AUTRALIAN NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1827, 30 December 1879, Page 3

AUTRALIAN NEWS.

[Via Bluff.l MELBOURNE, December 22. A small torpedo fuee accidentally exploded at Williamstown, while Captain Mandeville, commander of the Cerberus, and a gunner named Groves were experimenting. Both were rather seriously shaken, and received flesh wounds. The Inter-University cricket match, Melbourne v Sydney, commenced. The Melbourne eleven made 376 in their first innings', Campbell contributing 117, and Horan 109. _ The Minister of Instruction states that since the system of payments by results was adopted, the cost of the department had increased from £500,000 to £655,000. The department employed 1268 new teachers and 714,'assistants, divided into six classes. Twentyfive teachers were in the first class, and 1132 in the fifth class. SYDNEY, December 22. A handsome vase, the gift of the French Republic to the Cify of Sydney, was preaented to the Mayor by Captain Matthieu, on board the Rhine, with considerable ceremony. Tho Mayor sent a cable mesaago to the French Government, thanking France for the vase. The International Fat Stock Show was tho finest collection of fat cattle ever seen here. The show of fat sheep was fair. Among the principal prize-takers in Durhams wus J. Clarke. The "Yass Courier" reports that the Darling and Bland districts are crowded with swagmen, mostly Viotorians, in a starving condition, seeking employment. Tee Orient made the passage from Queenscliffe to Sydney in thirty-seven hours, the fsstoat on record. Allen, charged with brutally ill-treating a pupil at a Sunday school, was acquitted. ADELAIDE, December 24. It is intended to hold a preliminary exhibition at Adelaide prior to the Victorian Exhibition. A wheat trophy made of this season's wheat will be prepared for the Sydney Exhibition. The Hon. Q. Sandeman is visiting the colony with a view to large purchases of stud sheep for the far northern portions of Queensland. Experiment shows that wool of the best quality can be grown north of latitude 25. It has been decided to collect subscriptions for the distress in Ireland. At the second contest of reaping machines at Gawler, there were twelve entries, but two did not compete. At the conclusion four

ware chosen for a third trial to-morrow, viz., Marshall's, of Alma; Fhillipson's, of Beaufort, Viotoria ; Adamson's, of liaura ; and Martin's, of Gawler. BRISBANE, December 22. Parliament is prorogued to February 3rd. A black bushranger named Campbell apS oared at Pine River, 100 miles from his old aunts, and robbed soveral houses. It is proposed to lay tramways in the streets of Brisbane. PERTH, Dooember 22. ' IThero is great activity at Jarradagie in supplying orders of jarrah for Adelaide and Now Zealand. Captain Boylo and the crew of the wrecked Ben Lddi arrived at Champion Bay in a lifeboat.