AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1369, 19 February 1881, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Sidney, February 8. There was a rush to-day to pay duty on tea and tobacco, in. anticipation of the financial statement. A private conference of delegates from the miners' lodges was held to-day. Representatives of all the collieries were present. Important business is said to have been transacted bearing upon the present state of the coal trad«. The news reported of a gold discovery near Wilcannia is expected to cause a rush there immediately. A digger found a 12oa nngget of gold at Forbes on Saturday. The weather continues showery here, and is unsettled in the country districts. A large number of people are leaving to-day for Mount Poole diggings. It reported that gold is plentiful at a depth of from 6ft to 13ft. The reported gold discovery at Mount Poole is causing great excitement at Wilcannia. A letter from Wilcannia says that parties are organising there with teams to convey rations to the new goldfield. No person can venture without plenty of means as the diggings are 200 miles distant aud quite isolated Wilcannia being the nearest town to Mount Poole, and the stages between ! water are of 40 to 50 miles. The area of the diggings is not known. The gold brought down indicates extensive deposits. Old residents predicted repeatedly that gold would be found there. The Government are urged to construct tanks along the route.

Four men of a fishing company at Port Stephens left their premises for a load of bark this afternoon. Soon aftjsr a squall struck the boat, capsized. George Sherfflan and deofcge Wadley were 'drowned. February I'd. The total expetfses connected witu the Sydney Exhibition amounted t<J £311,130. The building alone coil £24-0,000. The total receipt were £43,896. . The Government has granted the use of the Garden Palace for the Austriaii promenade concerts; 10 percent, of the receipts being giVen to Idjial charities. Splendid specimens of g'<Jld-bearin<* stone were shown in Terribß to-day from a new reef, the locality of which is kept secret. Many miners are likely, td gt) td Ihe Wilcannia rush. Splendid stone Has beeu again struck in the Garibaldi reefj Solfemadj bf tho prospectors.