AUSTRALIA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3350, 3 January 1879, Page 3

AUSTRALIA.

(Per b.s. Claud Hamilton, via Hokitika. The following is a summary of news from Deo. 24, fcho lasfc date to Dec. 27 : — MELBOURNE, Dbo. 27. Tho Henderson parody on the Embassy has had an amusing ending. It was intended that he should be sent Home by the mail steamer wifch fcho other Ambassadors, but the agent of tho P. and O. Company refused to receive him as a passenger. The Government has brought pressure to bear on the Company, who, iv viow of the fact that the new mail

contract will shortly have to be considered' were open to conviction. The police seem to be no nearer capturing the Kelly gang, nor has Wieberg, the Avoca gold robber, been recaptured. Mr S. P. Winter, of Murudai, a colonist of 44 years standing, died on Christmas Day, and the Rev. Donald Lordon, of Sfc. Francis' Church, died on the same day. On Dec. 24, a collision between the Essendon passenger train and a pilot engine, with carriages took place. Though fche trains were nofc travelling afc a greafc speed, fche shock was a sharp one, and several of the passengers were a good deal shaken. The Argus in its summary for England has published a return of all measures rejected by the Legislative Council since fche inauguration of responsible Government, concerning which it says thafc ifc is shown thafc the Council has done no more than exercise a suspensive veto, and has done even fchafc wifch marked moderation and good sense. An extensive firo occurred in Sydney on Christmas morning, at Grossman and Harling's George sfcreefc Swiss fancy warehouse. The damage done is estimated afc £2500. The premises wero gutted and the stock all destroyed except the contents of tke windows, which were saved by fclio exertions of the police.