AUSTRALIAN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue XIII, 21 August 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

[Per Australia, ai Auckland.] Sydney, August 15. Walter German, a trader, has been committed for trial for absconding with £1200 belonging to his creditors. In the Victorian Council Sit C. Sladenhas given notice to move a new clause in the Reform Bill to reduce the qualification for members to freehold property of the value of £125 instead of £250. Mr Anderson has given notice to move that the number of members be 40, and the provinces increased to eight. Adelaide, August 15 Mr Boucaut moves that the land tax be sixpence in the pound of annual value. The readjustment of Customs duties ensues immediately. The Kapunda Rabbit Preserving Company shipped 42,000 lbs of rabbit flesh by the Cuzco, and sends 61,000 by the Aconcagua. Queensland, August 15. Good gold prospects are reported from the Palmer diggings. The New Caledonia correspondent of the Sydney Herald says the total number of victims known to have been massacred is close upon 150. Thirty-two dead bodies of Kanakas have been found, every one of whom had died of gunshot wounds. The latest news is that a detachment of infantry surprised the rebels at a village named Ambo, and killed 20, and then burnt the village and a considerable quantity of provisions, etc. In this encounter the second column of soldiers who approached on the other side by night were by mistake fired upon by their comrades, but fortunately without any injurious result. It is reported that the insurgents are becoming hard up for provisions, as must of course be the case, they having no means of stowing any quantity of food even if they possessed it. There is nothing from the revolted districts. All parts of the island are perfectly quiet except in the native land at Poya, north of Bouratf, The weather continues very hot,

and the settlers look forward to another hard summer if plentiful rains do not soon come. Official information has been received that troops will arrive from France and Cochin China.