AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2169, 7 February 1881, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Be Telegraph.]

[Per s.s. Rotomahona at tho Bluff.] MELBOURNE, February 1.

Political quietude continues throughout the colony. Messrs Berry and Yale have returned from Sydney, and are now occupied in departmental work. There is almost complete dearth of news of more than local interest. The Bill to be presented to the Legislatures of the respective colonies provides a new Colonial Court of Appeal, which shall have jurisdiction over Now South Wales, Yiotoria, South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia, and Tasmania, The Governor of each colony shall appoint the Chief Justice to be one of the Judges. The Court may sit with three Judges, and at tho place where there is most business. Any person in the colonies may appeal to this Court, reserving, however, appeal to tho Privy Council. Appellants must provide security of five hundred pounds. Tho Australian Frozen Meat Company have received a telegram that the butter ex Protos, is selling very freely in London, and and that the whole venture realised a profit of £2OOO to £3OOO. It appears probable thot the Protos will be permanently employed to carry frozen meat. It is stated thot the Government intend to prosecute tho driver of tho goods train in the recent collision at Ballarat. On Friday the Board of Inquiry proceeded to Ballarot to investigate the circumstances of the collision.

Dr. Cairns, one of the oldest Presbyterian ministers, died suddenly on Saturday from disease of the heart. Dr. Cairns founded Ohalmer’s Ohurob, Melbourne, in 1853. The death is also announced of Mr Moore Sell, of Banks, Brothers and 8011. Baron Yon Mueller has written to Mr Berry suggesting that another search expo* dition be sent for the discovery of Leiohordt’s party. SYDNEY, February 1. The Emerald returned to Sydney from the Solomon Islands yesternight, and reports that she arrived at Savo on the 18th December, where she obtained information of the massacre of the crew Zephyr, of Sydney. After taking aboard a guide, she proceeded to Barrango Florida Islands, first landing a party, and left on the 20th ; the Emerald proceeded to Malay Tapi, where the orew of the Auckland schooner Borealis was killed, and the Teasel taken. The villages were found deserted, but the natives being observed on the hill, shells were fired at them. The shore party destroyed six villages. At the place where the Sandfly massacre occurred, the bush is impenetrable. The native bouses were fired, and oocoanut trees felled. This work continued at several other places, the party returning to Beta more than once. At Noma Island a cross was erected to the memory of Bower and orew. At Ooombakul traces of the Zephyr were discovered, and amongst others the ship’s log and articles. At Noma several armed Natives were soon, a village was shelled, and a hundred huts destroyed. Canoes were also sunk. At Mawstone Island the Natives fired at the vessel with rifle shot. A large native village was seen on the hill a thousand feet high, and some shells were thrown into the place. The Sandfly brings two prisoners. No nows of interest from Adelaide or Brisbane.