AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2709, 13 December 1882, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Per s.s. Arawata, at Russell.]

SYDNEY, December 7.

The elections have absorbed all public attention and interest, and the fall of the Government is a foregone conclusion. Already there is a large majority returned opposed to the Ministerial Land Bill, and each election adds to the list. The defeat of the Premier, Treasurer, Minister of Mines, and Minister of Justice was significant. Sir Henry Parkes has since been returned unopposed for Tenterfield, and Messrs Watson and Renwick are candidates for other constituencies. The Treasurer has opposed Mr Stuart, the loader of the Opposition, at Illawarra, but it is thought that he will sustain a second defeat. Mr MTlhone, recently elected for East Sydney, is again up for his old constituency of the Upper Hunter, and if elected will resign East Sydney. Mr Buchanan, it is believed, has no chance at Mudgee. The Mudgee re-elections generally have been conducted in a quiet and orderly manner. It is not known yet whether the Ministry will meet the new House, or resign so soon as the elections are concluded.

Heavy rain has fallen throughout the colony, doing much good. Some dissatisfaction is expressed at the Austral inquiry being held in England instead of here. All the witnesses will be sent home. Operations are proceeding for raising the vessel. A coffer dam is being built, and the ship has been rendered watertight. An engineer is on the way from England to superintend. The wharf lumpers strike, after lasting four weeks, has concluded, the men returning to work at the old wages, and the drivers’ strike has also collapsed. MELBOURNE, December 7. The Australian central committee of the Irish Land League received a telegram from Mr Parnell intimating that J. E. Redmond is proceeding to Australia by the Indus, which left England on the sth inst., for the purpose of furthering the objects of New National organisation recently formed in Dublin. He will visit the principal centres of all the colonies. The premises lately occupied by Briscoe and Company, Collins street, were purchased by the Victorian Co-operative Dress Supply Company for .£67,300. The house of Capt. Anderson at Williamstown was struck yesterday by lightning. Mr Anderson was also knocked down by the shock. Gother’s house was also struck, and his family had a narrow escape. Another railway catastrophe was narrowly averted on the line from Ballarat to Castlemaine, where the railway and sleepers were carried away by storm waters. A train consisting of ten carriages only saved being wrecked by the presence of mind of a plate-layer. Tuesday’s thunderstorms made a deal .of damage. Two-and-a-half inches of rain fell in twenty-four hours. The steamer Rotomahana was delayed in the Yarra and got aground endeavoring to pass the Europa also aground. Her cargo was removed into the Ringarooma, which was prevented coming up to the wharf. The sufferers by the Hawthorne accident continue to improve, and it is expected that the cost of the accident will amount to over .£IOO,OOO. ADELAIDE, December 7.

Heavy rains have fallen in all parts of the country, and interfere with reaping operations ,'in many districts. There seems no doubt that there will be a low average of wheat yield.

On Monday evening a meteor resembling a large golden comet was visible, travelling from the east to the west. PERTH, December 7.

A woman residing on the Victoria Plains, while sitting in the house nursing a baby, was struck .by lightning, burning off the ear and part of the hair. She died next day.