AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1005, 21 November 1883, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Melbourne, Nov. 13. A telegram from Oooktown announces that Geo. Morrison, who was despatched to New Guinea by tho Age, has been speared by hostile blacks, obliging him to postpone operationsfor sometime to come. The Prince of Wales’ birthday was celebrated in the usual manner by excursions, but in the afternoon torrents of rain came on, drenching the pleasure-seekers, and flooding the low-lying parts of the town. A woman was washed away in attempting to cress Elizabeth street, and was only rescued with difficulty. A cab and horse were washed about 20 yards, and the cab was smashed. A Ministerial picnic took place on Thursday. H .M.’s V.S. Nelson took the p\rty a trip down the bay. Contrary to expectation, the Rodondo has been successfully floated, brought up and beached in Hobson’s Bay, where she will be docked and her injuries examined. Rain fell in torrents, with scarcely a break, from Friday till Sunday night, compelling the Y.R.O. to postpone Saturday’s races. The meeting was held on Monday, when the weather was fine, but the course very heavy. A redistribution of Ministerial seats has been decided upon. Major Sargood is gazetted Minister for Defence ; Mr Deakin, Solicitor-General; Mr Gillies taking the portfolio of Works in addition to the Railways. Mr Sargood will have to seek re-election. The dinner of the Mayor on Friday was one of the most imposing ever held in this city. The Governors of Tasmania and South Australia, the Commodore of the squadron, members of the Government and Legislature and others were present. Sir Alfred Steven made an excellent speech, dwelling on his fifty years’ experience of Victoria. The Rev Charles Strong goes home by the Mesaageries steamer Salazie on Thursday next. Verdi, the actor, filed his schedule yesterday. Liabilities, LI,013; assets, L 469; consisting of LI cash, and L 468 jewellery in pawn. • Further investigation into the cast) of Knowles, who confessed to the murder of Bates, the actor, in 1879, tends to the belief that Knowles is a lunatic, and that his confession is groundless.

ST»NET,JSoy. ¥ I3., 1 .,. The Fire concluded, was very, proceeds will be about L 350. ;P; Disgraceful rioting occurred during the firemen’s procession on Friday night. Many valuable windows were broken by stone-throwing. Some leaders of the disturbances were fined. The Balmain regatta on Friday was largely attended. The racing was good. E. Trickett beat Beach in the scullinp contest. ’ Brisbane, ■'Nov. 1 13. a A terrific storm occurred at Toowoomba. On Sunday morning it was intensely hot; and in the afternoon a gale set in,with terrific lightning and thunder. At four o’clock the storm culminated in a cyclone, of which Toowoomba ,was the centre. A vast amount of damage was done. The gasworks were destroyed, and the manager, Mr Martin Webber, buried under tons of masonry and killed. Geo. Moreton, a fireman of the same works, was seriously injured, and many buildings were demolished. Roofs were blown off, chimneys destroyed, and it is believed that much damage has been done outside the district.