AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5681, 14 June 1879, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(per press agency.) (PER ROTORUA AT, AUCKLAND). . ~ Sydney, Juno 7.

A youth named Pock, at Wallerwang, fell over a cliff twenty feet deep, in the dark, and was found bn tho third day afterwards senseless, but still alive.’ He had dragged himself over a bulldog ants’ nest, and was terribly stung. Ho has since died. The Intercolonial Cricket Match, Victoria r, New South W ft les, will be played In Sydney during the Exhibition season. Renewed' merest is being taken in tho question ■Of ’shipment. A meeting has been held on the subject, which was very influentially attended. The meeting appointed a committee to investigate the best available method.

-The : Premier has given notice to introduce a Bill to prevent the' influx of French criminals from New Caledonia to South Australia.

The Quakers here have petitioned for the discontinuance of drill in the public schools, as being opposed to the principles of Christianity. Captain Twann, master of the barque Pinnie Main, from San Francisco, has been fined £2O for assaulting the steward of the vessel. The prosecutor was released from the vessel, having sworn that he was in danger of his life. The will of the late Mr. Angus lias been proved under £600,000. Mr. M. H. Harris, auctioneer, of Strathally, was sentenced to-day to 8 years’ imprisonment for forging a bank guarantee. Melbourne, June 7. Mr. Thomas Abbot, formerly education officer here, has died from the effects of opium. The investigation as to tho escape of Jeffrey, the Frencii convict, from gaol, shows that he accomplished the feat with the aid of a stick and a piece of iron, with which, when locked iu his cell, he reached through the grating over the door and undid the padlock on tae outside. In the presence of the sheriff and others today he succeeded in releasing himself by this means.