AUSTRALIAN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 119, 19 May 1880, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

[Per Wakatipu at Wellington.] Sydney, May 12. During yesterday's gale the ketch Seabira capsized off Bird Island, near Newcastle. One seaman was drowned. The other two and the master were rescued by a passing vessel. Diphtheria is prevalent at Rylstone, and there have been 13 deaths. The Assembly carried a motion by private member, affirming that it is undesirable that grants of land for church building or religious purposes be continued further. The Ministers voted against the resolution. The Irish Relief Fund now amounts to £28,000. Victoria. Owing to the Newcastle strike the scarcity of coal in Melbourne almost amounts to a famine, aud Btocks are bo low that contracts have to be suapended. The fSas Company are short. A large meeting was held in the Town Hall on the Chinese question, and to protest against the action of the Exhibition Commissioners in reversing the decision to restrict the chair contract to articles made by Europeau workmen. Three thousand were present including Messrs Berry, Wood, Vale, and other members, and resolutions were passed appointing Vigilance Committees throughout the electorates and to take further action. Allison, an employee |at the Theatre Royal, is dying from tetanus arising from a trifling wound op the thumb from the waddiug of a pistol fired on the stage. Steps are being taken to erect a monument to Bateman the founder of the colony, also to Bates the actor. The new Exchange is well supported. _ , Sooth Australia. The totaltsatpr went wrong last race meeting, one machine on the first day registering only £J0 received inst.ead of £500. On' the second day all the totals were disconnected

and incorrect and a dividend' was issued, the machine registering only £136 for the winners whereas more than 174 tickets were issued. At the Morpeth Vale races a derangement of thejnstruraent caused a mistake, costing the Club £ 1 50.^