AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2269, 25 June 1880, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[By Telegraph.]

[Per Pingarooma at Auckland.]

NEW SOUTH WALES.

Sydney, June 18

The Orient liner Lusitania arrived here yesterday. She sailed from Plymouth on May 1, and her steaming time to Adelaide was 39 days. The longest run accomplished in one day was 351 miles.

Leave has been granted to bring in a Bill to enable- the Municipal Council of Sydney to raise by debentures £75,000 for the completion of the Town Hall.

The Legislative Assembly lias voted UldOO per annum Lor the .Minister of Instruction.

It is intended to send another Ecological Surveyor to examine the Collar district, between the Lachlan and Bogan, which is believed to be very rich in gold, silver, copper, and tin. VICTORIA. A statement is made that lour armed men were seen in the Wathgamtau district supposed to be the Kellys. The Exhibition buildings arc nearly completed, and will be ready for the reception of exhibits at the end of the present month. Messrs Joseph Jones, Vale, and Mason were the principal offenders in the matter of personalities in the Assembly last night. Mr Vale is a persistent opponent of payment of members, and his connection with the Registration Society gives great offence to the Opposition. Last night Vale, alluding to Jones, called him a penniless braggart and a trained beggar of billets, without which he would have to go into the Benevolent Asylum or else run away to America and leave his wife and family to the charity of the country. Jones retorted on Vale as being hired to defend rogues. Then Mason's insult to ladies was referred to, and he retorted that lie did not visit the back slums of the city at early morning. This was the style of the debate when it was found no progress could be made with the Bayment of Members Bill.

A EAID ON THE MELBOUENE CHINAMEN. Since tlio recent agitation against the Chinese residents of Ahctoria, the Celestials have, on several occasions, been treated in an outrageous manner by European workmen following the same avocation as the Chinese. On Sunday night (June G), however, the matter assumed a somewhat grave aspect. Until then the opposition offered to the Chinese was conlincd to the use of opprobrious epithets, supplemented occasionally by slight personal violence. On Sunday, however, not only was gross brutality exhibited, but the knife was used, in one instance, it is feared, with fatal effect. Shortly after half-past G o’clock two ruffians of the advanced larrikin type, took possession of Little Bourke street, between Swauston and Eusscll streets. At first they contented themselves with “ pommelling ” every unfortunate Chinaman who came along, but they ultimately resorted to more dastardly conduct. AA r ithout any provocation tlioy set on a Chinaman named Ah Quoy, an employee of Air Kong - Along, and having knocked him down kicked him brutally in the throat. He called loudly for assistance, and a fellow workman named Ah Gee at this stage came out of the store. He ■was instantly attacked, and one of the two larrikins stabed him in the back of the neck with a large knife, inflicting a terrible wound. A third Chinaman named Ah Ho came to bis assistance, and was stabbed in the cheek but not very seriously. There were no police about, and the two ruffians walked away' unmolested. Ah Quoy and Ah Gee, both of whom were connected with Mr Kong Mcng’s store, were removed there and were soon after attended by Hr Fulton. Ah Quoy, although seriously injured, progressed favorably under treatment, but at a late hour the condition of Ah Gee was considered very critical. The other man belonged to another store, and is progressing favorably On the day following the assault, an old offender, named Thomas Foley, was arrested in the Colosseum Music Hall. He accounted for sundry scratches by stating that lie had been stabbed by Chinese, and he was subsequently identified as one of the Little Bourke Street assailants.

SINGULAR DEATH. On June 4, a laborer/ named Carl Anderson, was accidentally snlfocated while cleaning out a boiler at the Footscray Chemical Works on Friday last. Mr Peter Jansen, the proprietor of the works, had himself gone into the boiler, which was used for ammoniacal preparations, the same morning, and no danger Avas anticipated. Water Avas poured into the boiler to counteract any poisonns gasses, but aa-licu deceased entered it he Avas almost immediately Snlfocated. Another man av!io attempted to saA r o him narrowly escaped with Ids life.

PARLIAMENTARY NICKIN' AMINS The Yictorian Assembly Avas never so demoralised as it is at present. From fighting with the mace across the Speaker’s table, the members have descended to calling each others nicknames. Mr Joseph Jones (better known as coffee Jones of Ballarat, from the fact that he is a coffee-roaster by profession), and Mr Longmoro, Ex-Minis-ter of Railways, arc in the habit of keeping up the excitement. The weakness of Mr Longmoro is to keep up a running fire of interjections, and Avhen he commences, the sonorous A r oicc of Mr Jones is heard in the warning.

“Now then, Smiler.’’ Mr Longmore has been meditating revenge, and when the familiar phrase was heard the other evening, he was ready with his reply, “Now, then, Coftee-pot.” This is the humour which the House really enjoys.