AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVII, Issue 6506, 3 January 1882, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Phb Fbbss Association.] (Per s.s. Te Anau, rift the Bluff.) VICTORIA. Melboubnb, Dec. 28, Parliament prorogued on'Deo. 24, and will not meet again till April. The Governor’s speech merely recapitulated tho measures Eassed during tho session, special reference oing made to the Bailway Loan, Chinese Immigrants, and Water Conservation Bills. Mr Barker, who has oooupied tho position of Clerk of tho Assembly for 81 years, will, on March I, be transferred to the Council as Clerk of Parliaments. Members on both sides of tho Houses united in bearing testimony to Mr Barker’s great ability, and the able manner he had long discharged his onerous duty. On tho morning of Christmas Day a collision occurred off Apollo Bay, between the steamers Nelson and Julia Percy, belonging to the some Company, and trading to the western ports. The weather, was calm and tho sea smooth' at the time. The Percy crossed the Nelson amidships. Both vessels were a good deal damaged. Paring the panio several passengers jumped from one steamer to another, and Thomas Cutter fell overboard and was. drowned. The vessels, after a short time, proceeded on their course. In the case Oorr v. Standard Insurance, a fall Court declined to disturb the verdict. Daring the present holidays the traffic returns on the railways have been larger than in previous years. The arrangements are quite inadequate to the demand. The Intercolonial Cricket Match resulted in a victory for Victoria, mainly through the excellent, batting of Horan, the good bowling of Primer, and improved fielding. Moule will probably obtain the trophy given for this department. There is £20,000 already collected to meet Mr Ormond’s offer of £26,000 towards the Anglican Cathedral Fund. £SOOO more is wanted before the amount can be claimed at the end of the year.

The weather has been fine for the holidays. The match between the Englishmen and the combined team is attracting much attention. Tho latter is composed as follows Victoria —Blaokham, Boyle, Horan, M’Donnell, Primer. New South Wales—A. Bannerman, Evans, Garrett, Murdoch, Massie. South Australia—Gjffen. The last-named made 95 against the English team at Adelaide. NEW SOUTH WALES. A destructive fire occurred at Forbes on the morning of Christmas Day, by which eight stores were destroyed. A high wind prevailed at tho time. The- total damage is estimated at £2600.

QUEENSLAND. Mr Grealey-Lukin, late proprietor of the Brisbane Courier , is a probable candidate for the vacancy at‘North Brisbane, in the place of Mr Palmer, who succeeds Sir J. Bell.