AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume I, Issue 41, 30 December 1879, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

♦ (Per Albion at Bluff.) The following additional news arrived per Albion : Victoria. A small torpedo fuse accidentally exploded at Williamstown while Capt. Mandeville, tho commander of tho Cerberus, and Gunner Groves were experimenting. Both were rather seriously shaken, and sustained a few flesh wounds. The luter-ITniversity Cricket Match— Melbourne v. Sydney—lias commenced. The Melbourne eleven made 370 in their first innings, Campbell contributing 117, Horan 10!). The Minister of Instruction states that if payment ly results is adopted, the cost to the Department will bo increased from L 500.000 to L 055,000. The Department employed 126 new teachers and 814 assistants, divided into six classes. 25 teachers were in the first class, and 1132 in the fifth class. New South Wales. A handsome Sevres vase, tho gift of the French Republic to the City of Sydney, was presented to the Mayor by Capt. Mattliieu on board the Rhine, with considerable ceremony. Tho Mayor sent a cable message to the French Government, thanking France for the vase. The International Fat Stock Show was the finest collection of fat cattle ever seen here. The show of fat sheep was fair. The “ Yass Couri jr” reports the Darling and Blount district? crowded with swagsmen, mostly Victorians, in a starving condition, seeking employment. A movement by stockowners has been initiated for establishing a dead meat market in Sydney for supplying local consumption, and for the receipt and storage of meat for exportation. The Orient made tho passage from Qneenscliffo to Sydney in 37 hours—the fastest on record. Allen, charged with brutally ill-treating a pupil at a Sunday School, was acquitted. It is reported that the Executive is in favor of hanging all the huahraugois. The full Court affirmed the conviction. South Australia. It. is intended to hold a preliminary exhibition a,t Adelaide prior to forwarding exhibits to the Melbourne Exhibition, A wheat trophy, made of this season’s wheat, is to be prepared for the Sydney Exhibition. The Hon. G. Sanclcrnan is visiting this colony with a view to making large purchases of stud sheep for the far northern portions of Queensland. Experiments show that wool of the best quality can be grown north of latitude 25. It lias been decided to collect subscriptions in aid of the distressed poor in Ireland. A competition of reapers for a L 4,000 prize has taken place. Of 27 entiles 14 appeared, including two Victorian machines and one Yankee. Rupert Smith, of Victoria, and George Phillipson, jun., of Wangaratta, weie the Victorian entries. Phillipsou’s machine created a favorable impression. The final trial will take place on December 23rd. Queensland. Parliament was prorogued to Feb. 3. The black bushranger, Campbell, appeared at Pine River, 100 miles from his old haunts, and robbed several houses. it is proposed to lay tramways in the streets of Brisbane. Western Australia, There is great activity at Jararadajio. Scwellis supplying orders of jarrah for Adelaide and New ZealandCaptain Boyd and crew, of the w.vecked Hen Ledi, arrived at Champion Bay in a life boat.