AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3164, 9 April 1879, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Pbb s.s. Eingarooma at the Bluff.) Melbourne, April 1. Parliament is to be prorogued on May 23, and will meet again probably the first week in July. The English Commission for the Melbourne Exhibition consist of the Prince of Wales (President), Sir Cunliffe Owen (Secretary), the Duke of Eichmond, the Duke of Manchester, Earl of Salisbury, Earl of Carnarvon, Lord Cadogan, Lord Granyille, Lord Belmore, Lord Kimberloy, Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, the Eight Hon H. C. E. Guilders, Sir W. Eose, j Sir W. G. Hoskins, Sir B. Leighton, Sir ! D. Cooper, Professors Owen, Smith, and Mr Mosely.

It is suggested that the Government should send the steamer Nelson to Sydney at the time of the Exhibition there; as a mark of federal and international sympathy, and also to convey exhibits from Tasmania and South Australia, as well as Victoria, and make the vessel the head quarters of the Victorian Commissioners during their stay. The Melbourne Meat Preserving Company report a Io9S of over £5000 for the naif-year, owing to the operations of the stock tax. Dissatisfaction is expressed at the Minister of Railways directing hundreds j of men to work last Sunday, to prepare for the Oaklcigh [Railway opening, on the 2nd April. Mr Wood alleges necessity as an excuse. Edward Monks has received another letter from Kelly sympathisers threatening his life. The Sydney police subscribed handsomely to the murdered constable's memorial fund.

Intelligence has been received that an English vessel, name unknown, bound from Australia to England, went ashore in December, at Terra del Fuegb, and was attacked by the Indians. The crew was rescued by a Chilian corvette. Mr W. J. Clarke has been presented with a handsome illuminated address signed by the whole Agricultural and Pastoral Societies of the colonies, expressive of the esteem and the appreciation of the agricultural community. Lord Norxnanby,- in presenting it, remarked that if every wealthy colonist followed' Mr Clarke's example, jealousy and envy would be allayed, and Victoria would' become a happy and prosperous nation. Mr Clarke replied, urging the establishment of an agricultural college.

The new public building now being erected at Emerald Hill will cost £25,000. At the. ceremony of laying the foundation stone, Mr Service, leader of the Opposition, was received enthusiastically. The Sandhurst Industrial Exhibition was opened with ceremony by the Marquis of Norinanby on the 26th March. There were 1128 juvenile exhibitors, and 518 adults, and it is estimated that 20,000 articles will be shown, representing a value of £1,000,000. Queensland, Tasmania, and Fiji have contributed. Dr Stanton, Bishop of Northern Queensland, arrived by the mail steamer. The Harbour Trust has refused to pay Mr Wright over £5000 for the old dock site at the Yarra, and so the quarrel proceeds, r

The Secretary of the Famine Belief Committee at Shanghai recognises the "exceeding generosity" of the Australian colonies in forwarding £4000, and states that the famine is now over. Varley, the Evangelist, returns to England on the 12th. Mdlle Charbonnet, the pianist, achieved a brilliant success at her first concert in Melbourne. Chamberlain and Lampton's flour-mills at Fitzroy were destroyed by fire. The building and stock were insured for £4000. The damage is estimated at £6000. Letters received by the mail state that the' Colonial Wool Merchants' Association have declined, to increase the number of public sales from four to six. , : , Stdwey, March 31. The Assembly has agreed to remit £735,000, due by the Sydney Corporation, and to provide half-a-million due to other creditors. The three million loan will be placed in the market after Easter. The Elections and Qualifications Committee has decided that Mr Fitzpatrick is entitled to retain his seat, notwithstanding that he is a pensioner of the Crown. Upwards of 32,000 more bales of wool have been received at Sydney this year than in.the last, owing to the increased facilities for transmission from the interior. , The Marine Board has suspended the certificate of the mate of the Bonnie Dundee for twelve months. The Legislative Council still refuses to sanction the extraordinary powers of the Assembly under the Parliamentary Privileges Bill. Mr Lalor's proposal for a border duties arrangement that Victoria shall give Sydney £50,000 and repeal the Stock Tax is not acceptable. r - A motion is before the Assembly to appropriate £10,000 for the formation of a Working Men's College in connection with the Mechanics' Institute. Them^l&mbly has voted £75,000 for immigration. A boat capsized in the Sydney harbour on Sunday.' A lady and two gentlemen were rescued after being in great danger. The agents of the San Francisco service have arranged tbat passengers with through tickets may stop at Auckland, Honolulu, or America, from one to six months. ; The Exhibition building is progressing rapidly. The dome will be the largest in the Southern hemisphere, the circumference at the base being 180 feet, and the height 220 feet. The exploring expedition for New Guinea and the South Sea Islands sailed on the 20th inst. The party includes Baron Maklay, a Russian scientist, and Chevalier de Bruno. It is well equipped, and with provisions for 12 months. The object is scientific and commercial. The Government has reserved 18,000 acres at Port Lacing, 11 miles from Sydney,-for a national park. It is a lovely situation. Adelaide, March 31. Parliament is prorogued till May 6. The harvest statistics show a yield last season of over 9£ million bushels. The harvest averaged seven bushels per acre. The available export is 178,000 tons. . The Batavian Government refuse to accept suggestions for further convenience of transit of cable messages, unless higher rates are allowed. The Agricultural Society ask the Government to offer a reward of £4000 for a red rust specific. The German colonists propose to pre«

sent the Emperor William with a piece of plate at his golden wedding. The Government is proceeding against an English firm for supplying defective railway iron. The Gawler Manufacturing Company has agreed to 47 hours as a week's work. Bbißl3ane, March 31. The Hon. J. P. Bell has been appointed President of the Legislative Council. Police officers Kaize and Gough, who were reported as having died of thirst in I the back country, returned safely. One ! trooper, a black, and 16 horses died. Floods in the northern rivers swept a million feet of timber to sea. Perth, March 31. More wrecks are reported through hurricanes in the North: The ship Calton Salima, the American barque Matteo Vain, and the steamer Vice Admiral Fabens. It is mentioned as probable that company will be floated in London to run steamers to Fremantle and Singapore. The harvest averaged 12 bushels per acre.