AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1397, 24 March 1881, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Melbourne, March 15. Mr Langridge has declined ,to allow the P. and 0. mails to leave Melbourne on Mondays on account of the Sunday labor involved, but has telegraphed to London offering to allow the departure on Tuesday. A concert was given at the Exhibition on Monday in honor of the birthday of King Humbert of Italy. Arrangements are making for the official declaration of the awards with considerable ceremony on the 22nd. The Melbourne charities propose ask--ing the exhibitors to hand over the unsold gddds for a bazaar at the close of the Exhibition: The doll show at the Town Hall was very successful; 7000 persons visited it on Saturday. There was a tragical Bcciirrenc'e at •Sandhurst on Sunday, when a German nanifid Schafer fired a pistol and inflicted three wonnds on a young woman named Priscilla Hellier, for whdrii he' entertained a passion. Hellier -was sitting with a young man, Jartiea Sobey. and while the latter went fdr" the police, Schafer wounded the and then put the pistol to his ear and blew ont his own brains. The girl ia expected to recover. It is expected that the Reform Bill will pass through the Assembly, and be read the third time on the 22nd. Sir Bryan O'Loughlan has withdrawn the amendments of which he had given notice. With a view of purifying the water of which Melbourne is dependent, experiments are now being made under the direction of the Government analycical chemist. Sydney, March 15. News from Wilcannia states that a thousand people are now on the digi gings. Cargoes of potatoes are eagerly bought at a shilling a pound. Water is scarce. Chinamen still keep off. The coaches are overcrowded and the are overworked. Stores are now arriving, but prices are high. A permanent payable goldfield is anticipated, but the present returns are not extraordinary. Latest news from Wilcannia states that mining is suspended through the scarcity of water. Hundreds are are on the road in despite of, : warning. There are n'O present signs of rain. It is stated that the authorities ot