AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 832, 3 January 1883, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Victoria. A Masonic ball, to welcome Sir W. J. Clarke, was given at the Town Hall on the 20th ult. An address was presented, and the affair was a great success. On the morning of the 21st a fire broke out at Hemmans, Laws and Co., whole? sale druggists, Little Collins street. In a short time t o place was gutted. The building is very near the Scotch Church, and fears were entertained at one time for the safety of the churoh. The loss was nearly L 20,000. A fresh outbreak of water has occurred

at the Oreswick mine, impeding the investigation as to the cause of the accident. The inquest thereupon was adjourned after hearing the formal evidence. The subscriptions for the sufferers are expected to reach L 20,000. There has been a good deal of discussion in the newspapers respecting the alleged appointment of an Inspector of Permanent Ways by Mr Bent, in express opposition to the opinion of Mr Green, the Engineer of the existing lines. The correspondence published shows that Mr Bent was most discourteous in dealing with the officials.

The inquest on the Hawthorne accident has been concluded. The jury found a verdict of manslaughter against Thompson and Hunt, and they were committed for trial for February 15th, bail being allowed.

Mr David Lee, conductor of the Philharmonic Society, has taken an unpopular attitude ,in connection with the musical festival. He has decided to hold a concert in the Town Hall the same evening as the “ Messiah,” owing to his dissatisfaction at the amount of the honorarium given him for conducting. The Press, generally condemn his action. At the Sandhurst Assizes of 1880 two, lads, named Punch and Corbie, were sentenced to death for criminal assault, and the sentence was commuted to ten years. The girl has now confessed that they were not guilty, and the prisoners have been set at liberty. The Singer Sewing Machine Company have presented each widow left by the Oreswick accident with a sewing machine, i A fire, attended with fatal results,, occurred at Williamstown on Christmas Day, a woman named Cox being burned to death.

On Christmas Day a man named Michael Leonard Oakleigh shot at a man known as Harry Ivsons. He deliberately loaded a gun and fired the charge into the other’s neck. The murderer was arrested.

There has been very fine weather far the holidays, and larger crowds than ever have assembled at the various holiday sports, which passed off without an accident. - The Banks have raised the interest on deposits by per cent. Mr H. H. Weltenhall has been elected unopposed to the Legislative Council vice Mr Sladen.. The musical festival has been a musical success, but it- is not yet known whether it has paid expenses. • :

Cosen and Bros.’ furniture warehouse,! at the corner of Stephen and Lonsdale has been burnt. The stock wOs insured for L 35,000 in' several offices. :

" 'The harbor trust propose increasing the pier accommodation in Hobson’s Bay. 2 . . .-New South Waxes,''. ‘ -A serious fire at Newcastle oh the 22nd ' ult., destroyed a large amount of property. | Thieves took advantage of the confusion and entirely looted Cassidy’s Hotel. It is stated that the Ministry will resign before next Parliament, The follow*, ihgare named as possible Ministers Stuart,. Premier; Cohen, Treasurer; Reid, Education ; Dailey, Attorney-Gene-ral ; Abbot, Justice; Farhell, tanda; Poole, Works ; Copeland, Mines; Sir Patrick Jennings, Postmaster. The racehorse Proctor dropped dead the other day. He was recently bought by the Hon. John Eulese for twelve hundred guineas. The following particulars are to hand concerning the recent wreck at the Clarence Heads The New England, . steamer, engaged in the Clarence River trade, left the Grafton wharf on the afternoon of the 27th ult., for Sydney, having ■aboard fifty-three people all told*, including a number of passengers. She proceeded down the Clarence River,, and, passing outwards, struck. the bat' with , tremendous force, subsequently drifted to the north Spit, where the seas completely washed over her and rendered the vessel a complete wreck. . The passengers were panic-stricken, and both they and the crew sought every available means of escape. Some took refuge in the rigging, arid others in different parts of the steamer, but many were washed • pverboard by the waves Which from time to time submerged the vessel. Two boat loads of people were' landed, and the schooner C. Walker made two trips to the wreck, and saved several of the passengers. The pilot boat went oui; r but did not venture near the wreck on account of the tremendous sea that was tuning. The disaster caused the greatest consternation in Grafton.