AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5523, 9 December 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

(PER HERO AT AUCKLAND.) Sydney, December 2.

In the cricket match Australian Eleven versus Fifteen, the Sydney Morning Herald says it was evident from the first that the Eleven were quite out of form, and even their best batsman played in a cramped style. Bailey, the Tasmanian representative in the Australian Eleven, broke bis right arm above the elbow while trying to throw up the ball from long-field. The 100yds. race between Hewitt and Inman, on the Friendly Societies* grounds,, was won by the latter, who obtained a long start.

Latest from New Guinea.—The Hibernia, from Cooktown and Port Moresby, brings twenty returned diggers. Another vessel also left with ten more. The leader of the Colonist party reports the prospecting put an end to for the present season. On the return trip from the last camp the party experienced great difficulties and privations. The rivers were flooded, and the horses were drowned. Rations and swags were lost. Nothing further is likely to be done till the wet season is over, if at all. A few men are still at Port Moresby with Captain Redlick. The Ellangowan, mission steamer, arrived safely at New Guinea. The Rev. Mr, Chambers writes saying everything is progressing favorably with the natives and mission. He made recent explorations, and reports that he was well received. He ascended 1600 ft. up cloudy mountains, and found an interesting people living there. He expects to find inhabitants on the top of the mountains. He also explored the Loon Range at the back of Orangey Bay lagoon. He was well received, and feasted by the mountaineers. The lagoon is much larger than was at first believed. The inhabitants of the mountains are similar to the coast natives. They are very industrious, and large plantations are made in' terraces. It is intended to place teachers in the Mondero Mountain district, at the back of Farm Bay. No payable gold was obtained by any of the prospectors, and Now Guinea goldfields are pronounced a failure for the present.