AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 819, 27 November 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

* (per rotortta, at auckland.) Sypney, Nov. 20. Wecrberg, in liis confession, states that on August 27 the chief officer Ellison assisted in the robbery from the Avoca, ami lie gave him 200 sovs. The shooting at Williamstown exceeded that at Wimbledon. The Presbyterian Assembly has appointed a committee to promote the religious education of the young, and strongly condemned the exclusion of the Bible from the schools. John Crowthcr, a commission agent, has commenced an action for libel against the Argus. It is rumored that the Governor of Victoria declines to grant a dissolution.^ The Supreme Court has declared Kelly and his gang outlaws, imdcr the Felons Act. Particulars- of the strike of seamen show that when the steamer Victoria was about leaving the wharf for Cooktown the men deserted in a body, apjjarently according to some pre-arranged plan, but left two or three Europeans below to present an accident. A Chinese crew was then put on board the Victoria and the Boomerang. The wharf laborers also struck. The inen all belong to the Seamen's Union, and ascribe the strike to the reduction of pay from L 7 to L 6. The Chinese had been put on board the steamers trading between Sydney, Fiji, and New Caledonia, which the Union considers part of the intercolonial trade. A deputation from the Seamen's Union to the Directors of the Company lasted three hours with no result. The Chinese receive L-l less a month than the Europeans, and cost less for food. The Company employ IGO Chinamen. The seamen held a meeting in the Protestant Kail, and resolved not to work in steamers where Chinamen are employed. At Newcastle the crew of the steamer Coonaubarra deserted in a body. The Union have issued notices to the firemen, trimmers, sailors, stewards, cooks, and others.

During the year IS7S, . 2SSS Chinamen arrived in New South Wales.

At a meeting of the Commissioners of New South Wales at the Paris Exhibition, a letter was road from Mr. Lambert, now at Paris, calling attention to. the high class of exhibits from New Zealand, which are credited with five prizes and one or two diplomas of honor. ~ 1

The Queenslander expedition has reached the junction of the Herbert and Ranken Rivers. The bodies found are believed to

be those of the brothers Prout, who perished from thirst. The French frigate Ranee, with 600 troops, has passed Cooktown.