AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1850, 27 January 1880, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[By Telegraph.]] [Via Wellington]] SYDNEY. Tr:ckett has received information by the mail that Hanlon visits England during the coming season to retain the trophy won from Elliot. Canon Smith, of Bathurst, is about to visit England, and has undertaken to deliver ten lectures on New South Wales. At a meeting of the Cricket Association, on the 19;h, a letter was read from the manager of the team for England contradicting rumours that the team are not likely to go. Lillywhito is arranging matches in England on behalf of the team. At the execution of the bushrangers, Scott died instantaneously but Rogan struggled for ton minutes. Scott wrote incessantly the greater part of the preceding night. At the first interview with his mother and sister Rogan behaved brutally, using disgusting language. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. Freights are lower: in iron ships they are 60s, in wooden 6i less. The weather is very hot. and several bush fires are raging. One at Port Elliott threatened to destroy the township, end burnt the gardens, haystacks, and grass cf the township. The steamer Seine left Banjoewangi in Java on Saturday, the 17th, paying out the duplicate cable to Port Darwin. The Mission brig John Wesley, from the Solomon Group, was epoken off Newcastle on the 19th, under jury masts, but declined assistance. QUEENSLAND. On the reopening of the Stale schools on the 20th, the Roman Catholic children were noticeably absent. At the half-yearly meeting cf the Queensland Insurance Company, the recent movement to wind up was generally deprecated, and the report was adopted. The heaviest floods known occurred on the Daintrco River ; cedar logs and bullocks were washed away, and apprehensions respecting the cedar cutters’ safety prevailed. VICTORIA. Subscriptions to the Irish relief fund continue to flow in. The committee hope soon to announce the receipt of £IO,OOO in contributions. The Australian Agency and Banking Corporation have declared a dividend of ten per cent per annum. Mr Johnston, analytical chemist, has finished his analysis of the beer of the Queenscliffe poisoning case, and has found enough strychnine in the bottle to poison fourteen men. Tho brewers club are taking action in the case in the interests of the trade. Bush liras are reported in many parts of the country, but no serious damage has been done. The highest heat registered in the country today was HOdeg. in the shade. [?ia Bluff] MELBOURNE, January 20. When Parliament reassembles the Opposition are ready to assist the Government in winding up business with a view to a speedy dissolution. Stormy scenes, however, are expected. Electioneering has commenced, and Opposition speakers receive cordial invitations to address public meetings all over the country, and meet with good receptions in towns where two years ago they would not have beerr allowed a public platform. Even Government supporters now look upon the two main principles of tho Reform Bill as dead, viz., the 6th clause and the nominee chamber, and indications of enthusiasm for the plebiscite are wanting. Tho Government are much ridiculed for prohibiting the performance at the Academy of Music of a political burlesque entitled Happy Land,” which was intended to represent several of the principal characters as members of the Ministry. The “Argus ” and “Age” published the text of the play, when the public were surprised to find the satire unobjectionable. This display of theatrical censorship has evoked much feeling. The management of the theatre offered to cut out anything the Government disliked' and allow Mr Berry his own eulogies, but he declined to permit the production of anything but the original version of “Happy Land.” The theatre was crowded on the first night, and the actors ingeniously evaded the prohibition by going as near the original text as possible, pointing the omissions by the remark That is prohibited.” The publication of tho text greatly helped them. It is believed that Mr Berry intends to cancel the license of the theatre. If so, there is certain to be a party discussion oa it in Parliament. A French half-caste named Ds Tonars, stuck up the Holy Plains Station, near Boxdale, Gippsland. In revenge for being discharged by the owner, he drew a revolver, and the man’s threats collected all the men on the station, seven in number, into the hut where ho kept them for twelve hours. He threatened a woman who showed a disposition to refuse to bring him the owner’s rifle. He also vowed he came on purpose to shoot the owner. He left early next morning, taking a herso and plenty of arms and ammunition. He is not yet traced. Much uneasiness is felt at four cases of poisoning by drinking colonial beer. One man is dead of the effects, but the others recovered. They are alleged to have exhibited symptoms of poisoning by strychnine. The cases all occurred within about a week of each other. It is believed the poison is the result of not properly cleaning the bottles. A singular tragedy occurred at Sanbury. A married man named Benzley was twice detected by his wife in criminal assaults on his young daughter. When he was arrested be cut his throat. The Minister of Lauds states that selectors owe £385,000 rent. The Irish Relief Fund amounts to about £OOOO. Mr Childers telegraphs that there is good hope of obtaining tho consent of the Imperial Government to carry mails via Brindisi at Southampton rates. SYDNEY, January 20. The Irish relief committee remitted £3500 to Dublin. Tooth, a brewer, subscribed £SOO and the Bank of New South Wales the same amount. It is stated that Trickett intends to proceed to England to row Hanlon for the championship of the woild. Hanlon writes that no is willing to row Trickett at Sydney for 10,000 iols. A horrible case of larrikmism is reported at Sydney. A young girl was outraged many times before assistance arrived. The persons injured by the Paramatta Railway accident claim £2OOO damages. Active but unsuccessful efforts ware made to secure tho reprieve of Began, who was fully identified as having been twice convicted in Victoria. A number of the jury requested Lord Loftus to give full effect to their recommendation to mercy, which included Rogan. The Government excluded the press from the execution, fearing tho publication of sensa • tianal or improper accounts. A small section of tho Assembly condemned the action of the Governor in connection with the reprieve of only two bushrangers, but Sir H. Parkes warmly defended him. ADELAIDE, January 20.

Parliament is prorogued till March 12th. The expenditure of the country last year showed an increase of £226,000 over the preceding year, while the increase of revenue was only £60,000.

Several farm laborers at Greenock were fined for torturing a little boy by lockinghim up in a reaping machine, and compelling him to remain there ten minutes while the machine was at work. This was done in order to make the boy confess where he had planted some stolen money, A quantity of wreckage was discovered four miles to Westward of the Great Australian (?). A boc.id was found lettered “ Craigonbrcck.” It is believed the name is wrongly reported ; possibly it is “ Craigendarrock.” The Government have given notice of the resumption of nearly 5000 square miles of country mw leased for past-iral purposes. HOBART I OTN, January 20. The Treasurer delivered the Budget speech. He stated that although the revenue of the past year was slightly under the estimate, yet the colony was in a prosperous condition, owing mainly to tho progress of several industries in the North. The trade of Launceston du'ing the past year showed a large increase over the trade of Hobart Town. It was neces-ary to provide for a total deficit of £155,000. He propos- d to raise £IOO,OOO by the issue of Tnasury Bills, and the balance by new taxation from Customs, the imposition of an excise tax of 3d per gallon on ale and beer, a tax of 9i in the £ on real property and dividends. The new taxation is

estimated to yield £58,000. Resolutions to give effect to the new tariff passed both Houses. BRISBANE. January 20. It is expected that the Scottish Knight will ultimately be got off and taken to Sydney. The Queensland National Bank at Cunnamnlla was stuck up and robbed on Sunday morning by a man named Wells. Ha took £179 from a safe. When Murphy, a local storekeeper, attempted to help the manager, the robber shot him in the herd. The bullet glanced off and lodged in Murphy’s shoulder The robber escaped after a severe struggle, but the townspeople followed and caught him after a hard race. He bed a splendid horse, which unfortunately for him, broke away, or he would have escaped. PERTH, January 20. The corn crops are splendid. In many cases the yield is thirty bushels per acre.