NEW SOUTH WALES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1888, 5 November 1888, Page 2

NEW SOUTH WALES.

Sydney, November 3. In the city and some parts of the country ligKt rains have fallen, but not sufficient to benefit the crops, which are reported to be m a very bad condition. At Forbes, on the Lachlan river, the yield will be very small ; and at Nawra, the Government township of Shoalhaven, and Orange on the road from Bathurst to Wellington, the want of water is being severely felt, Sydnby, November 4. H.M.S. Calliope has arrived Irem a cruise among the islands. She brings news of a serious outrage which has been committed at Ambryn m the New Hebrides. The natives of this village attacked a boat belonging to the Queensland labor schooner Helena and wounded several of the occupants. Mr Heath, the chief officer, was shot m the ankle. Olsen, one of the crew, was struck with a bullet m the chest and thigb, and a native recruit was riddled with slugs. The wounded were taken with all speed to Port Sandwich, where they were attended to by the medical officer on board H,M.S. Cal Hope. Mr fteath. succumbed to hie injuries, and Olsen is m a critical condition, ihe native is alive, but his life is despaired of. The French warship Favert is making inquiries into matter, and H.M.S. Opal will be sent to the New Hebrides to punish the offenders. . t The matters m dispute between the carpenters and employers hfve not been settled, and all have gone out on strike. The delegates representing the miners out on strike have made overtures to the mine masters, suggesting that all differences with reference to the strike should be sunk, and nothing should be allowed to interfere m men obtaining re-employment, and the masters were quite willing to agree except m the case of officials, but the men decfined a compromise on those terms, and stated they were prepared to stand by their officers. Several Italian miners working m West Wallsend mine have averaged 10s for the past fortnight. They are so satisfied with the result that they have communicated with their relatives m Italy to cora.e out to the colony.