AUSTRALIAN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 110, 9 May 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

[Pbr Wakatipu.] Brisbane, May 3. A meeting was held last night at Cooktown to petition the Government to take off the taxes on Chinese, and to pass a Bill prohibiting their working on the new goldfields for three years. Witherington, the master, and Munro, one of the crew of the schooner Ottawa have beeu sentenced to six months' hard labor for causing the wreck of the vessel through drunkenness and neglect. Melbourne, May 3. The Cable Conference is fixed for the 9th instant. At a trial of Wood's brake in a'descent of 1 in 22 the train was stopped in 37| sees, in * d'staDee of 2165 feet, the train running at the time at the rate of 66 miles per hour. The will of the late Judge Fellows has been proved at £29,000, and that of Mr Wilson of the Argus at £23,000, in Victoria. A deputation of book-sellers waited on the Postmaster-General with the view of obtaining a reduction of postage on magazines jto the neighboring colonies, and the adoption of an uniform, .rate on papers. Ministers replied favorably. Adelaide, May 3. The Queen has conferred the title of Honorable on Mr Colton, late Premier, and Mr Carr, late Commissioner of Crown Lands. By cable from LoDdon, dated April 29th, it is reported that the barque Cleopatra, bound for Melbourne, was stranded on March 22 near Pernambuco, where she was attackei by armed natives who plundered the cargo. The crew were rescued and taken to Liverpool.