AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3987, 2 May 1884, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[pee eotomahana at the bluff] Melbouene, April 24. The anniversary of the eight hours' movement was celebrated on Monday by the usual procession ax\i.fete. A bazaar, which has been held for the benefit of the Austin Hospital for Incurables, realised over £2000 clear. Professor Miller and Donald Dinnie wrestled at tho Exhibition on Saturday night, and during the struggle Miller broke his ankle.

Another railway accident, which might have been attended with serious consequences, took place on Monday evening close to Spencer-street station. A passenger train was leaving the station for AVilliamstown, and when crossing over the points was run into by the incoming train, the engine of which first took awaythe side of one carriage and then crashed into the next one, which was fortunately empty. The passengers in both trains wore seriously alarmed, but fortunately no one was seriously injured. The driver being suspended stated' that he disregarded the danger signal. Captain Smith and John M'Lean, the first engineer of the s.s. Battman, have been charged before the Steam Navigation Board with drunkenness during the voyage from England. The captain's certificate was suspended for two years, and the engineer's for one month. Mr Glover states that 30,000 persons have taken the blue ribbon in Victoria.

The Government intend introducing a new Licensed Victuallers Bill.

At a meeting of the Trades' Congress, Mr Service impressed the necessity of resisting the influx of French convicts and the establishment of a Federal Executive, as recommended hy the Sydney Convention. Sydney, April 24.

Tho barque Castleton, from Dunedin, about which some groundless fears appear to have existed, arrived at Newcastle on the 20th March, and sailed for tho Mauritius on the 21st April. Tho rojiort of the M'Elhone-Hanksaker case was agreed to in the Assembly last night. Mr M'Elhone affected to treat the entire matter with contempt.

The Gundagai election was in the nature of a surprise, and is regarded as a defeat for the Government, as Mr Watson was championed by Mr M'Elhone. Messrs Mort and Co, arc about to erect new wool warehouses at Circular Quay. The floor space will amount to four acres. Mr A. G. Tajor has been suspended from sitting in the Assembly for a week, in consequence of his obstructive tactics. He has issued a writ for £1000 against the Sergeant-at-Arms in order to test the case. Drought is still prevalent, and stock are dying by wholesale in the back districts from lack of feed and water. Beisbane, April 24. Tho barque Lanarkshire, bound from Queensland for Lyttelton, in ballast, which went ashore at Flinders Passage, has been floated uninjured. The steamer Victory has returned from the search of the missing schooner Mary King, from New Zealand, and reports that no trace has been discovered of the vessel. Hobaet, April 24. It is considered probable that the direct service between Hobart and London may fall through, as it has transpired that the Orient Company do not intend to send direct from London, but only to allow the steamers to call on their way from Sydney.