AUSTRALIA.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2201, 16 March 1881, Page 2

AUSTRALIA.

[EBUTKB’d TELEGRAMS.] MELBOURNE. March 15. Shipping. Sailed—Rotorua, for the Bluff. -Esthetics and Tomato Sauce. The following further Exhibition awards were announced to-day ; —First order of merit—John Walker (Thames), for tomato sauce; C. G. Armstrong (Dunedin), E. Craig (Auckland), James Dali (Nelson), A. J. Green (Westport), Mrs R. Helms (Greymouth), C. C. Jeffs (Wellington), for collections of New Zealand ferns; Miss C. C. Harris (Nelson), Mrs Tizard (Thames), for water colors of New Zealand flowers. Second order of merit—H. F. Logan and P. Stewart (Wellington), Jameson (Dunedin), for collections of New Zealand ferns ; Miss Butt (Dunedin), water colors of New Zealand ferns. Third order of merit—C. A. O. Hardy (Rakaia), J. Regan (Thames), Mrs Charlotte Spence (Dunedin), Mrs Tizard (Thames), for collection of New Zealand ferns. MELBOURNE. March 10. Progress of Reform Bill. In the Legislative Assembly last night the consideration of the Reform Bill, in Committee of the Whole, was resumed. The members of the Opposition abstained from discussion, and various clauses of the measure wore passed by the Committee. The Bill was reported to the House, and a third reading is fixed for Tuesday next. SYDNEY, March 16, Down in a Balloon. Lestrange, the aeronaut, made an ascent from the Domnin last night* and, in descending, his balloon came on the top of a house at Woolleoma.dloe. The roof gave way, and the balloon was torn. The escaping gas communicated with lights in the house, and an explosion was caused. The balloon was completely destroyed, but no serious damage was done to the house or other premises adjoining. Lestrange escaped without injury. There was a largo crowd in the street witnessing the descent of the balloon, and when the explosion occurred, a panic ensued, and, in the crush and confusion, several persons wore slightly injured.