AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2446, 7 February 1882, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

[By Tbiesbaph.] [Per s.s. Te Anau, at the Bluff.] MELBOURNE, January 31. The third class passengers by the Garonne were released on Saturday. There has been some complaints in regard to the treatment, but these grievances are apparently now forgotten. The Mirzapore's passengers have all been landed, and the ship is to be thoroughly fumigated. Some of the Hobson's Bay passengers are loud in their oomolaints at being detained, especially those booked for Sydney. All the sick are proceeding satisfactorily, but one further case of siokness was reported last night. The Bussian squadron will remain here about three weeks, and the vessels will probably be docked. Mr Francis Ormond has been returned unopposed for the South-Western Province in the Legislative Counoil. Sir John O'Shannassy intends spending two months in New Zealand. A sensation was caused at the Geelong races by all the persons in the enclosure set apart for the totalisator being arrested. The Jockey Club had let a piece of ground to Mr Franck on whioh to work the totalisatoi. The polioe waited till the race for the Gold Cup was over, and then arrested all present, numbering nineteen persons. The oases were heard at Geelong yesterday, and the majority dismissed, the Police Magistrate dissenting. The action of the police is very unpopular. George Pearoy, a well-known cricketer, has been arrested for embezzling between £6OO and £7OO from the Metropolitan Building Society, of whioh he was cashier. The prisoner, stung by remorse, confessed and sub sequently gave himself up. The case will be sent for trial. It is probable that the Government will apply to the Home authorities for the services of an Imperial officer for five years, as commandant of the volunteers in succession to Colonel Anderson.

Very hot weather has been experienced. Sunday was one of the hottest days this season, the thermometer being 105 in the shade. Dastruotive bush fires have taken place in various parts of the colony, and the losses to farmers are considerable, fencing) crops, grass, and sheep being destroyed, and there have been several narrow escapes from loss of life. At Lancefield, on Sunday, serious fears were entertained that the town would be destroyed, but fortunately a ohange in the wind drove the flames back.

A distinct ehoofc of earthquake was felt at Jamieson on Monday afternoon. The harvest rotums continue very satisfactory, and in many instances the results will be muoh beyond expectation. A shipment is being sent direot to Belgium. A boy, thirteen years of age, committed suicide by shooting himself with a rifla, beoause he had been reprimanded by his mother.