AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2438, 11 January 1881, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[By Telegraph.]

(Per llotomahana at Russell.)

Russell, Jan. 11. Tho s.s. Rotomahana, 1727 tons, Thomas Underwood, with 39 saloon and 40 steerage passengers, and a cargo of merchandise, sailed from Sydney at 7 p.m. on tho sth inst. She "experienced fresh easterly winds and line weather during tho run across. Passed the Three Kings at 7 p.m. on the 10th and arrived at Russell at 7.30 a.m. to-day. Passengers for AucklandForsyth. I). White, Stodart, Miss Brown, J. L. Logan, L). R. Caldwell, J. Waddell, Mrs E. Watt, Mr and Mrs Ireland, Rev J. 11. Long, R. Neilson, Christopher Steele, Miss Dixon, Mr and Mrs J. Sanerdge, 0. Metcalfe, H. Steele, Stevenson,' S. Milner, C. J. Loyd and wife, W. Loyd. For Gisborne—Wylie. For Wellington —Gibson and wife, Captain Gibson’ Miami Mrs Turnbi.il, Rev Dennis Dnllias, Buchanan, Young. For Lyttelton— Harding, J. Craig, R. Thompson, Mrs Thompson, C. A. Parsons and child. NEW SOUTH WALES. Sydney, Jan. G. Uneasiness has been caused by the mysterious absence of Dalton, magistrate at Forbes, from his duties. It is six weeks since Dalton sat on the Bench, and nothing has been heard of him. The Minister of Justice has ordered a search.

On the Goulbnrn, at Mount Wering diggings, a small diamond lias been found, one and a half carat in weight, and valued at fifty shillings. Several sapphires were also found. The finder was formerly on the Capo diamond field. YICTOEIA. The Government has decided to take proceedings to recover the duty on estates that have been under-valued. Two young rullians who were recently acquitted by a jury for assault and robbery of Chinamen have been re-arrested for an offence of a similar nature.

A return shows the quantity of wool offered this season to be 140,902 b iles of which 108,953 were sold, closely approximating to the quantity of the previous year. The shipments show an increase of 36,005 bales in a total of 240,604 against 204,009 bales, last season. There has never been anything compared to the present wool show as regards excellence, and exports find it difllcult to determine the winner. Some of the Tasmanian wools arc much admired and they will lake a high stand. SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

On Thursday hist a lire occurred on a farm near Franklin Harbor. Mrs McCarthy, and her five daughters and son were burnt to death. No assistance could be rendered, as the house was surrounded by a dense scrub. The father was engaged reaping, and tried to get home, but was driven back. It is said the flames at times were forty feet high. As they swept down they appeared to roll over the places where there was nothing to burn. When McCarthy was enabled to return to his house he found nothing hut the remains of his family. Bliss and Company, a new York linn, have offered to supply the Government with 7b bushels of defiance wheat, which is alleged to he rust proof at four dollars per bushel. As a sample of the defiance grown here shows bad signs of rust, the Commissioner of Crown Lands has asked the opinion of practical farmers before buying from America.

QUEENSLAND. The captain and officers of the French warship Des Trees have been entertained by the Mayor of Cooktown. The captain said he would protect and assist the vessels of other nations on the coast of New Guinea if necessary. An experienced trader, Captain Johnston, accompanies him. A pilot, thoroughly acquainted with the Archipelago, knows the ringleaders of the Brooker island pirates, and there arc hopes that the piratical nest will be destroyed.

It is reported that Mr Ualby, of Goordiwindi, was stuck up near \Yoondrool on Thursday by a high way man, who took his money and two horses.