AUSTRALIA.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2148, 13 January 1881, Page 2

AUSTRALIA.

[eeuter’s telegrams.] MELBOURNE, January 13

Tho Orient Company’s steamship Chimborazo, which recently went ashore in the Backstairs passage, has arrived here safely. The intercolonial yachting regatta takes place in Port Philip on Saturday for the grand challenge race, over fifteen mile course. There are seven entries, including Taniwha and Yictorian yacht Janet. SYDNEY, January 12. Large FireThe business premises of MrW. Beckett, an American importer in Barrack street* wore totally destroyed by fire last night, all efforts to subdue the flames being fruitless. Mr Beckett was absent at tho time from Sydney, he having gone to Shoals Aven. Tho insurances on the stock are:—Mercantile Company, £4000; New Zealand Company, £4000; City Mutual, North British and London and Lancashire Companies, each £2000; total, £14,000. On the building—United Company, £6OOO, half of which was reinsured in tho Victoria, and Australia Alliance Companies. Leichardt RelicsMr. Skuthorpo telegraphs that ho has obtained tho journal of Leichardt tho explorer for tho whole of his trip, and Classau’s journal for half his journey.. Both are in good preservation. COOKTOWN, January 12. RetributoryTho French warship D’Eatrees reports that she visited Basilisk Island, tho scone of tho massacre of the French naturalists, and destroyed a multitude of huts and plantations, but was unable to reach tho Natives owing to the scrub and rocks. She also found a largo barque wrecked near Brooker Island. The boats had left for Sydney or New Caledonia, leaving the captain’* wife and some seamen on board.

AUCKLAND, January 12. FireThe house of Mr Preston, settlor, at Pukekohe, has been burnt down. His son, aged fifteen, an imbecile, was alone ini the house and was rescued, but has since died o£ his bums. At the inquest an open verdict was returned. AquaticA telegram has been received from Mr Niohol, owner of the yacht Taniwha, that ha will race the Janet on bettor terms on Saturda7 New Dock SchemeThe Harbor Board engineer has reported favourably on the site at the North Shore for the dock. No cofferdam will be needed, and the estimated cost is £BO,OOO. Gum to New YorkThe brigantine Ocoola took for New York £IO,OOO worth of kauri gum, NEW PLYMOUTH, January 12. Racing-

There was a largo attendance at the Cambridge Jockey Club races. The following are the results :—Handicap Hurdle Race of 40 aovs—Sportsman, 1 ; Harry Mount, 2 ; Te Whotn, 3. Cambridge Cup Handicap of 100 ■ova—King Quail, 1 ; Yatapa, 2 ; Lonohand, 3 ; Foul Play, 4. This was a grand race, the horses keeping well together. Won by a neck. Railway Stakes of 20 sovs—Ratcatcher, 1 j Paramena, 2 : Sunboam, 3. This was a good race, and was won by a length. Xhe other races were unimportant. A Maori ProphecyThe Maoris are not surprised at Mr Bryce s resignation. Te Whiti, they say, prophesied early in December that ho would not be long in the Government, and therefore it would be no use talking to him. . A Runaway Thief. A' prisoner, recently committed for horsestealing at Patea, attempted to escape from gaol- A mounted constable noticed him running away and pursued him. The prisoner refused to surrender himself until he was covered with a revolver, when he threw his 1 hands up. WELLINGTON, January 12. TIMARU, January 12. School ReturnThe Board of Education returns for South Canterbury for last quarter show the number of children on the roll to be 3506, as against 3424 at the beginning of the quarter. DUNEDIN, January 12. Exodus of ChineseThe Union Steamship Company purpose sending either the Te Anau or Wakatipu to Hong Kong towards the end of April, with cargo and Chinese passengers, of whom there will probably be a largo number. The steamer will proceed to Foo Oboo and bring the first shipment of the now season’s teas to New Zealand. INVERCARGILL, January 12. Mr Shanks’s MeetingMr Shanks addressed a meeting of the suburban electors in the Theatre Royal, Invercargill, this evening. Between 400 and 500 were present. Mr Shanks, who was evidently not in form, spoke very briefly and disconnectedly, and said nothing of general interest. At the conclusion of his address, a resolution was passed by a largo majority, requesting him to resign. Mr Shanks,in reply, declined to accede to the request, believing that ho possessed the confidence of the majority of the electors. The meeting was of no political significance. fPBOM TUB OWN OOBBHBPONDBNT OP THB “PBES3.”] WELLINGTON, January 12. The Parihaka Block--1 understand that 5000 acres of land on the Parihaka block recently surveyed, and situated on the coast north of Cape Egmont, and extending thence towards Warea River, will he placed in the market very shortly. This will be the first block of Parihaka land offered, and the result of the experiment will be watohed with mnch curiosity, as it is nearly opposite Te Whiti’s settlement, but lying to the seaward of the constabulary road line. Xhe land is said to be of excellent gross quality, bnt not so well suited for agriculture as on the Waimate plains. The upset price will probably be £2 or £3 per acre, but it is not yet settled. New Native Minister.

Humors are still abroad as to _ the new Native Minister, Mr J. O. Richmond’s name is freely mentioned, he having just returned from England. The idea is that either some Government member will resign bis seat n his favor if the election is secure, or else that ho will be called to the Legislative Council, but so far as I can learn, I am disposed to think that there is no truth in the report at present. At any rate it is not likely that the vacancy will be filled for some little time.