AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 56, 5 February 1884, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

(Per s.s, Rotomahana at the Bluff.) (VNIp:D P^ESS ASSOCIATION-.) "; ' Melbouene, January 29. Professor Sample gave an exhibition of horse trainiug m the Exhibition Buildings last night, for' ''the benefit of local charities., There was a very large attendance, and it is expected that from £700 to £800 will be available for distribution; Mr Julian Thomas, well known as the Argus " Vagabond," has brought an action against the proprietors of a projected magazine to be called the "Vagabond/, as an infringement of the " title" possessed by him and used m his writings. Mr R. S. Smythe, the well-known traveller and theatrical agent, has made arrangements with George Augustus Sala for a tour m Australia. The latter will arrive m Melbourne m April, 1885, and intends to " do" the trip m one year from Home to Home. He /will witness the Melbourne Cup of 1885. -' ■ ■ ; . . Owing to the difficulty of finding the way about the new law courts, the Minister of Public "Works has decided i to have 196 notice boards painted, 153 of which witf bejfpr-the ground ,floor. Messrs Sanders and Co. havo been | the means of introducing into the colonies some 420 " native servants/ they being employed by many persons m preference to females as household ser- ! vants, &nd thq demand is increasing. ; Sydney. The Wesleyau Conference is now sitting. The president, the Rev. i Fletcher, was indisposed, and was

unable to take part m the proceedings. Considerable excitement was occasioned on Monday by the report that the Blind Institution was on fire. It turned out to be a fact, but the inmates were safely removed, and the conflagration was extinguished. The recent bosh fires m the Newcastle district devastated miles of eounr try,, and thejand presents the .appearance of being covered with snow, tree*, fences, &c, having been reduced to white ashes. A dating attempt has been made to murder a constable by a youth named Deenan. The latter had been arrested by Constable Hodgkinson on the charge of hoi se-stealing,and was being conveyed by the Picton train. The prisoner induced the constable* to remove' the handcuffs, and' then shot him four times with a revolver. The guard of the train came to the wssistance of the officer, and D,eenan,was secured. The constable, though badly injured, is progressing favorably. The Hon John Blackland, M.L.C. died on Saturday m his 83rd year. Two more young .men have been arrested ip connection with the . Wooloomooloo outrage, and it is expected that more arrests will be made m connection therewith. ' ; ' Adelaide, The G- >vemment are despatching a survey parly io Melville and Bathurst Islands, north of Port Darwin. In 1824 a«jQiilitary post was established at Melville, but was abandoned on account of the trouble with the natives. The islands are swarming with buffalos, the descendants of those left by the soldiers. < Fourteen 6re insurance companies have drawn the attention of the Manager of Railways to the prevalence of tires along the lines of railway, owing to the insufficiency of spark-protectors m use. At the half-yearly meeting of the Ostrich. Farming Company, it was stated that the company had purfhased farms at a, cost of £12,000 at Port Augusta, where they hud 152 birds, and at Gambler -they had 183 birds. The company had Shipped feathers amounting to £425, and had, besides, £250,. worth on hand.. Mr Malcolm, the managing director, said the feathers alone met the working expenses and the interest on capital. Bbisbans. It is expected that the Parliameat Houses will be lighted by electricity next session. * - Meat freezing works have lx?en es tablished at Bowen, and the steamer Fiado is loading there. Notwithstanding the influx of immigrants lately, the demand for single men continues good.