AUSTRALIA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2040, 21 September 1874, Page 2

AUSTRALIA.

Sydney, Sept. 15. - The s.b. City of Adelaide calls at Levuka this trip, with the outward San Francisco mail, in order to take home the Governor's ultimatum on the annexation of Fiji. The s.b. Victoria sails for Auckland tomorrow. Hia Excellency the Governor sailed for Fiji on Saturday night, accompanied by Messrs De Robeck, Hutchinson, the Attorney-General, as legal adviser, and the German Consul, Sakel. Tbe ship Fairlie, for Dunedin, left Foo Chow at the end of July with 196,000 pounds of tea. The Government iB determined to carry on the San Francisco service on its own responsibilities, if necessary. No Acting-Governor has been appointed by Sir Hercules Robinson. Miss May Howard, actreßß, is drawingcrowded houses in Sydney. The intercolonial gig race has lost a great deal of its interest through the illness of Mr Henderson, one of the Victorian crew, formerly of Auckland, compelling an emergency man to take his place. Mr Henderson is recovering. A miner named Dacro was found murdered, near Braidwood. * Handwick Races: — Free Handicap, Conqueror ; Crown Plate, Maid of Ayenel ; Presidents' Handicap, Fitz Yattendonj Mares' Produce Stakes, Eingsborough ; Sydney HanIdicap, Garry Owen ; Members' Handicap, Llama ; Waverley Handicap, Maid of AvcW;^ Steeplechase, Duffer; Randwick Plate, _Dag-~

worth ; Forced Handicap, dead heat between Westminster and Stirling. Melboobne, Sept. 14. At the drawing for the Ballarat Art Union, the first prize, value £2C03, was won by Mr John Hannon, a farmer at Mount Blowhard ; the second prize, £750, by Mr Bray, a draper at Geelong. During a discussion in the Assembly, on the claims of relatives of deceased civil servants, the Government recognised the desirableness of establishing a Life Assurance Office in connection with the Civil Service. The Estimates are being proceeded with. The body of a young woman, unknown, was found in the river Yarra. The s.s. Albion was detained through damage to her rudder. A man named Goodman, shot himself neaT Elphinstone. Yarraville sugars realised full prices for the best, but there waß a decline of 20s on lower sorts. Three little boys made an unsuccessful attempt to throw a train off the Suburban line. The brig Alice Maud, from Greymouth, was wrecked between Cape Barren and Cable Island. The crew and five passengers were picked up by the steamer Southern Cross, and brought on here, A demand is springing up for currants . sales have been made at £4 13s 4d. A small parcel of maize brought ss. A deputation has been appointed to wait on the Government, in reference to the establishment of a labour bureau. In the Herald libel case, the judge declined to certify for costs. Hobabt Town, Sept. 14. The stoppage of three more firms is announced, namely, Messrs Sidler and Co., Messrs White, Mills, and Co., and Messrs Dowie and Woodgate. The Legislative Council, by a majority of one, rejected two Government bills, viz : — Mersey and Deloraine Railway Bill, and Main and Branch Road, Bridges and other General Public Works Bill. Much indignation is expressed. Adelaide, Sept. 14. There is an increase of imports, the excess of whioh over exports for the first thirty-five weeks of the year amounts to nearly three quarters of a million. The Legislative Council rejected a bill for the increase of the salaries of the clerks of Assembly beyond those of the Counoil. The second reading of the Local Court Bill was carried. The Bill extends the jurisdiction of the local courts to actions involving sums to the amount of £500. It embodies other features of the Supreme Court law administration. John Wright Anderson, a clerk in the National Bank, pleaded guilty to embezzling £100, the proporty of the Bank. Sentence on him was deferred.