AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2259, 25 May 1881, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

TPer s.s. Australia, at Auckland.] MELBOURNE, May 19. The Mayer has issued invitations for a ball during tho visit of tho Squadron. In answer to a deputation, Mr Berry indicated his intention, if possible, of transferring £25,000 from the railway loan to the Educational Department for tho construction of new schools, such transfer to hold good for a year, and be recouped by a fresh loan for educationol purposes which it is intended to submit to Parliament next session. SYDNEY, May 19. Dibba, who underwent twelve months’ imprisonment as debtor, with a view of liquidating £3355, representing tho judgment and costs against him by the Supreme Court in tho aotion for slander, was released in the Insolvency Court on Monday. Learning that shippers at private wharved had an undue advantage over those who used tho Government wharves, tho Government have decided that the wharfage rates at Newcastle be abolished for the present. The Seamen’s Union has resolved to subseribe £3 weekly towards tho support of the curriers, now on strike. They decided also to raise a subscription for the benefit of the relatives and friends of the members of the various Seamen’s Unions in Australia lost in the Tararua. Tho Curriers’ Society at Melbourne have forwarded £SO as an instalment towards tho support of the men on strike, and efforts will be made to send a like sum weekly during the strike. Aid from other societies is solicited. In tho charge of arson against Becket, in connection with the Barrack street fire, the evidence for the Crown is completed, and a number of witnesses for the defence have been examined. The further hearing was postponed. Hundreds of Chinese recently arrived in Sydney have passed up the lino en route to join their countrymen at Murundi, It is also believed that the Europeans must eventually be driven from tho mines hero. ADELAIDE, May 19. The Wesleyan Conference, after a long debate, negatived a motion affirming the expediency of making the New Zealand Conference independent, and adopted a resolution to tho effect that the proposal was premature, and that a carefully prepared plan should, in the first instance, be submitted. The Rev. Bavin, a New Zealand delegate, was unable to attend the session through serious indisposition. The Church of England Synod passed a resolution expressing sympathy with tho survivors of the Wesleyan delegates drowned in the Tararua, tho expression of sympathy to be forwarded to the president of the Wesleyan Conference. It is reported that the Government intend introducing a Bill to repeal the Civil Service Act and abolish retiring alio * ances.

At tho Wesleyan Conference on Tuesday the Rev. Brown, who led the expedition against the perpetrators of tho massacre in Blanche Bay, Now Britain, gave an exhaustive statement of his action. After discussion, a resolution was passed sympathising with him in his perplexing and painful position, assuring him of their entire confidence. A meeting in connection with the Wesleyan Foreign Missions was held yesterday. The Rev Mr Lungham, connected with Fiji for twenty-three years, stated that 100,000 regularly attended services there. The work in New Zealand and New Britain was referred to as successful.

Trooper Pearce, murderously assaulted by Johnston, near Kingston, on Monday, is dead. He was the son of the Hon, James Pearce, News has been received hero that among those who perished at tho burning of the Opera House at Nice were three members of tho wall-known Kennedy family. Their names wore—Jas. Kennedy, aged twentythree ; Kate Kennedy, nineteen ; Lizzie Kennedy, seventeen. Tney are the children of David Kennedy, the Scotch vocalist, who some time since made a professional tour of the colonies.

BRISBANE, May 19, Complaints come from Maokay of the scarcity of white labor, numbers having gone to Nebo diggings. The Divisional Board are unable to got tenders for road work. The schooner Biask Hawk arrived yesterday, and put in hero to sell her cargo and refit. The report which was circulated that this vessel was taken by Solomon Islanders and tho crew murdered is entirely unfounded.

The census returns for Brisbane City proper give a population of 22,850, being an increase of 2347. The population of the city and suburbs amount to 39,550, or an increase of 4419 in five years. The Rev. Chalmers, in writing to the magistrates from Thursday Island in reference to tho last massacre, advocates tho employment of troopers to punish the outrage, as they will Drobably bo able to do more than the whole British fleet. Tho returns from tho Gympie escorts for the present year up to April sth, give 19,335 ounces, showing a higher average than any year since 1869.