AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 818, 14 December 1882, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Sydney, Dec. 7. The elections have absorbed all public attention and interest, and the fall of the Government is a foregone conclusion. Already there is a large majority returned opposed to the Ministerial Laud Bill, and each election adds to the list. Seme dissatisfaction is expressed at the Austral inquiry being held in England instead of here. All the witnesses will be sent home. Operations are proceeding for raising the vessel. A coffer dam is being built, and the ship has been rendered watertight. An engineer is on the way from England to superintend. Melbourne, Deo. 7. The Australian central committee of the Irish Land League received a telegram from Mr Parnell, intimating that J. E. Redmond is proceeding to Australia

by the Indus, wluclv'ieft England on the sth inai,, for the purpose of furthering the objects of the New National Organisation recently formed in Dublin. He will visit the principal centres of all the colonies. The house of Capt. Anderson a l . Williamstown was struck yesterday by lightning. Mr Anderson was also knocked down by the shock. Gother’s house was also struck, and his family had a narrow escape. Another railway catastrophe was narrowly averted on the line from Ballarat to Castlemaine, where the railway and sleepers were carried away by storm water, a train, consisting of ten carriages, only saved being wrecked by the presence o mind of a plate-layer. The sufferers by the Hawthorne accident continue to improve, and it is expected that the cost of the accident will amount to over LIOOjOOO. Adelaide, Dec. 7. Heavy rains have fallen in all’parts of the country, and interfere with reaping operations in many districts. There seems no doubt that there will be a low average of wheat yield. Ph rth, Dec. 7. A woman residing in the Victoria Plains, while sitting in the house nursing a baby, was struck by lightning, burning off the ear and part of the hair. She died next day.