AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5238, 7 January 1878, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(FEE EOTOECA AT AUCKLAND.) Sydney, December 29. , The total of the Indian Famine Relief Fund amount's to £15,089. The torpedo corps has been increased to 100 men. The following is a complete list of the scratchings for the Maiden Plate : —Royalty, Moira, Amendment, Strathearn, and the Dolly Varden colt. Tattersall's Cup ; Dockwood, Timothy, Ramorne, Kismet, Amendment, Att.os,. Coventry, Victor, Ring wood, and Saladin. Commercial.—Flour, £l4 10s to £ls 10s.; bran, la. 2d. to Is. 3d ; maize, 4s. fid. to 4s. 9d.; Adelaide wheat, 6s. 3d. Brisbane, December 29. Mr. Bedome, the police magistrate at Somerset, telegraphs to the Government stating that, the Government botanist has discovered gold inland from Port Morseby, New Guinea, and had fine gold in his possession, and a bottle of black sand, which shows one spec believed to be gold. The Rev. G. Lawes has a likely looking specimen, but showing no gold. “ Bill Smith,” in consequence of a' business dispute, shot Robert Craig dead, and then shot himself through the head. Hailstones as large as hens’ eggs fell during a thunderstorm in Brisbane, and did great havoc to the gardens. The trees were stripped, buildings damaged, and verandahs blown away. The Government House was much damaged, and the gable of the Legislative Assembly rooms was blown away. Melkodp.ne, December 29. Haughton, a man who was living with a young woman named Bggorton, stands changed with beating her to death with a sapling. Both were drunk. Mary Ryan has been arrested on suspicion of kidnapping Mr. Potts’ child. Blood-stained child’s clothes were found in her possession. Some larrikins blocked the. Collingwood police, and assaulted the officers while arresting the ringleaders. The Governor has been petitioned to release Mr. Supple. All Government departments have been ordered to cut down expenditure to the utmost. The salmon experiment is successful. Thirty-two thousand miles of road have been declared open. The Government intend to mitigate the sentence of penal servitude for all life sentenced prisoners to a lesser penalty. Flour, £l2 10s.; wheat, ss. 9d.