AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 676, 27 November 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

PER S.S. ROTORUA. [PRESS AGENCY,] Auckland, November 26. Sydney, November' 20. Welberg, in his confession, states that on August 27th, Chief Officer Bllison assisted in the robbery from the Avoca, and gave him 200 so vs., having too much to be seen on Ellison. The shooting at Williamstown exceeded Wimbledon. Bentell, formerly Mayor of Adelaide, is dead. The sentences in the embracery cases are regard'd as very severe. The Presbyterian Assembly has appointed a committee to promote the religions education of the young, and stmnglv condemned the exclusion of the Bible from the schools.

John Orowther, commission agent, has commenced an action for libel against the Argus. A petition in favor of connecting Sydney with the Northern railway b being signed.

It is rumored that the Governor of Victoria declines to grant a dissolution. The ReV. Charles Chiniqity lectured at Kiama and other places. The Supreme Court has declared the Eelly gang outlaws under the Felons Act. Particulars of the strike of the seamen show that when the steamer Victoria was about to leave the vrharf for Cooktown the men deserted in a body, ap parently according to some pre-arranged plan, but left two or three Europeans below to present accident A Chinese crew was then put on the Victoria and Boomerang. The wharf laborers also struck. Tim men all belonging to the Seamen’s Union, and ascribe the strike to a reduction in pay from £7 to £6. Chinese had bden put ori board the steamers trading between Sydney Fiji, and New Caledonia, which the Onion considers part of the Intercolonial trade, A deputation of the Seaman’s Union to the directors of the Company lasted three hours, but there was no resillt. The Chinese receive £4 less a month than Europeans, and cost less for foo'd. The Company employed 150 Chinamen. The seamen held a meeting in the Protestant Hall, and resolved not to work steamers where Chinamen are employed. At Newcastle the crew of the steamer Coonandarra deserted in a body. The Union has issued a notice to fireman, trimmers, sailors, stewards, cooks, and others.

During the year 1878 2888 Chinamen arrived in New South Walds.

At a meeting of the Commissioners of New South Wales to the Paris Exhibition,- a letter was read from Lambert, Paris, calling attention to the high exhibits from New Zealand which was credited with five exhibitors, and one or two diplomas of honor. The Queensland Expedition has reached the’ junction of the’ Herbert and Rankin rivers. Bodies were found which are believed to be those of the brothers Prout who perished from thirst. Four men were killed and thirteen seriously wounded on the Northern railway line. The French frigate Prance, with 600 troops, has passed Cook town for New Caledonia.