AUSTRALIA.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1740, 17 September 1879, Page 2

AUSTRALIA.

[special to globe.] SYDNEY, September 17. THE EXHIBITION. The weather is glorious, and a general holiday has been proclaimed. The city is crowded, and the opening ceremonial will certainly be a grand one. MELBOURNE, September 16. The cable is interrupted between Batavia and Singapore. A steamer leaves Batavia at noon to-morrow conveying all messages. Tho directors and manager of the Provincial and Suburban Bant were arrested to-day, but were bailed out. Lowe was sentenced to penal servitude for eight years, and Bray to five years. SYDNEY, September 16. Hackett, Morgan, and Scott, directors of the National Provincial Bank, have been arrested for conspiracy. Warrants have been issued for others. [eeuter’s telegrams.] FURTHER CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS. MELBOURNE, September 17. The Hon. Sir Charles Sladen, leader of the Opposition, has introduced a Bill into the Legislative Council providing for a reform of the Constitution. POSTAL DIFFICULTIES, The postal difficulties continue between Victoria :nd South Australia. In reference to the now contract with tho P. and O. Company, South Australia proposes a reference to the Imperial authorities.

[By Tedegeayh.] [Via Auckland.] SYDNEY, September 12, Rains caused destructive floods throughout fie district, damaged railway embankments, and destroyed property and crops. During the past ten days so much energy was thrown into the work of the Exhibition that the success of the opening next Wednesday seemed quite assured. Unfortunately, the weather during the last few days has caused great delay, more especially in the completion of some sheds and buildings in tho outer Domain. Two of tho towers, the northern and eastern, are also incomplete, and a deal is to be dene to the dome and fountain. Thera is still a little leakage in some buildings, but mostly confined to galleries and external walls, the main leakage being in the galleries bordering on the Nave, The Austrian Commissioners suffered severely, several valuable exhibits of fancy goods having suffered serious damage. The Victorian Commissioner also suffered from tbe detention of exhibitors who are unwilling to expose valuable exhibits to the chance of a deluge. | {At Newcastle a terrific fire has been raging. One thousand persons thronged to the scene in Hunter street, the centre of the city. Seven places were totally destroyed. A number of adjoining buildings caught fire, but were saved by the Brigade. At a rough estimate £IO,OOO worth of property was destroyed. The fire originated through an escape of gas, which ignited goods, and spread with marvellous rapidity. A rich vein, six feet wide, is reported to have been struck on the Yalyal goldfields, at Armidale.

Two children, named McGuire, eleven and eight years old, were locked up for maliciously killing fifteen sheep with a tomahawk. The boys were fined £3 and discharged, the case not being severely pressed. BRISBANE, September 12. The Governor was taken suddenly and seriously ill. MELBOURNE, September 12. Judge Barry ordered Mr Berry, in the Daily Telegraph ” ease, to amend his pleas to the declaration, reserving the question of costs. The case proceeds to hearing next term. Respecting the infant heiress to a large property in Scotland, whose custody is disputed, the judges have directed the woman Ganton to take the child to Scotland as servant of the solicitors acting, with payment of expenses on the voyage and for past care.