AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2486, 9 March 1881, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[By Telegraph.] [Per Arawata at Bussell. VICTORIA. Melbourne, March d. Maclntyre has been selected to contest Maldon ; Walker retires. Casey addressed the electors of Maldon on Monday. He said he had not yet made up his mind whether he should be a candidate. He would not support the Government Reform Bill. The forthcoming grain show at the Exhibition promises to be a success. There are a large number of entries. A committee has been appointed to investigate the scandal iu connection with the Exhibition accounts.

The Catholic Archbishop’s Pastoral, read in the churches on Sunday, reiterates his protest against the continued operation of the purely secular system of education. Reference was made to the self-denying efforts of the Catholic body to maintain separate schools where found practicable. NEW SOUTH WALES. In the Assembly Mr Coombs intends, ■instead of moving in the House his proposed motion calling attention to massacres in the South Sea Islands, to move the adoption of a petition to the Queen, asking for an enquiry into the working of the High Commissioner’s Court. The Government requested him to forward the same. At Coola a flock of 5000 sheep were camped when a flash of lightning made a lane through them, killing 800. While a man named Pearce was listening outside a Chinese gambling house several came out and struck him on tho head with sticks and stabbed bun in the arm. One arrest has been made. At Hillend four men were charged with cutting and wounding Chinese gardeners at Paling Yards, and were each fined £5, or two months imprisonment. The fines were paid. At Greenfell Peter Dagger was charged with abducting two young girls named Henrietta Gundy and Edit Cullen. He was committed for trial. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. Correspondence is appearing in the press, suggesting the enrolment of a burnt of volunteers from tho colonies to aid (heir countrymen at Natal. Moody,the literary athlete, who attempted to horsewhip Clarke, M.L.A., for abusing the Queen in a Victorian paper, and who swam against Cavil, the professional, offers to lead the volunteer relief troops to the Transvaal, providing the Government lends pecuniary aid. QUEENSLAND. It is reported that blacks are spearing cattle at Kingaborough. Ministers are dissatisfied with the sale of many of the runs in the settled district. The lessees are onty baying when competition is anticipated, and large areas are occupied without rent. It is probable that the runs with full descriptions will be advertised at Sydney and Melbourne.