AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 536, 17 January 1882, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Per s.B. Rotomahana, at the Bluff.] Melbourne, Jan 10. The smallpox on board the Garonne is more serious than at first supposed. Dr Buhner, the Health Officer at the quarantine station, reported last night that two cases are becoming convalescent. John Morgan was attacked on the 4th inst., Albert Capatick attacked on the 7th, and Mary Cleary seriously attacked. The most serious case of all is now in the semiconfluent stage. James Crowe was attacked on the 7th, making six cases in all under treatment. Every possible precaution was taken to prevent contagion. A case of salmon ova aboard for the Otago Acclimatisation Society was carefully excluded from the fumigating process. The order that the Emerald proceed to New Zealand has been countermanded. The Wolverine’s company leave by the Khedive for England.

The destruction of all the vines in the Geelong district will be completed by the end of next month. About L 25,000 will be required for compensation. A scare has been raised in consequence of some remarks by Dr Zoul, the city coroner, that the Melbourne Hospital was saturated with erysipelas, and that the building ought to be pulled down. He attributed a number of deaths in the Hospital to this cause. There are forty-nine entries for the Melbourne Cup, and eight-nine for the Newmarket Handicap. The amount of stakes paid at the Champion meeting was L 3.668.

Large quantities of grain are arriving from the country, and vessels have commenced to load for England, A late telegram from Mauritius to December 25th states that sugar making is retarded by the wet weather ; the market is bare of brewing crystals. Two vessels sailed for Melbourne, two were loading, and two were chartered. The Perth Exhibition was formally closed last week. The Governor referred in felicitous terms to the great practical benefits likely to accrue to the colony, and mentioned that since the opening day the Customs and Railway receipts had increased fifty per cent. Adelaide, Jan. 10. An address has been presented to Bishop Short on his departure for Europe, which testified to his arduous efforts on behalf of the Anglican Church, and his equally worthy and unfailing regard for the interests of ths community. A large crowd witnessed the Bishop’s departure from the scene of his forty years’ labor. Brisbane, Jan. 10. An affray occurred between the police and some New Caledonian escapees who recently landed on Fraser’s Island. When taken to the cells the prisoners resisted violently, and burst open the doors leading from the cells. They were covered by a revolver and submitted.