AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3651, 23 December 1879, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

[Br TfiiiEGßAPn.] (Per s.s. Rotomahana via. tlio Bluff.) i VICTORIA. '"- [ Tho woman Tremaync who for upwards o ■ 20 years personated a working miner, ha been engaged by a speculator at £50 a montl to oxhibit herself on the stage. The land tax register for Victoria contain! 108 properties in the first class, valued at £' per acre j 217 in the second class, valued' al £3 per acre ; 360 in the third class, valued al £2 ; and 215 in the fourth, valued at£l. The total tax paid by Mr W. J. Clarko amounts tc £2126 ; Messrs Tait and Churnside, £1953 ; and Sir Samuel Wilson, £1541. Government, after an angry struggle succeeded in re-imposing the duties on winnowing machines, steam threshing machines, and patent mining machinery. The Rotomahana made the quickest pasage, via nobart Town, on record, in a little over four days, including dotention. The Geelong Industrial Exhibition opened oh Dec 18 There were over 5000 exhibits, all the Colonies contributing. Messrs Car.ton and M'llraith,. of Molbourno, aro having built at Glasgow, two large steel steamers for tho coal trade between Newcastle and Melbourne. Ono will be called the Rondo waura or Swan, and tho other Tirimung or Duck. NEW SOUTH WALES. Goldsbrough has beon sold to tho Hon Mr Whito for 1500 guineas ; Chrysolite to Mr John Earles for JO* rt guineas; and Friday's sister to Mr __ung for 70 guineas. Noumea news stato that the Commission eppointed to enquire into tho claims for compensation for losses sustained in the late revolt, havo furnißlud _ report. Tho claims amounted to £100,000, whicli the Commission reduced to £40,000. Reports from tho agricultural districts of New South Wales state that tho wheat harvest is very promising, but caterpillars are interfering with tho hay and maize crops. Mr John Russell, of tho firm of Russell and Co., is dead. All the fruit in the Hunter district has been destroyed by a heavy hailstorm. , The railway from Wagga to Albury will bej opened to Jerogerdt, 20 miles from tho Vic-J torion border, by tho next Cup day. ] Four hundred and fifty thousand people have visited the Exhibition. Tho stockowners are considering tho advisability of establishing a Dead Meat Market j in Sydney, with refrigerating appliances. J The Assembly have resolved, on the/ motion of tho Premier, to go into Committed to consider the expediency of bringing in a Bill, to placo tho entire management andl control of the Ohuroh Sohool lands andl revenue derivod therofrom in, tho hands ofi tho Legislature from January next, to be held for the purposes of public instruction only. Tho Electoral Bill introduced by tho Premier provides 68 districts, returning 103 members. Insolvents are not entitled to vote. / On Dec 11, sixteen convicts at Noumea, after overpowering the guard without injuring him, proceeded on board the Government chartered schooner Mondewai, and seized the master. Tho three blacks forming tho crew jumped overboard, and ono suefceedod in reaching the shore, and gavo the alarm. The convicts made sail before a stiff breeze. A transport and; the steamer Loyalty started in pursuit. A coaster had also previously started, and at dusk was in the Mondowai's wake, about three miles astern. The master of the Mondewai subsequently returned on shoro in a dingy, having been set adrift after tho vessel was well clear of the harbour. Tho schooner seized was full of provisions, and had some spirits on board, but little water. Tho escapees .are of the worst class of (convicts, condemned for lifetime, and were wearing irons.