AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2461, 7 February 1881, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

SECOND EDITION

[By Telegraph.]

(Per Eotomahana at the Bluff.)

YICTOEIA.

Melbourne, Feb. 2

Political quietude continues throughout the colony. Berry and Vale have returned from Sydney, and are now occupied with departmental work. There is almost a complete dearth of news of more than local interest.

A Bill is to be presented to the Legislatures of the respective colonies which provides for a new Colonial Court of Appeal. The Court is to have jurisdiction over New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania, and the Governor of each colony shall appoint the Chief Justice to be one of the Judges of the Court, who may sit with three justices, and at any place where there is most business. Any person in the colonics may appeal to this Court, reserving, however, an appeal to the Privy Council. The appellants must provide a security of £SOO. The Australian Frozen Meat Company have received a telegram that the butter ex Protos is selling freely in London. The whole venture has realised a profit of £2OOO to £3OOO, It appears probable that the Protos will be permanently employed in the frozen meat trade. It is stated that the Government intend ta prosecute the driver of the goods train at the recent collision at Ballarat. On Friday a Board of enquiry proceeded to Ballarat to investigate the circumstances of the collision. Dr Cairns one of the oldest Presbyterian ministers died suddenly on Saturday from disease of heart. Dr Cairns founded the Chalmers church Melbourne in 1853.

The death is also announced of Mr Moore Bell, of Bank Brothers and Bell. Baron Yon Mueller has written to Berry, suggesting that another searchexpedition be sent in quest of Leichardt’s party. NEW SOUTH WALES. H.M.S. Emerald, returned to Sydney from the Solomons yesterday-night. She reports that she arrived at Savu on the 18th Dec., where she obtained informaof the massacre of the crew of the Zephyr of Sydney. After taking aboard a guide they proceeded to Barrango and Florida Islands, first landing a party. On Dec. 17 the Emerald proceeded to Malar Tapi, where the crew of the Auckland schooner Borealis were killed and the vessel taken. The villages were found to be deserted, but the natives being observed on the hill shells were fired at them. The shore party destroyed six villages, at the place where the Sandfly massacre occurred. The bush was impenetrable but the native houses were fired and their cocoa trees felled. This work was continued in several other places, the party returning to Bita more than once. At Noma Island a cross was erected to the memory of Commodore Bower and his crew. At Coombakate traces of the Zephyr were discovered, amongst others the ship’s log and articles, At Noma several armed natives were seen. The village was shelled and one hundred huts destroyed, and canoes were also sunk. At Mawstone Island the natives fired at the vessel with rifle shot. A large native village was seen on the hill, a thousand feet high. Some shells were thrown into the place. The Sandfly brings two prisoners. There is no news of interest from Adelaide or Brisbane.