LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 521, 29 May 1878, Page 2

LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[press agency.] Auckland, May 28. The City of New York brings the following news:— Sydney, May 24. A meeting of working meu at the Tradfo' Hall resolved to tuke steps to testify their appreciation of the serv : c."s rendered by the late Mr Marr to the Colony and working classes. Representatives of the Borough Councils met to urge tne connection of the suburbs with the city by railroad. A committee of the Trade Labor Council is making arrangements for h public meeting to agitate the suppression of Chinese immigration. At the Australasian Wesley an Conference the Rev, W. Morley, of New Zealand, was elected one of the secretaries. He moved an ameudmeut to the committee's repott offering class meetings as a lest of membership, j substituting as the 'qualification of j membership general adhesion to church j rules. The amemTinenr, however, was negatived, and class meetings affirmed, with the proviso that all devour, persons who could not bo persuaded to attend elass meetings should be invited to par- ] take of the sacrament, receiving quarterly communicants' tickets, and entered on the circuit books. | Melbquhne, Mav 24. I A Parliamentry c•>mr.iision has be>»u j appointed to enquire into the working of the Land Act. ! Th--} Govcvuuvmt has issued a fresh j proclamation prohibiting the lauding of I stock from ports oub-iid« Australian ; Colonies and New Zealand. | la the Alexaudra scuttling case the | jurv disagreed. ! F. SmMi, solicitor, is missinir, and is j supposed to have gone to New Zealand, | and a wa'-rent has berni issued, as it is | allege I some-trust estates have been • tampered with. j At Brisbane, a man named Michael i was murdered by a Chinese, cook. The j deceased was in charge of a flock of I sheep proceeding to a station. The ; body was terribly mutilated, and there | was no provocation. ! Port Darwin, May 24. . Capt. Robinsou and his brother, of the schooner Kiugston, have been murdered by natives, while fishing off Marbiak Isl.tud. One Chinaman and a number of \ minci s at Jat dine, Cape York, attacked l>y blacks, were forewarned, and killed * seven ten blacks. j Tho following special telegrams to (the Wellington Post are from latest : exchanges to hand:— j Sydney, May 15, There is a terrible famine at Manilla. The coffee, sugar, and rice crops are all affected by the continued drought. Thousands of people are dying of stari vation. , All the Russian war vessels whioh were lying in the neighborhood of English ships of war have left American ports under orders, probably in ! anticipation of war. The crew of the steamer Swan, bound | from Conk town to Nuw Guinea, mutiI nied, and put the captain ashore on an island inhabited only by savages. They ! then proceeded on their voyage. ] . May 16. ;. The Thales has arrived at Cooktown with some Japanese gentlemen as passengers, who are on a visit to the colonies. The cattle ship Japm has also ar- ' rived there with 190 Chinese as passengers, same of whom are for New Zealand. There has been 30 per cent, of loss ; in the sugar crop at Manilla. ! An important gold discoverv is reported at Cooktown. The field i» said to include both quartz reefe and alluvial diggings. , In the action Maunsell v. Pro-tor, for breach of promise of marriage, in which the plaintiff claimed £IO,OOO damages, the jury found a verdict for the plaintiff, with £6OO damages. The City of Melbourne, on her voyage from Sydney to Noumea, sprung a leak and had Bft. water in her .hold. By constant pumping she managed to

continue her voyage, and proceeded to Noumea. On anival it was found that her cargo was completely destroyed. The Government fined the captain 60.000 francs, afTd arrested the vessel, which was released on Mr Higginson giving his hond for the amount, pendr ing the result of legal proceedings. May 17. The Public liquidators have arrived at Noumea, from Paris, to conduct the liquidation of the bank, the Government accepting the bank's notes. The Thales has. arrived from Cooktown, bringing 200 Chinese and 100 tons cargo* both for Dunedin, the latter consisting chiefly of rice and tea. May 18. "The Vagabond " has brought an action against Joe Thompson, the bookmaker, for slander, and claims £2OOO damages. May 21. Pailiament h>»3 been prorogued by his Excellency the Governor until 2nd Jul}'. The revenue of the colony proves to be above ihe estimated amount.