AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 231, 6 September 1881, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

TBt Telegraph. I [Per s.s. Te Anau, at the Bluff.] MBLBOTJBNE, August 31. The Cabinet is now engaged in the preparation of measures to be presented to Parliament. The Bngineer-in-Ohief of the Victorian Railways has suspended Mr B. G. Ford, engineer of construction, owing to alleged neglect of duty in not attending a meeting of engineers when required to do so. The captain of the steamer Oottertham, from China via Sydney, with a crew of 50 Chinese, refused to have the passengers and crew vaccinated. The Government ordered the vessel to be disinfected, and all who will not consent to be vaccinated will be detained at the quarantine ground fourteen days. At ten o’clock yesterday an extensive conflagration broke out at Hill’s drapery store, Wodonga, and the premises were entirely destroyed ; and, notwithstanding the efforts of the townspeople, the fire spread to the adjacent buildings, which was gutted. SYDNEY, August 31, In the Assembly last night, Mr Copeland moved the adoption of the address to the Governor, declaring that the system of imprisoning healthy persons in houses supposed to ba infected was cruel, tyrannical, and an infringement of the liberty of the subject. Ho spoke at length, and strongly condemned the action of the authorities. Mr Watson replied on behalf of the Government, whom he vindicated against the attacks in the press, declaring that these attacks had done much to alarm the public mind. Ho stated that the law gave full power to act as they had done. The debate was adjourned. A serious collision occurred in Sydney harbor on Monday night between the s.s. Hero and the s.s. Herga, The weather was fine and clear, but the night was dark. The Hero was keeping the usual track, when the Herga ported her helm and stopped her engines, bringing the vessel’s head round. The captain asserts that the Hero attempted to pass on the wrong side, thus causing the collision. The Hero struck the Herga on the port quarter, near the stern, breaking a boat in two and cutting a hole 3£t square in her hull, through which a stream of water poured in in great volume. Beds were packed into the hole, checking the leakage and enabling her to steam up the harbor. The Hero proceeded on her course shortly afterwards. The Herga came up the harbor at full speed, and the water steadily rising in the engine-room, she was run into shoal water, when she filled. ADELAIDE, August 31.

The Chinese Restriction Bill has been read a third time and passed. The Constitution Act was considered in committee, and the clause providing for the Norwegian scheme struck out. The majority of members supported Mr Morgan’s proposal in favor of the dissolution of the Council under certain conditions.