AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2083, 27 October 1880, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[By Tbibqbaph.]

A portion of the Australian News, per e.s. Eingarooma, was given in our yesterday • issue. Tho following are additional items ■ MELBOURNE, October 19. The Government railway scheme, which passed at a Cabinet meeting on the 15th, embraces a total of 450 miles, the cost of which varies from £2OOO to £14,000 per mile. The suburban lines are the most expensive, but in thinly populated districts cheap lines for slow speeds will be constructed. Among others is a line from Eodriega to Murray, meeting the overland line to Sydney, Mr Patterson will notify the Bill on Tuesday, and will make a motion on Wednesday, when full details of the scheme will be submitted. The statement that the Orient has been fitted up with refrigerating machinery for the export of moat is not true, but a small dry air chamber was fitted for the passengers’ provisions. This worked with perfect success during the voyage. Nothing as yet has been done by the P. and O. Company for refrigerating beyond providing similar chambers for shif b’ use. . Mr Hayter, Government Statist, gives tho following population statistics Victoria, 899,000 ; New South Wales, 734,000 ; Queensland, 218,000; South Australia, 250,000; Western Australia, 29,000 ; Tasmania, 112,000; New Zealand, 464 000. The aggregate being 2,710,000. The populations of all the colonies show an increase.

The Victorian Farmers’ Union, at a meeting on the 13th, rejected the proposal for the imposition of protective duties on feeding grains, and also passed resolutions favoring the abolition of the present duties on agricultural implements. Superintendent Haro, who has been in a very critical state for some days, has rallied and the doctors believe that the spread of erysipelas has now been checked. It appears that the attack was due to Hare having shaken hands with a person recently suffering from erysipelas, although quite convalescent. The final acceptances for the Melbourne Cup make up thirty-seven. Surprise is expressed at several horses being left in and others withdrawn. Among the latter are Lord Harry, Sweetmeat, Zambesi, Grand Prix, Sir Joseph, and Yardley. Mr Kotten gives six more performances, aft r which he leaves for New Zealand. Mauritius telegrams confirm previous reports of the favorable piospects of the sugar crop. Nine hundred tons are already reported to be engaged for Dunedin. Seven hundred are still uncleared. Freights to New Zealand 32s fid, with little demand for tonnage for Adelaide and New Zealand. SYDNEY, October 19. The increase in the wool arrivals for the year ending October is 42,000 bales. There was a great conflagration at Wagga on Friday evening on the premises of Adrian, furniture dealer. The adjoining buildings, consisting of the Masons’ Arms Hotel, chemist, sadlers, tinsmiths, Masonic Hall, Pastoral Hotel, Criterion Hotel, tobacconists and drapers caught fire, and all were more or less damaged. The civilians refused to assist the brigade, who worked splendidly, and who saved £20,000 worth of property. Rudd, M’Graith and Sadler were insured in the New Zealand Insurance for £SOO. The stock was saved. The Masons’ Arms was insured for £2OOO, and whereof £4OO were in the New Zealand Company. The total loss is estimated at £IO,OOO. The fire is believed to have been accidental.