AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2190, 25 March 1880, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[By Telegraph.]

(Per Eotorua at the Bluff.) BLUFF, March 24. The s.s. Eotorua left Melbourne on March 19th, at 3.30 p.m.; cleared the Hoads at 6.30 p.m.; passed the Sisters on the 20th, at 11.30 a.m.; the Solanders at 9 a.m. on the 24th, and arrived at Bluff at 2 - 30 p.m. She experienced strong E. winds and heavy seas until arrival. VICTORIA. The action of Government in not meeting Parliament until May 11th is condemned as unconstitutional. By the Ministerial Press it is contended, on the other hand, that it would be useless to meet before measures were prepared. It is probable that the payment of members question, Avill he the first difficulty to be solved. The Laud Tax Court is to be reorganised, and it is probable the busiwili be transferred to the County Court Judges. It was resolved to establish a compan3 r in Melbourne to export every description of food suitable for human consumption which requires to be frozen prior to ti’ansit. The Chief Harbor-master advises the Government that there is no necessity for the Australian colonies to search tno Crozcts for survivors of the Knowsley Hall, as the Comus has been ordered there. If a provision depot were established it is probable that sealers would carry off the provisions. Sir G. Duffy, Minister of Lands, states that the Government measures will bo conceived in such a spirit of moderation and conciliation that if the Council rejects them they ivill render their House obnoxious to the whole community. The Minister of Education is energetically endeavoring to extend to gutter children the benefits of the Act. NTFW SOUTH WALES. The Associated Colliery Masters ot Newcastle have resolved on April 12th to reduce the price of coal, and also to reduce miners’ wages to 3s Gd per ton. It is impossible to toll at present what will be the outcome of the measures, the miners not having spoken. The following is the captain's stoty about the Chandernagorc expedition : The vessel was fitted out at the expense of llio Marquis Do Eoys, in Franco, and it was originally intended that the expedition should sail from Havre, but the French Government objected, and ultimately 82 emigrants embarked from the Dutch territoiy,sailing on September 14th. They took an immense amount of machinciy for distillery purposes, aud sugar refinery, an incubating machine, and also stores for twelve months. The person in charge was an American named McLaughlin. The expedition was split up into two parts, and one, 17 in number, lauded on the Island of Gangliu, 240 miles from New Ireland. While lying at Liki Liki, New Ireland, a succession of storms arose, and having lost all her anchors, the ship was forced to come to Sydney. In addition to the Chandornagoi‘c,two steamers are coming out —one called Port Breton, of 1250 tons, which sailed from Barcelona on the 25th of January, with 750 Spaniards; aud a small steamer of about 350 tons, called the Gerrill, will follow shortly, also from Barcelona. QUEENSLAND. The steamer Agnes has been totally wrecked on Narsehic Bar, She grounded when crossing the bar, aud was driven on the beach. The insurances are in the New Zealand, South British, and Transatlantic, in the latter chiefty.