AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 793, 16 April 1879, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[NEW ZEALAND PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Melbourne, April 8, From April 1 to April 8.

The banks say the Government must purchase drafts in Melbourne for half a million, payable in London to the Hobson's Bay Railway shareholders. The banks will thus make a profit of some thousands by the exchange. The drought appears broken up. Copious rains fell yesterday. Viotoria has now 1074 miles open without the Hobsou Bay Railways, and eight miles constructing. The national savings last year amounted to £590,976, or about tour per cent upon the capital cost.

The Presbytery of Melbourne strongly protested against the action of the Minister of Railways calling hundreds of men to work on Sunday the 31st ult.

The Melbourne Meat Preserving Company rind a profitable sale in England for their compressed meats in square tin*. The abandoned bark Suffolk Was seen in flames near Cape Howe.

Yeoinaus, Secretary of the Reftirm League hag resigned. Elliot, a dismissed assistant secretary, is suing Mr Longmore, president, for L3OO. Disclosures are expected. Twenty thousand trout ova, imported hy Sir Samuel Wilson, was a total failure through careless packing. The fellmorigers' Bmplnyoes assertfhat stock tax has thrown 600 men out of employment in Melbourne: Before the the tax 17 fellmongery yards were at work in the city; now there are only six or seven. They intend to petition for its repeal.

The Government Astronomer reports Browsen's comet visible in the constellation Aries.

Monk has received a third letter from the tfelly sympathisers threatening his life.

On board the French barqne Rpgina C. Oeli, at Sftndridge, the crew attacked the master and mate. The sober seamen rescued them.

An apprentice on the Lochness fell from the royal mast head to the dec k without injury.