AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 875, 4 February 1879, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(l-EK AI'.AWATA, AT THE BLUFF. Melbourne, January 29. The Press has been requested by the Government not to publish the movements of the police while pursuing the 1v.r11.V3. Sir George Bowen sails for Mauritius on Feb. 2:3 rd, Lord Normanby arriving on Feb. 2<ith. Xv administration of Government will be appointed during the interregnum. This Customs wharfage rates on returned empty packages have been consider-; ablv reduced. The Kev. John Egglcston, Wesleyan minister at died on the 23rd inst. He has labored in Australia since ]X:','X The shock killed his widow three .'.ays later. The certificate of Captain Gay of tlie ship Seagull, has been suspended for 12 months for causing a collision with the schooner St. Kilda on December 27th. The police are proceeding against him also. Tlie Union Bank has declared a dividend at the rate of l(i per cent, for the last half-year. L 20,000 has been added to tlie reserve fund, and L 7405 carried forward. Fourteen persons arc still under arrest as suspected confederates of the Kellys. Mr. David Blair has written a history of Australasia from its earliest discovery to the establishment of self-government. The Argus accused him of plagiarising the historical accounts of Victoria published in its columns. Cecilia Brett, a widow, was crushed to death by a train at Footscray Railway Station. There is a great accumulation of wheat in the north-western district awaiting transit. Governor Bowen, on behalf of the Government, sends a handsome address to the King of Tonga, acknowledging his generous conduct in rescuing the Victorian seamen wrecked on the island of Kao.

Railway freights for agricultural pro duce are to be re-arranged, so as to bene fit distant settlers.

Stdxey, January 29. Tlie Assembly has passed a Supply Bill for Lf10J5,f193, including L 50,000 for the Exhibition.

The Bill to regulate and restrict Chinese immigration has been introduced by Sir H. Parked The Bill resembles the Queensland law. It is estimated that there are now* 8000 Chinese in the Colony. Adelaide, January 29. A branch of the London Shipmasters' .Society has been formed in Adelaide. Brisbane, January 29. The wool ship Scottish Bard struck on the Barrier Reef, but regained Keppel Bay, without much injury to the cargo'or vessel. (PER WAKATIPO, AT WELLINGTON.) Sydney, January 29 The preliminary work on the Exhibition Building is being'rapidly pushed on. Over 400 men are engaged. The contractor telegraphed to London to supply the electric

light to enable his men to work at night. Meantime experiments are being made with oxo-hydrogen light. Exhibits continue to pour in, and it is very probable that the buildings after all will be too small. An Association has been formed among station-owners in Riverina, ostensibly for the suppression of stock- thefts, and for defence against vexatious trespassers, &c., but it is. believed that there is a secret understanding for placing disbursement funds in certain hands for other purI poses.