AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 731, 1 February 1879, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[press "agency.] Melbourve, J umary 21, The Acting ('hifef Secretary intimates that the Victorian Government is fully impressed with the necessity of uniteij art ion by the Australian Colonies to the impending danger of a large Chinese immig atim.

Negotiations have been opened-with the New Son'll Wales Government for the abolition of 'the bonier duties on the Murray.

Mr (iraluiiu Berry will arrange, with the Imperial authorities for the appointment of an engineer oßicer to sii|>ervisie Colonial defences, the expense to bp borne proportionately by the various Colonies. Col. Stewart, R.E, is named f»r the post.

All .State School pupils to pass a special examination will soon receive tutition in extra subjects free.

>Statp School j.Savipg.s Banks are to l»e established, 'and model worksliops as soon as possible. ‘ A fund is being raised for' the relief of the im|K)v;erished. shareholders of the City of Glasgow Bank. One hundred and sixty-two thousand acres of the Cape Otway forest have been thrown open for selection. Tbe Victorian Anti-Chinese League Association define . their arms to be the lestriction, and, if, necessary, the c uuplete prohibition of Chinese immi-g'-ation, absolute discontinuance of trade with the Chinese already here, and agitation for .effective legislation oil the Chinese question. . The Californian salmon in Victoxian waters are protected from capture until 1882. .

Lady Bowen ha* been presented with the bullet with whiclvshe scored a hull’s eye when opening the Williamstown Butts. It was elegantly mounted. The Melbourne Cricket Club have engaged Charles Ban Herman.' Three children named Blake were burnt to death death at Collingwo >d on 16th of January. Their mother escaped from the house with four of her children.

Sydney, January 21. The New' South Wales International Exhibition will be opened on September 1; Mr Augustus Morris is appointed Sect etary. It. is prop set! that Captain Cook’s tqatue should be plac d in the building to mark permanently the site of the first Austia.im Exhibition. 250,000 feet of space has been applied for by European exhibitors. The estimated cost of the building is .£IOO,OOO. The Bull! coal miners are still locked out, and the police have, been .sent to protect the uou-uuiouist men who are. at work. A hurricane at Norfolk Island has done considerable damage.

• The schooner Conflict has arrived at Sydney with thirteen unsuccessful New Guinea explorers. Admiral Thonara, French Commander in the Pacific, has arrived in the Victoi ienne.

Ihe Firth of Tay, from Glasgow, Was run into north ‘of the Line l.y '-i barque, which, though hailed, bore away without reply. 7“ Arwell 370 been -smut in hitherto waterless country, south of Lake Frorne, and-a supply ot 10,000 gallons of water a day obtoinedjTba carrying capacity of the country ard immensely increased. , , . yiy ' Rust is very general, and the Wheat average will he reduced from seven busheis per acre. 1 The special, raee meeting at' Randwick * on January 18, intended as a C'unpli-, mentary farewell to Sir Hercules- llobinson, was attended by almost7ooo' per-’; sons. The resubs were : ~ Flying Handicap, Kx|ieetiitiou j Hur-lle Race, Poverty * the fsonvetiir'Handicap,' Mi*. Toiry’s Handover 1, The Drum '2 j Welter Plate, Riflemen ; Valentia. Cnp, Loader’s Pontiff-; Farewell Handicap, Hnlbert. Mr Louder requested. Lady Robinson to accept the Yalentia Cup trophy as a souvenir of the meeting. ' ;

The New Caledi mian insnrivetion has been suppressed. Hundreds of the rebels were killed or did of thmr wounds or starvation. Horrible cannibalism was committed by both hostile and friendly natives. ;'

Adelaide, January 21. It is feared that Captain Tbyle, of the barque Renninquede, and four seamen have been drowned at Port Pirie. I hey left the ship in a boat, and have not since lieen heard of. THAT “HEATHEN CHINEE” An amusing incident occurred;.si few evenings ago (says the WflHggton Post), in which a “ Heathen was a prominent actor. A«. lie was passing a g>ocer’s window in • \yiUis ; : str -et. his eye caught a large coloured picture of a woman washing a negro hoy hi a, tub. ;■'The pvonrieto.r t>f the ?hop, seeing lie was greatly taken with it, asked him if he would like, to go through tin* profees- of being wasbe 1 white ami made au English.ma.n.. “John,” with a braining countenance assented sit once. _ So he was invited ti enter, and ordered to unrobe, l ie set to wo'iflc with apparent joy, ! and prepared for the ordeal. .The' proprietor then bad- biimdtnWl down and cover his head wit h a t »wel, and then shine flour and water was applied with vigour, ami well rubbed in ; 'aß&opd person next appeared with.a laPgo%We and saw ami told “ John” to ! - quiet, as he was about to sartfromdiis neck and take the yellow hide oil him. “ John did; pot: like the sound of the knife sharpening, so he jumped up, and the sight of-the Tqrmidabie ap|»eai-auce.so terrified him that' .he broke into a howl of broken English, and did not wait for;the end of the washing. process., die >vas'last seen with bis .coat and waistcoat under his arm, making for the W’airarupa.