of the railway fraud case 3, have been committed for trial. The Commercial Bank has declared a dividend of 25 per cent. The Btrike of brickmakers still continues, but efforts are being mado for an amicable settlement. "H. S. Gilehrist, for twenty years engaged m the Mint, committed suicide. He was irregular m his accounts as treasurer of the Oddfellows' Society. Tho captain of the barquo Chasca has stated ho was becalmed three days m sight of the Wellington pilot station, but no pilot or tug offered to come out. The census of the colony is to be taken m the centennial year. Brisbane. H.M.S. Nelson is here. In the Assembly Mr Lumley Hill accused Mr Macßoss of peculation and fraud. An angry discussion followed. Hobabt. A railway accident occurred on Thursday night, the express train from Launceiton going over the iron swing bridge of the water viaduct. Tho end of tho bridge must have parted at tho fastenings, and a gap above a yard was left. The ends of the rails went right . down and were jammed against the buttress. None of the carriages left the line, as tho train was going very slowly at the time. Had the engine gono right through into the river nothing could have prevented tho whole train following. The engine driver and Btoker were shot out clean into the river. The latter is reported missing. A passenger named Daniel Turner has also disappeared. He must have walked into the river. The other passengers ore slightly injured.