AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 592, 26 March 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[PICK ALIiAMIiIiA, AT HOKT'ITJC.-Y. | \\ K!.;;nl".i:.\"K. There has heeu a heavy ilood in the suburbs, causing considerable damage to property, [t rained heavily from Thursday to Saturday, during which four inches fell. The Yarra rose so rapidly that in a few hours it overflowed its banks, ami all the low-lying lands adjacent were speedily submerged. Kvery building, mostly stores, on the south hank of the Yarra were completely surrounded by water, and eoniniunicati"ii was only ohtiinable by boats, and then only with difficulty, owing to the rapid current Trailic on the south side of I'rinees Bridge was suspended for 14 hours in consequence of the water running over the St. Kilda lioail. The -whole stretch of land as far as the eye could reach was one expanse of water. One life was lost, a Chinaman, who was drowned in a hut at the Upper Yarra. The flood was not within four feet of the great flood of J.SffS, but the water rose much more rapidly. A number of people were not in time in leaving, and a good many only escaped with their lives with ditiieulty. A few nit/hts ago the hoys in the Ileformatorv School at Cohurg mutinied, ami for an hour kept a large number of warders at hay. Blank cartridge was. fired at them, but to no purpose. At length the door of the dormitory was smashed in with an axe and an entrance gained. Some rather ugly wounds were received on both sides. Mo cause is assigned for the outbreak.

There have been several failures in the grain trade. House and Co., liabilities i.04.440: \V. "Rantard, miller, Kvneton, liabilities said to he 1.4000 : 11. H. Carter, liabilities Id-.'OO. Sdrdohn Coode leaves for New Zealand, per Tararua. on Wednesday week.

The huild'ue; of the new Eastern Market has been commenced. It will cost LS'J,OOO when completed. S\ nxiA.-. The Chir.fhorazo,' while on the passage from Melbourne, struck on some rocks at I'oint rerpendieiff.r. and put hack into Urn's Bay, with her fore compartment full of wafer.

.A slight Mot occurred nil Sunday night owing to the secular preaching of Pastor Allen in Hyde Park. A large crowd collected, and missiles were thrown at the police, who charged with their batons, and hit out pretty freely.

Tin! steamer 'ashy ran down the schooner Northern Light inside, the Heads. The schooner sank, but the crew were saved. The case, of Maiming v. New /'.•aland Insurance Company lasted a fortnight, and resulted in a verdict for the p'aintilf.