AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2610, 2 August 1881, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Per Te Anau at the Bluff.) . Melbourne, July 27. . Mr Cosmo Newberry, the Government Analyst, has reported upon the properties of the paraffin of the Southern Cross Petroleum Company that it contains 3 per cent water, 24 clay, and 73 paraffin and oils. Judging from the trials he estimates the oils at 10 per cent, but he has not yet had time to separate them. He estimates that the wax after cleansing will be worth £2B per ton. An application for a patent on behalf of John Dixon, for a new method of manufacturing gas, was granted by the Solicitor General on July 25. Shares have since risen considerably.

The-latest from Now Britain states the natives have made a hostile manifestation amongst the white inhabitants of the island. The latter believing their lives were endangered, attacked the islanders, killing about fifty. No whites were killed. H.M.S. Conflict appeared on the scene, and hanged three natives for the murder of a white man.

The Italian warship Europa, which has remained m Melbourne nearly a year, is about to leave for Europe. The Ocean was relieved from quarantine on the 22nd. The ship was thoroughly fumigated, and certain portions of clothing were destroyed. Fears are entertained for the safety of the brig Firefly, which left tho Bluff for Sydney on May 30, and is still unheard of. Tho Australian Joint Stock Bank’s profits for the half year were £34,000. A dividend of 10 per cent has been declared, with a bonus of 2| per cent, and £3OOO has been added to the reserve. Adelaide, The opening ceremony of the Exhibition on the 21st was highly successful. The day was proclaimed a holiday, and the streets were thronged with people. The general public were then admitted, and during the day seventeen thousand persons passed the gates. Part of the evidence has been taken in the Sarah Bell mutiny, but nothing has been allowed to transpire regarding the details of the case. The Hev John Davidson, Professor of English Literature at the Adelaide University, died suddenly on July 32. Brisbane. Three children m South Brisbane were found suffering from a mild attack of smallpox, and have been placed aboard a floating hospital in tho river. It has transpired that a young man from Sydney lately lodged in the same house. Hemmant, the original petitioner in the steel rails case, addressed a crowded meeting on July 23. He condemned the report of the Commission. A vote

of thanks to Hemmant was carried. Hemmant has since left for Europe, Mr McAllister, the Agent General has been granted six months’ leave, and Mr Thomas Archer has been appointed ad interim. He sailed on July 25 for London,