AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6494, 20 December 1881, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Psb Pkbss Association.] (Per B.S, Albion, vil the Bluff.) VICTORIA. Meusouenb, Dec. 14. The ogents of the Rotorua have made a i-bim on the Harbour Trust for loss from the veesel foaling with a chain belonging to one of (he dredges in tbe river. The repairs to the vessel cost nearly £4OOO. At present there ore a larger number of ■hips than ever present before in port. Twenty vessels era waiting lor berths at the piers. Phylloxera is spreading in the Geelong district. A large vineyard in the vicinity of Warren Fonda has been found to be infected.

The University scandal has been dealt with by the Council, who called upon both the offending Professors to show cause why they should not be suspended, Professor ElJringioa for three months, and Professor Manson for two, without emoluments. From correspondence read relative to the fracas. Professor Elkington appears to have told Professor Manson, that “these tricks (refining to his putting in blank voting papers and afterwards giving himself the casting vote) belong to the racecourse and have out one end —Pentridge.” Professor Manson offered to take bis oath that he wrote down the names he intended to vote for before the names were called out, when Professor Slkington said : “Who the deuce could believe you on your oath ?” Professor Manson then called Professor Elkington a liar, and the latter struck him.

The prosecutions against Pireira, of the Adamastor leviathan sweep, and F. 0. Goyder, of the “Oracle,” for getting up racing sweeps on the Cup, have been dismissed. Tbe coses were not satisfactorily proved. Owing to diverse views on the Harbour Trait, it is doubtful if the Parliamentary measure will be passed this session. Government ore anxious to prorogue before Christmas, and business is being pushed rapidly forward.

Wheatear is first favourite for the Champion at 3 to I, Wellington 4 to 1, and Progress 6 to I. Tbe entries for the Champion Meeting are not so largo as was expected. An “Old English Fayre” opened in the Town Hall yesterday was a great success. A large number of ladies and gentlemen were present in Elizabethan costume. The Cuzco sailed this morning, taking 5117 packages of frozen meat, and 323 of batter. Hgtii Ada Lester was lost in tho wreck of the steamer Clan Macduff, bound to Bombay. She was a short time ago performing at tbo Bijou Theatre hero with Mr Wybort Bceve. In the bicycle tournament, just concluded, Bolle, the winner, performed 010 miles, or on average of 130 miles per day. Nearly two and a-half inches of rain fell last wees, bringing the rainfall for tbe year to within one inch of tho average of the last 23 years. The crops in many parts of tho country are looking well. Arguments in the case Oorr v. Standard Insurance extended over a week, when judgment was reserved. NEW SOUTH' WALES. A scandalous affair occurred at tbo funeral of the late Mr Michael Fitzpatrick, at one time Colonial Secretary. On too body reaching tbo grave no priest was there to perform tbe service. Mr Fitzpatrick having held a strong opinion about education in public schools In opposition to the ecclesiastical authorities, the latter prevented any priest from attending. Tho friends present said a few prayers, end tho Be? Dr Forrest, who was present in undress, pronounced the benediction. Another death from small-pox has been reported in Sydney, and the disease been carried to Beg® by a visitor from'Sydney.