AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 593, 22 August 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

PER WAKATIPU, AT WELLINGTON.

[press agency.]

Wellington, August 21

The News received per s.s Wakatipn which has arrived from Sydney, has been mostly anticipated :

The Lusitania arrived at Adelaide on the 14th, and the Somersetshire at Melbourne, The latter brought 268 passengers, amongst whom is Dr. Ryan, who distinguished himself iu the RussoTurkish war, and received a number of decorations from the Sultan.

The Somersetshire returns to England via the Suez Canal.

Mr H'euty, the oldest colonist in Victoria, is dead. He had resided in the Colony for 46 years, , The new dock is opened oh the Yafra Yarra, and a ship of over 1000 tons has been taken in.

At the Cable Conference held at Melbourne on the afternoon, of the 14th, the rights of Press proprietors to combine for receibing Press messages at reduced rates was discussed. It was plainly shown that the St. Petersburgh Conference contained no articles against combination. It’ is understood that the objections to combination were raised by the Indian Government, and especially against a reduction in Government rates without consent of the Convention. The threat pf the English Government to retain fourpeuce instead of one penny per letter out of its receipts for mails to Australia and New Z.ealand was then discussed. It was stated Victoria would lose £IO,OOO annually, and Sydney ami New Z-.'a-land £/000, it thus new arrangement .wore insisted upon. A message has bo-ni sent to the Victorian Agent-Geue-ral, Abclnc, asking, it’ tin-; Imperial Government had replied to the protests of the Agent-General ou the subject.