AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 972, 18 June 1883, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Pee Manapouri at the Bluff.]

[by telegraph] Melbourne, June 11.

The Redmond brothers are lecturing in Melbourne, but the attendances are meagre and there is no excitement. Mr Twopeny has refused the General Secretaryship of the Adelaide International Exhibition of 1886, offered by the South Australian Government, on account of prior engagements in New Zealand. Arrangements have been made by the Australasian Electric Lighting Company to light the Legislative Assembly chamber, now completed and ready for the next meeting of Parliament. The Presbyterian Conference is sitting, but no business of great interest has transpired. lenders have been called for the new Princes Bridge, but on opening them they were found to be greatly in excess of the engineer’s estimates, and none were accepted for the present. The Longlands iron foundry at Tarra Bend, Melbourne, has just completed an extensive order for mining machinery at a cost of L 13,000, for India. Prospects of farther trade are visible.

The twelfth anniversary of the Young Men’s Christian Association was celebrated last week. The society now numbers ever a thousand.

The cases for compensation in the Hawthorne accident are being heard daily. It is expected that the total cost of the accident will be unprecedentedly heavy. Sir William Clarke has promised L 3,000 towards the cost of the Clarke buildings at Trinity College. Mr Joseph Clarke has given L 6,000, which, with L 1,500 from other sources, will practically cover the coat of completing the building. The Government have telegraphed to all the other colonies urging co-operation with Victoria in supporting the annexation of the New Hebrides and other Pacific Islands, and the colonies replied favorably. The Marquis of Normanby telegraphed to Lord Derby accordingly, and Mr Service has instructed Mr Murray Smith, the Agent-General, to support it. Mr George Ooppin has started a movement to solve the religious education difficulty by giving religious instruction to children after school hours, and the movement is likely to be (successful, the example being followed by other places. The Argus has another leader advocating Mr Twopeny’s proposal for a* Colonial Exhibition in London. Sydney, June 11.

The trustees of the Art Gallery are in communication with the Minister of Education in reference to a site for a new gallery. A telegram received from Normanton, Queensland, states that Hungerford, whose, exploring companion, Walter Clark, was deserted by him and subsequently killed and eaten by blacks, arrived there. Ho was received by the townspeople with public marks of disapprobation.

Mr George Ernest Morrison, who recently walked from the Gulf of Carpentaria to Melbourne, left for Oooktown with a view of proceeding to New Guinea to explore the recently annexed island. He determined to have no European company, preferring to organise a party of nat ves. The expenses of the expedition are borne by the Melbourne Age . The Austral sailed for Glasgow on Saturday, having been detained just seven months The Sydney launch, containing the manager of the company and friends, accompanied the vessel to the Heads. The engines worked smoothly. Lord Loftus unveiled the statue of the late T. S. Mort, n the presence of thousands of spectators. The proceedings were participated in by a large number of leading colonists, and speeches were made eulogising the character of Mr Mort. Captain Kennedy, of the steamer Hauroto, reports that he saw the reflection of the new electric light at Macquarrie Head fer a distance of sixty-nine miles at sea.

The New South Wales Cricketing Association cannot see their way to send a team to New Zealand. The matter is in abeyanre at present.