AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1832, 6 January 1880, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Via Bluff.] MELBOURNE, December 31. England and France nave applied for more space. The Exhibition Commissioners informed Mr Berry that another £IOO,OOO was required if the request was granted. Mr Berry declines to sanction any further outlay. Victoria won the Intercolonial match easily, making 338 in the first innings. Sydney scored 139 in the first innings, and 103 in the second innings, losing the match by an imjings and 96 runs. Victoria is now two matches ahead of Sydney. A storm of rain deadened the ground to the disadvantage of Sydney. The committee on Foreign Commerce and Revenue Laws of New York Chamber of Commerce, recommended the adoption of resolutions acknowledging the justice of the complaints of the Chambers of Commerce of Australia and New Zealand, and pledging the Chamber to renew previous petitions to Congress for relief from the exorbitant duties on Australian wool imposed by America.

Notwithstanding the efforts of the Governor to compel Mr Berry to submit his Reform Bill as a whole for the opinion of the country, it is believed he intends to abandon f.t least the nominee clause. Sir B. O’Loghlin publicly stated that the Bill could get. along without the nominee system if the party was divided respecting its merits. Probably an arrangement will bo made for a uniform rate of 6d per half ounce for conveyance of mails between England and Australia via Brindisi, and the Southampton route abandoned after the close of the year. Victoria and New South Wales have agreed as to the respective subsidy payable by each colony on account of subsidy to the Cable Company. The exact contributions of other colonies is not decided. The dispute between the Banks and Mr Berry is unsettled. The former insist on belter terms, refusing to renew the old agreement, which Sir B. O’Logblin terminated. The public account is already overdrawn £240,000. The Government is believed to have no power to withdraw the loan except for the purposes for which it was raised. It is probable that at the general election Ministers will submit a specific proposal for the establishment of a National Bank.

Colonel Seratchley has obtained the leave of the Governments employing him to report on the defence of New Zealand. Both sides are preparing earnestly for the general election. Mr Berry brought himself into ridicule by refusing to recognise Sir A. Miohie’s act in subscribing, as Agent-General, three guineas towards the memorial erected in memory of Summers, a distinguished Victorian sculptor, in his native town. Sir A. Michie repaid the Treasury. The Imperial postal authorities decline to accede to the proposal that the dates should be altered so as to admit of the mail steamer leaving Adelaide on Saturdays, but the Victorian Postmaster-General addressed a further communication .to the P. and O. Company, suggesting that Monday should be the day of departure, the day thus lost to be made up by the steamer on the voyage between Adelaide and Colombo. The arrangement gives an additional day for replying to letters in Melbourne.

The United States and Italy are almo.t certain to send their Melbourne exhibits in war vessels. Italy promises an art treasury from the beet collections in the country.

The Melbourne Cathedral will be commenced immediately. Victoria carried off the champion prize for the best exhibit of merino wool at the Sydney Exhibition ; Camming, of Darlington, carrying off the gold medal. The imports at the Port of Melbourne for 1879 wore £11,677,563, and the exports £10,964,509. The aggregate decrease of trade compared with the previous year was over three millions.

SYDNEY, December 31.

A special train returning from Hawkesbury races on Boxing Day ran into a train just about to leave Parramatta station, completely “telescoping” the hindmost carriages, and injuring, it is feared, one person fatally, and about ten others more or less severely. The accident would nave been terrible, only Richardson, the lino inspector, observed the special approaching too fast, and shouted to the passengers of the stationary train to jump out, a large number doing so. The Hawkesbury engine crashed through several carriages before it was stopped. The shrieks of the passengers were terrific, and a number of women were in wild hysterics. Murphy, a laborer, received a frightful j-fggod wound in the stomach ; Turkonton, a brush maker, an injury to tho spine; and several ladies were badly bruised. The passengers in the special were jumbled together, but not seriously hurt. It is believed the accident was caused by the points not being shifted, and the brakes acting badly after rain. The steamer Agnes Irving went aground in attempting to enter tho McLeay Heads on December 28th. A tremendous sea struck her starboard, driving her on to tho south spit. She became a total wreck. She had only just been repaired at a heavy cost. She was insured in several offices for a total sum of £9OOO. The passengers and crow escaped.

The Executive Council have fixed the execution of Scott and Bogan for January 20 th, and commuted the sentences of Williams and Bennett to imprisonment for life, the first three years in irons. The two last were removed to Berrima Gaol. It is reported that the two condemned men have broken down, especially Bogan, Scott exhibits a mania for writing, and has nearly exhausted the stock of paper in the gaol. The Executive considered that the youths Williams and Bennott, were inveigled by Scott. The sixteen convicts, who escaped in the ship Mandewar from New Caledonia, were recaptured, and all condemned to perpetual imprisonment in irons. Kelly and Leon have erected a handsome new theatre in Sydney to hold 700 people at a cost of £SOOO.

Stephen Davies struck James Mansfield on tho mouth for publicly defaming his wife. Mansfield bled to death in an hour. Two New Caledonian ox-oonvicts were committed for trial for attempting to garrotte a resident of Wansby. Tho Government intend to erect a handsonc marble obelisk over Constable Bowen. ADELAIDE, December 31. The trial of wheat harvesters is concluded. None of the machines were awarded the bonus of £4OOO. Tho judges recommended the payment of £IOO to Marshall’s machine, and smaller amounts to three others exhibiting merit. They advise that the bonus be kept open until next harvest. About a dozen ships will load at Port Augusta this season with wheat from the northern areas.

Tho Lord Mayor of Dublin telegraphs that tho distress in Ireland is of sufficient magnitude to warrant tho collection of subscriptions in Australia.

In Western Australia Cobb’s mail coaches will be introduced for the carriage of inland mails.

BRISBANE, December 31

The balance of the debentures of the new loan will bo forwarded to London by tho next Torres Straits mail.

The marine survey of Northern Queensland, at the joint expense of the colony and the Imperial Government, has been discontinued.

An extensive fire occurred at McLennan’s livery stables, Sovereign Hotel, Brisbane. The property was insured in tho New Zealand office for nearly £SOOO.