AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2147, 12 January 1881, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

["By Teleobaph.] [Per s.s. Botomahana, at Russell.] MELBOURNE, January 6. A proposition has been submitted to the City Council to lay red gum cubes, keyed, instead of road metal, as a preventative against dust. The total attendance up to Saturday at the Exhibition was 570,124. The number who travelled on the railway on New Year's Day was 54,519. Lieut. Williams, the instructor of the local forces, has been dismissed, and this has been followed by the disbandment of the paid artillery. SYDNEY, January 6. The representatives from the various colonies who are expected to be at the conference to be held at Sydney on the 13th instant are : —Victoria, Messrs Berry and Vale .: Adelaide, Mesers Morgan and Mann ; Tasmania, Messrs Gibbin and Moore ; Queensland, Messrs MoIlraith and Moorhead; Western Australia, the Chief Justice and a member of the Executive Council; New South Wales, Sir H. Parkes and Mr Watson; New Zealand, Mr Dick. The number of fares collected on the tramway on Saturdoy was upwards of 40,000, and it is estimated tbat if the line to Randwick had been duplicated 80,000 would have been collected. A meeting of shareholders in insurance companies has been held for the purpose of considering a proposal from the Commercial Union Assurance Company to purchase the company's premises, goodwill, business, and wind up the business of the Sydney Company. The proposal was carried. The effioienoy of salt water for watering the streets has exceeded the expectations formed so much that the question of dispensing with fresh water hydrants in the principal streets in favor of the permanent use of salt water is likely to be seriously deliberated. A gallant rescue has been effected at Newcastle. A girl named Annie Leonard fell off the rocks on Sunday into an excavation, and her cries attracted a man named Diamond, who got down the cliffs, and plunged into the sea at the risk of his life. He caught her, and both were washed ashore much injured. They managed to clutch a rock, to which they hung for ten minutes in a half-drowned state. Subsequently a breaker washed them high and dry. ADELAIDE, January 6. Several bush fires have ooourred, and great damage has been done to several runs. On the Elles Cooler station the store, wool, men's hut and contents, and also the yards, with a great length of fencing ar.d grass, were burnt. The loss was £2OOO. Horn estate had a cottage burnt, and on the adjoining land, Gardener's Mount Schink estate, 30,000 acres of grass, fifteen miles of fencing, and a few sheep were destroyed. A considerable quantity of grass and other property on Crow's run and on lands in Templeman's Gully, have been destroyed. A fire near Glenelg Biver swept a large tract of pastoral country. The plans of the proposed harbor scheme to be established at South Semaphore are completed. They include a harbor, railway, eanal, and docks, and wharves on an extensive scale to cover 553 acres. No estimated cost was mentioned, and the plans have been submitted to the Harbor Department to estimate the cost. Parliament opened on Tuesday. The Governor's speech, referring to the proceedings of the Uto conference, and specially to the agreement between South Australia and New South Wales, explained that it was not proposed to bring any other business before Parliament. The leader of the Opposition warmly attacked the Government proceeding as unconstitutional, by imposing new taxes without the consent of Parliament. A warm debate ensued. The Treasurer made a telling reply, saying that the real question was whether thoir action was justified by special exceptional circumstances. The tone of the House was generally in favor of the Government. The Address in reply was carried without a division. BRISBANE, January 5. A correspondent from the Gulf country reports that on December 9th the weather broke, and the grass is now luxuriant. The land revenue shows an increase of 13 per cent., principally in pastoral rents. Tbe Works Department shows an increase of 19 per cent. COOKTOWN, January 6.

The Menmuir arrived this morning from Foo Ohow. The news from Port Darwin is discouraging. Everyone is ill of fever, including the health officer. Two Kanakas hare been murdered by the natives of Newcastle Bay, and on Christmas Day Inspector Armet went in pursuit of the murderers. The Government schooner Pearl has returned from New Guinea.