AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2158, 18 February 1880, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[’Ey Telegraph."] [Per Rotomahana at Auckland.] AUCKLAND, Fkr. 18. The following summary is up to Feb. 12:— NEW: SOUTH WALES. Operations at the tunnel connecting the Nepean water supply with Sydney have been commenced. Morcarity, the engineer, said that, when finished, it would be the largest of the kind in the world, it being four and a half miles long. The Sydney Commissioners of the Melbourne Exhibition ask £7OOO to defray the expenses of representation. Tradesmen have interviewed the Attorney General, to protest against the disposal by Art Union Exhibits. The Italian and Belgium Courts have received assurance that any contravention of the law will be prevented. The trial of reaping machines is proceeding at Orange. At present llobey’s is defeated. Marshall and Sous’ and Foster and Company’s still compete with Hormsby’s Austin’s Proctor’s and the Buffals Company’sAn apparently deliberate attempt was made to burn an hotel on Sunday night. This makes the fifth attempt on the same premises. A little girl, aged 12, said she made them each time, but her story is disbelieved. The police are investigating. The hotel is insured. The Oregon brought intelligence of a cyclone in New Caledonia, which did incalculable damage. In Noumea the plantations were destroyed, and fourteen vessels are missing or stranded.

The warship Caledonian at one period was in great danger. At Fey chit the public buildings, some of stone, were wrecked and dismantled. It experienced the centre of a tornado and terrible havoc ensued. The New Caledonian administration and municipal authorities acted with promptitude and liberality. A subsidy of 100,000 francs was issued immediately for the relief of urgent distress, and a public subscription was issued by the Government. _ Nearly £40,000 has already been disbursed among the people to assist in repairing then 1 dwellings.