AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2422, 10 January 1882, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

[By Tblbqbaph.J [Per b.b. Arawata, at the Bluff.] MELBOURNE, January 4. The week has been devoted to holidaymaking, and there are very few events of interests. The Chief Secretary has under consideration punishment for larrikinism by means of the lash. Probably on the assembling of Parliament a measure will be introduced with that object. Colonel Soratehley will shortly conduct an enquiry into the present state of the New Zealand Volunteer force. Mr Francis Ormond has consented to keep open the offer of £SOOO towards the Anglican Cathedral till the end of March to enable the necessary amount to bo collected. The success of the Old English Fayre has led to the announcement of another under the the auspices of the Theatre Royal management. Mr Francis has declined the AgentGeneralship, but in view of the financial transactions in connection with the loans, will probably be induced to accept. An enquiry is proceeding into the recent collision of the Nelson and Julia Percy on Christmas morning. So far it is not ascertained where the blame rests. The cutter yacht Secret, with a pleasure party, was caught in a severe gale in the vicinity of Wilson’s Promontory, and driven ashore. Those aboard had a narrow escape of their lives, and were for a time placed in an unpleasant predicament. Several wellknown citizens were amongst the party. The rainfall last year was two inches below the average of the last twenty-three years. The Champion Race was won by an outsider not mentioned in the betting, while the second horse was scarcely mentioned, Wellington was the only favorite who ran into a placed. The attendance this year was fully up to the average, although the weather was cold, and the cricket match offered a strong counter-attraction. The revenue returns discloses a satisfactory improvement on all sources of income during the past year. The Orient takes Home 2000 carcases of sheep and 2400 oases of preserved meat. The Carthago has also a quantity of preserved meat aboard for the Home market. In the match of the English versus the combined eleven, some excellent cricket was shown. Ulyett came out in fine form, and played a fine innings; while Horan, for the Australians, played a grand innings against all the best bowling. The Sydney steamer Wotonga, belonging to the A.B.N. Company, was wrecked on Monday morning near Port Macquarie. The whole of the passengers and crew were landed safely. The accident is attributed to the fog obscuring the light on the tacking point. The vessel became a total wreck.