AUSTRALIAN.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 977, 29 December 1882, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

[ REUTER —COPYRIGHT. ] (Received Dec. 28, 1-15 s.rn.) SYDNEY, Dec. 27. Telegrams are to hand from the Clarence River Heads reporting that the screw steamer New England, 360 tons, struck on the bar at the entrance to the river, and has become a total wreck. The majority of the passengers and crew were safely landed, but some were left clinging to the wreck, which was in a critical position and likely to break up. The sea is rising on the bar, (Received Dec. 28, 11.45 a.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 28. Telegrams from Clarence report that six persons have been drowned through the wreck of the steamship New England. Seven still remain on the vessel. Twenty-eight have been saved, but it is supposed that there are twelve others unaccounted for. A terrific sea is running at the Heads, and the position of those still on the vessel is most critical. The catastrophe has caused great consternation at Clarence. (Received Dec. 28, 8 p.m.) The latest telegrams to hand from the Clarence River Heads report that the steamer New England has broken up. It is believed that twenty-five persons have lost their lives, but the number of passengers who were on board is not yet known with certainty. The vessel was insured for £9OOO, the greater part of which is held by English offices. (Received Dec. 28, 1 pm.) MELBOURNE, Dec. 28. The Associated Banks have raised the rate of interest on deposits by 1 per cent., but the lending rates are unchanged.