AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 508, 27 May 1881, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(By Telegraph)

(Special to the Mail.,

Melbourne, May 26. «: Arrived—Union Company's steamship Rotomahana, from the Bluff. No progress is being made with the consideration of tho Reform Bill in the Legislative Assembly. The Legislative Council meanwhile is delaying the passage of the Land Tax Bill. The latter Chamber now'stands adjourned to May 31. Adelaide, May 26. The agricultural statistics of South Australia, published to-day, show that the area under cultivation is 1,734,000 acres, being an increase of 275,000 acres as compared with last year. Tho yield during the past season bas been 8,606,000 bushels, a decrease of 5,640,000 compared with the season of 1880. This year's average has been 4 bushels 581b per acre, against 9 bushels 471b last year. Sydney, May 26. A child of a Chinese merchant resident in Lower George street is suffering,, it is feared, from small-pox, but hopes are entertained that the disease may only be chicken-pox. Meanwhile every precaution is being taken to pr event the spread of the contagion. Communication with persons outside has been cut off, and the house is now guarded by the police.

(From The Lyttelton Times)

Melbourne, May 25. Tho completed returns of the census taken on April 3, show the total population of Victoria to be 946.08 C. A cargo of New Zealand oats, which arrived from the Bluff per schooner Gleaner has been sold at 3s 4d per bushel.