AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2379, 17 November 1881, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Be Telegbaph.J [Per e.s. Alhambra, at the Bluff ] MELBOURNE, November 9. The Tariff Commissioners are sitting, and have already examined a number of manufacturers. The case Smith v Iflla, occupied the Supreme Court for several days, and excited a good deal of interest. Plaintiff, a shopkeeper at Emerald Hill, sued defendant, a doctor, for £IOOO damages, for signing a certificate under which he was committed as a lunatic. Smith was jealous of his wife, and accused her of improper conduct with the neighbors. A mass of evidence was adduced on both sides, the plaintiff’s case being that his wife wanted her husband out of the way, having previously asked for a separation. Smith was confined some time, but released. None of the medical witnesses would swear that he was insane. The jury gave a verdict for £525. The Minister for Railways has agreed to give the Westinghouse brake a year’s trial on the Victoria lines. Claims amounting to over £45,000, by fifteen sufferers by the Jolimont railway accident, will be referred to juries. This does cot include the claims of the widows of four kiled. The transit of Mercury was observed yesterday, but the weather was rather unfavorable. Rain is much wanted, and is still six inches below the average. Mr Thomas Hardy, inspector of vines in South Australia, has reported on the phylloxera in Geelong vineyards. He recommends its total eradication in the infected district, otherwise there will be no security from the terrible scourge. Professor Andrew has been appointed to the Chair of Natural Philosophy of the University, and Professor Henry Laurie, proprietor and editor of the Warnambool “ Standard,” lecturer on logic. The stakes paid over at the Spring Meeting amounted to £12,654. The Maribyrnong Plato was worth £lßls, and the Melbourne Cup £IBOO. Five bookmakers won largely throughout the meeting; one owns to £25,000. At a meeting of the Frozen Meat Company yesterday, the directors impreesed upon the shareholders the necessity for a reduction in the cost of freightage, which on past shipmonte amounted from 2Jd to 2J-d. This was altogether out of proportion to the work done by the ships. It is proposed to employ sailing vessels in order to reduce the freight to lid. All sheep then sold above 4.jd would yield a profit. SYDNEY, November 9.

The schooner Venture brings news of a treacherous attack by natives on the schooner Atlantic, at an island in the Solomon group. Captain Howie had a very narrow escape. The deck was crowded with natives, but they were all beaten off, and the chief killed. The mate and captain were both overpowered, but managed to free themselves after receiving serious wounds. No doubt now remains that the Omba foundered with all hands. Nothing has been heard of Mrs Watson and family, left on Lizard Island. There is no doubt that they were killed by the natives. PERTH, November 9. The exhibition building is fast approaching completion. The Government have granted the promoters a gang of prisoners to assist in the work. ADELAIDE, November 9. Police Constable Richard James was shot dead by Trooper Wall in the barracks on the sth. The occurrence was quite accidental. Johnston, the murderer of Trooper Pearce, near IVlount Gambier, will bo executed. The Appropriation Bill, amounting to £1,600,000, has passed, A valuable auriferous reef has been dis. covered in the neighbourhood of Woodsido.