AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 655, 8 June 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(PER EASBT, AT -WELLINGTON.)

The harhor defences at Hobart Toirn are being Vigorously pushed forward under instructions from Colonel Scratchley. A testimonial is being got up at Melbourne to be presented to William Saurin Lister, previous to his departure for Europe.

The death of the late Samuel Bennett, proprietor of the Sydney Evening News, was caused by a slight wound inflicted on his left hand with a hammer he was using. The wound was at first considered of so local a nature, that little heed was paid to it ; inflammation, however, soon set in, followed by tetanus. Mr. Berry, at Portland, said that if the measure of constitutional reform were obstructed, a direct appeal would be made to the Imperial Parliament. Mr. Longmoor lias announced that it is intention to double *he Land Tax and limit the power of landowners to acquire large areas.

Three cases of small-pox broke out on boai'd the mail steamer Siam at Williamstown. The subjects were Lascars. The vessel is quarantined. Two hundred and fifty of the Melbourne unemployed were taken on at the drainago works. Another lot are to be employed on the railway works at Warrenheip. There are still many left unprovided for.

The Queensland Government will submit next session, the question of drainage* on a system applicable to all the towns of the Colony. A large deposit of salt has been discovered at Herbert Downs, Queensland. Proceedings have been commenced in Equity by the representatives of Udolpho Woolfe against Henry J. Hart, to restrain him from using a colourable imitation of his trade rights. There lias been a railway accident at Newcastle, bv which two men were killed.