AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 917, 2 June 1877, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

The Great Victoria Cold Mining Company, Adelong, has received the Government reward of £IOOO for the discovery of payable gold at 800 feet. Destitution among the Chinese on the Northern goldfield is increasing. The Queensland Parliament was opened by his Excellency Sir A. E. Kennedy. The viceregal speech refers to the Chinese difficulty, and proposes to limit the sphere of Polynesian labor. It promises also a provisional agreement for the free interchange of certain commodities with Australia. New railways, a reorganisation of the civil service, and payment of members are foreshadowed as the chief points of ministerial policy.

The Victorian racehorses by the Aldinga arrived at Adelaide in good condition. The betting on the Cup at latest dates was 100 to 20 against Aldinga, 100 to 15 Spark, 100 to 12 Pride of the Hills and Filibuster.

A foot race is being arranged between Hewitt and Goodfellow.

The question whether the Chinese should exercise the franchise was raised, the Maryborough Advertiser states, during the late election. A number of Mongolian ratepayers offered to vote, but at the Court-house booth, presided over by Mr D. O'Leary, they were refused. Subsequently Dr Laidman, returning officer, directed that their votes should be accepted. The Chinese had been well tutored, and the majority of their votes, we understand, were cast for the successful candidates. The Melbourne Argus remarks that "the result of the elections on the whole is most disastrous and discouraging to the party whose object all along has been to preserve law and order, and to secure good government."

The Melbourne Argus says that in consequence of the aspect of affairs in Europe, an additional insurance rate of {■ per cent, is to be charged on shipments of gold from Bth May up to 31st August. As a consequence of this, the rate of exchange on London has been raised from § to 1| per cent. Dean Sheridan has been appointed vicargeneral of the Roman Catholic Ai'chdiocese of Sydney. A telegram from Gympie states that the last crushing from the Aurelia Claim yielded 13710 z of gold. In the New South Wales Assembly, Mr Partes stated that Constables Foley and Townsend were still under suspension for shooting Father Healey, but that the Inspector- General had been memorialised by the Magistracy of Wagga and the residents of Narandera to reinstate and recompense them, giving both a very high character for long and efficient services.

The Hobart Town Mercury estimates that £IO,OOO worth of property was destroyed by fire at the Woollen Factory at the Cascades, near Hobart Town, on the 7th instant. The property was insured in the Derwent and Tamar, Liverpool, London, and Globe, and Cornwall offices, but to what amount is not stated.

The accounts of sickness among the navvies on the Western Bailway extension, in Queensland, are most deplorable. Deaths from fever, misery, and destitution are everywhere occurring. Several London ships are now overdue at Sydney. The Cairo has been out 180 days, and fears are entertained for her safety. The various reefs at the Palmer diggings show a very marked improvement. Amongst the principal events of importance is the starting of the Mabel Louisa Machine, on Butcher's Creek, and the retorted cake of gold from the Queen of the North p.c, 160 tons of quartz yielding the handsome return of 99-iozs. 12dwts. This lot of gold is without doubt, the finest parcel seen on any of the fields in the colonies,

A case is reported of a party of four youths about sixteen years of age, taking a tribute in a claim at Eaglehawk. They worked for about a fortnight, and on crushing tho stone the yield was 4ozs. to the ton, and last week they dropped on a lump of gold about a pound weight. The ground which had proved so rich for these young miners had been worked and abandoned by previous parties.