AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5632, 18 April 1879, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

(PER ROTORUA AY AUCKLAND.) (PER PRESS AGENCY.)

Sydney, April 12. The volunteer encampment on the Brisbane racecourse is ankle-deep in water, and the rain is still falling. Many of the men have taken refuge in the grand-stand, and intend to remain till Monday. Extra blankets with other comforts have been served round. '

The Easter campaign of the Sydney military forces was the military affair that has ever been held io this colony. The Middle Head batteries; with engineer and torpedo corps and 900 infantry were lodged in the Victoria barracks under strict discipline. A torpedo boat steaming 17 knots cut clear through a small craft in harbor. Two women and two children were rescued with difficulty.. Enormously rich quartz has been struck at Barrington, only forty hours’ journey from Sydney. The coat of the journey is £2. Chester is in splendid fettle, and will run a great horse. He is backed to win largo sums of money.

Numerous Victorian artisans are employed on the Exhibition works, which are progiesaing with amazing rapidity.

There is strong evidence of a serious split amongst the Newcastle colliers with reference to the vend system, which they find touches their pockets. A cable message from London states that the creditors have accepted the tender of Messrs. McArthur, Milan, and, Morrow for the purchase of the extensive bankrupt: stock of Messrs. Smith and Rent, warehousemen in Sydney. ■ •

The barque Gazelle, from the Fplpmon Islands, has arrived. All the crew are in a moat pitiable condition, having suffered terribly ' from fever and ague. The barque was navi-.': gated nearly the whole voyage by Captain " Renall and the steward, the seamen being all-: too feeble to render any assistance.; i . . A boat belonging to the schooner Stanley;, was capsized on the coast. The: mate waa;> drowned, but the crew managed to swim. ■: ashore, and had to live with the natives,,"as." the master, thinking they were, drowned, sailed . away without them. ■ Foley, Mace, Thompson, and Hicken* charged at the Momoa Police; Court with a broach of the peace by fighting a prize fight, were‘discharged. The police failed to prove that the fight was a prize fight.

The Cup betting is lively at the following., prices : —Bosworth level, Olivia ' and.: Tocal 8 to 1, Savanaka and Chester. 9 to.lj.the friends of the latter backing him freely. The maize market has advanced i 2d. per bushel.

The rain fall has been almost general all over the colony.

Rich quartz has been struck at Adelong, estimated to yield Illozs. to the ton.

The William Manson brings a good ship-:-ment of rice, also advices to the effect that the Men-Muir and Bowen bring 1600,bags for ? Sydney and Melbourne. -.- r

Conway is trying to secure the management;: of the New South Wales team of cricketers for England. It is generally thought that ho » has very little chance of succeeding, as there is some unexplained feeling against him on ■ the part of the leading New. South Wales cricketers. ;,. r

An exciting rumor; gains currency to: the effect that an engagement between the Kelly gang and the troopers has taken place, and that the leader, of the bushrangers and eight policemen have been shot dead.—

The committee of the Victoria Racing-Club; are making extensive alterations >in the' race programmes. In the Melbourne Cup the second and third horses receive 200 sovs., re- 1 spectively, added money. In the Champion Race the amount is reduced from £ISOO to £IOOO. Selling Races are abolished. V ■ Cook played Kilkenny 750 .up, giving him 180 points. Kilkenny only reached 407. Cook made three breaks of over 100 each. Out of nine games of pyramids Kilkenny won.; five. ■ -■ ;

A cargo of wheat for the United Kingdom has been sold afloat for 465, per quarter at Ado*, laide. ’ /

Fourteen hundred men are working at the .- ;International Exhibition building. s ;1 - The Australian Agricultural Company have ; thrown open Port Stevens' Laud■'•.to";inia > ers,_ and offer . £IOOO reward for - the, discovery; .unpayable goldfields. T ’" ;V <■\ , i News from New Caledonia states (hat the French Admiral has certainly decided lb annex New Guinea. Jadene, the only remaining petty rebel in Boulapari district, with;a few comrades, have been captured and; .killedi. The French Government has published a decree pardoning .2245 Communists;; 1890 of whom are in New. Caledonia. Advices ’ftomi New Caledonia are highly satisfactory.