AUSTRALIA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3146, 9 May 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIA.

(Per s.s. Wakatipu via Wellington). Brisbane, May 3. . A meeting was held at Cooktown last night to petition the Government to take off the taxes on the Chinese, and to pass a Bill prohibiting them from working on new goldflelds for three years. Withenngton, master, and Munro, one of the crew of the schooner Ottawa, were each : sentenced to six months' hard , labour for causing the^ wreck \of the vessel through 'drunkenness 'and neglect. ' ; : . J'.' ! ..,.-■:. ■ 'Melbotjbne, May 3. : : The Cable Conference is fixed for. the 9th inst. ■■■:;•-'• ■: "' :i! '■-•■ ■ •■' ■■■■ •■-. r ; '■' t At 'tlie-'trial'bf Wood's brake in; a- descent of '.^ in' 's2, the ti&in was stopped in 37f s'ecs.'j in a distance of 2165ft., the ' train., running' 66 miles per hour. " ' •■•' ; '■ j: 1 ' 1 ' s ■ The will of the late Judge Fellows has been proved 'at '£25,000.' That of Mr Edward Wilson, of the. Argus, at £23,000 in Victoria. ' A deputation of booksellers waited on the Postmaster- General with the view of obtaining a reduction of the postage on magazines to the neighbouring Colonies, and the adoption of a uniform rate on papers. The Minister replied favourably. ■ Adeiaide.; The Queen has conferred the title of Honourable on Mr Colton, lale Premier, arid Mr Curr, late Commissioner of Crown Lands. By cable from London,' dated April 29, it is reported that the barque Cleopatra, bound for Melbourne, was stranded on March 22, near Pernambuco, and that armed natives plundered the cargo. The crew were rescued and taken to Liverpool.