AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2586, 5 July 1881, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Per Ringarooma at the Bluff.) Melbourne, June 29. A seen® occurred on the East Melbourne cricket ground on the 25th when a football match was announced between the Hotham and South Melbourne Clubs. The latter at the last moment refused to play because the Hotham members included in their team Barnes, a youth recently convicted of indecency. About four thousand people then claimed to have their money returned. This became impossible, and the Treasurer, who received a rough jostling, now offers to hand the money to the Melbourne charities. Justice Molesworth has been suffering from a severe attack of neuralgia. For some days he was seriously ill, but is now much better.

It is stated in Melbourne that large quantities of paraffin mineral have been discovered at Gladstone, New Zealand, by the Southern Cross Petroleum Company, and that a representative of the company is now on his way with samples. A Government Gazette has been issued notifying that the Reform Bill has been reserved for the signification of Her Majesty’s pleasure, in accordance with the course of procedure in altering the Constitution Act. A mass meeting of the National Reform League was held yesterday condemning the action of Sir Bryan O’Loghlen in moving a vote of want of confidence. Messrs Berry, Yale, Clarke, Smith and others were present and spoke. Major Smith favored a dissolution and he had no fear of the verdict. Resoltuions were passed expressing unabated confidence in Mr Berry. The Protos is nearly finished loading with frozen meat, and is expected to sail at the end of June with 4000 sheep and 200 cattle. The steamer has been chartered for one more journey from Melbourne to London. A portion of the present consignment was frozen by the Australian Ice Company, and the whole is of firstrate quality. Some game will also be sent homo per Protos. The steamer Europa will bo the next employed in this traffic. The Cuzco, which arrives to-morrow, brings a large consignment of frozen fish which will be submitted to public auction tomorrow.

Sydney

The steamer Argyle struck on the rocks at Clarence Eiver on the 25th, and made a hole in her bottom. She was run ashore, but slipped of the sand and sank in deep water, with a cargo of maize. Her crew and passengers were landed safely. The Queen of Nations has broken up and disappeared. Large quantities of wreckage have been cast ashore. The amount saved is comparatively small. There is much pilfering despite the Government officers.

From the quarantine station it is reported that a child aged four, a daughter of Mrs Bout, has developed plain symptoms of small-pox. She has been carefully cut off from others. Her mother since has shown signs of the disease by innoculation. The City of Melbc urne, from Noumea, reports that the Auroa had arrived from the Islands, bringing tidings of new massacre at Aoba. The May Queen was

anchored there at the end of last month, and her boats when on the beach were attacked by natives, killing one white and eight blacks. News was also received of the murder of two whites named Brett and Polliatt by the natives of New Britain. Energetic steps will be taken to punish the South Sea murderers.

Another case of illness, supposed to be of small pox, is reported from Surrey Hills, The House and occupants have been isolated.