AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2181, 21 February 1881, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Bv Tblegkaph.J

[Per b.B. Wakatipu, at Wellington.! MELBOCBNE, February 15. A number of Irishmen hare sent a congratulatory telegram to Parnell. Mr Walker has definitely decided to contest Maldon on Mr Service’a retirement. SYDNEY, February IS. The immigration agent ia instructed not to receive deposits on account of assisted immigrants pending the consideration of the whole question in the Assembly. Excavations have exposed the foundations of tne great ball of the Town Hall, which are of a disgraceful character. In places stones, as if thrown in the trenches, open the joints of the masonry, and that overhanging the base is not down to'the rook in some places. The Government ask £51,000 for the year's immigration, a decrease of £25 000. A man named Evans brought to town on the 7th 24 ;z of gold, consisting of a nugget weighing XOoz. and a second one of 2oz, the remainder being coarse nuggety. He states that himself and party obtained it in three days, from two to six feet from the surface, with dishes. The diggings are about 200 miles from Wilcannia. Twenty-five miners' rights were issued. News has been received of fresh finds in the Grey Ranges, but requires authentication. Two coaches left Wilcannia for the diggings well filled. FIJI, February 10. A destructive hurricane has occurred at Levuka, and it is reported that two steamers sank in the harbor. The town suffered severely.

The Queensland Parliament is further prorogued till March 29th. An Afghan having a female camel and a young camel passed through Yulo Pnroo river. The Afghan, in broken English, is understood to have found the camel in the bush, and is supposed to have belonged to the Burke and Wells expedition or a suspected deserter from Elders’ expedition. Skuthorpe, up to the present, has not permitted a single person to see the record or a single article which ho alleges he has at Blaokall. Skuthorpe left Blaokall on January 24th, Nobody seems to know anything of his whereabouts. The Government have decided to call tenders for an alternative service from Bris* bane and Normanton from Thursday Island.

A hut-keeper at Idamere station, Pitur Greek, was murdered by the Blacks. tender for a railway from Emerald Capilla, 32 miles, was received on Satarday the lowest £lOl9 per mile. It ia reported that the Bake of Manchesterintends purchasing a Queensland station.