AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2443, 17 January 1881, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[By Telegraph.] [Per Eingarooma afc the 1311JL j VICTORIA. Melbourne Jan. 11. Nothing is stirring in the political world. The Governor is absent on a shooting expedition to the Gippsland Lakes. The jurors at the wool exhibition had great difficulty in deciding upon the awards, and much disappointment was consequently expressed by visitors at the delay. The decisions have however, given entire satisfaction. No first prize was given for long wools. The Press generally agrees that the most sanguine expectations regarding quality were more than realised. The following were the general results . —Victoria takes 20 first, 13 second, and G third prizes ; South Australia, 5 first and 1 second ; Tasmania, 2 first, 5 second, and 2 third ; New Zealand, 2 first, 1 second, and 1 third ; Silesia, 1 first; New South Wales, 2 second and 1 third ; Queensland, 3 second. The Melbourne Chamber of Commerce has addressed the Government, requesting the delegates to take steps to secure the co-operation of the other representatives at the Sydney Conference in a general substitution of a uniform decimal system of weights and measures. Steps are being likewise taken by the Chamber to promote a direct trade between India and Australia.

The “ Insurance and Banting Becord,” states that a further reduction of rates of interest to three per cent is inevitable, and that the Banks are only awaiting similar action on the part of the other colonies.

Thirty-five entries have been received for the Australian Cup, at the Y.B.C. Autumn Meeting. The entries include Progress, Grand Flaneur, Camballo, and other leading horses. Camballo is also entered for the Newmarket Handicap. The gold returns of AUctoria for 1860 show that the yield has increased by 90,000 ounces, as compared with the previous year. NEW SOUTH AVALES. The exports for 1880 have exceeded the previous year’s by two and a quarter millions, the imports being six hundred thousand less. Forty thousand more bales of wool were shipped last season than during the previous year. The schooner Mavis, arrived from the

Solomon Islands, reports that the Zephyr, belonging to Sydney, was attacked, captured, and burnt, and the captain and crow murdered. Part of the crew of the French barque Gabriel and Alice, when leaving Newcastle on Saturday for Mauritius, mu tinicd. They were overpowered and placed in irons, and so taken to sea.

QUEENSLAND. Cooktown, Jan. 10.

The trading ship Hong Kong reports having been attacked by natives in the South Seas. The crew were all killed, except the captain, and the vessel was plundered. A telegram from Bloxhall states that Leichardt’a fate has been ascertained, and that Clausson’s grave has been found. The locality is expected to be Mulligan’s river.