AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2865, 31 May 1882, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Br Telegraph, j (Per Eingarooma at the Bluff.) Melbourne, May 23. An animated debate took place in the Assembly on the evening of May 18 on the railway charges. It resulted in the appointment a Committee, on the motion of the Premier, in order to give the Minister of Railways an opportunity of vindicating himself from aspersions. The Committee have since met, and Mr Nimmo was appointed chairman. It transpired in evidence before the Education Commission that during the Berry Government a large number of teachers were appointed without con suiting the Department; amongst them the son and daughter of the late Minister of Lands. Political appointments only ceased in August last. Early on the morning of May 18th the stables of Mr W. Colson, omnibus proprietor at Prahran, were partly demolished by a dynamite explosion. The last bus had just arrived when the driver heard a terrific explosion, resembling the sound of artillery. A shed containing a number of vehicles was partly shattered, and the vehicles were destroyed. An examination showed that dynamite had caused the explosion, but at present there is no clue to the perpetrator. Fortunately no one was injured. John Warren, produce, dealer, who recently filed his schedule, was arrested as he was about to ship off to New Zealand.

Serious complaints have been made as to the treatment of Miss Southern (the smallpox patient) and her mother at the quarantine station. Needless inconvenience, loss, and suffering, have been occasioned them, and the relatives of the girl have been almost ruined by the action of the authorities. The Government have called upon Dr Bulmer to furnish an explanation of his conduct.

Mr Francis is now convalescent, but is not yet permitted to resume his parliamentary duties. The Parliamentary business has been generally uninteresting. The Select Committee of the Assembly appointed to inquire into the charges against Mr Bennett met yesterday for the first time. IF was decided not to admit the Press. The “ Argus” animadverts on the decision, and demands that the enquiry bo publicly conducted.

The French Consul-General, in order to promote the commercial relations between the Australian Colonies and Cochin China, intimates that all steamers calling at Saigon from or to Australian ports will be exempted from duos.

A quantity of wreckage has been picked up at Gabo, which is believed to belong to a large passenger steamer. It includes boards, door frames and bottoms of berths, bearing numbers 110 to 120. Further enquiries are being instituted ; at present there is no trace which leads to the indentifieation of the vessel.

What might havo proved a great disaster occurred at tho Theatre Koyal last night. During the third act of “ Tho Green Lanes of England,” the police entered -the gallery for the purpose of arresting a disorderly person when the friends of tho latter raised a cry of fire. The audience rose and hurriedly rushed to tho doors, so that for a few moments there was great confusion. Some were injured by the crusbj and women fainted. Finally those on tho stage reassured the house, and the performance was then completed. The authorlof tho false alarm are undiscovered.

The proprietors of tho “ Argus ” have offered a silver cup, valued at one hundred guineas, to the grower of tho best collective exhibit of Australian wines at Bordeaux exhibition, the cup to be awarded by a jury of international experts, selected by a jury of international Commissioners.

Tho mining statistics of the last year, published, show that although tho number of miners has slightly decreased, the yield of gold is 29,72G0zs in excess of the previous year, being tho largest since 187 G. The export of gold was 398,G<jilozs, the largest amount since 1877.

Mr Archibald Forbes gave bis first lecture last night at the Opera House, tho subject being the “ Inner Life of a War Correspondent.” It was an immense success.

The Honorable Robert Ramsay, tbe well-known politician, and late Chief I Secretary under Mr Service, died | suddenly this morning, after a short illness of bronchitis, aged about 37 years. ■, , ■ Sydney. An inquest was held yesterday, on i the body of Edward Gibbon, formerly of Auckland, who shot himself in the right temple in the Domain last week, and who died on Sunday afternoon. The evidence showed that business troubles had preyed’ on his mind. Dr Deane was consecrated on Sunday as the fisst Roman Catholic Bishop of Rockhampton. Adelaide. The Chief Justice, in the case of Harges, arrested on board the Cuzco, reflected severely on the Police Inspector for taking upon himself to protect the New Zealand creditora as South Australian creditors. The money found on Harges was s given up, and taken possession of by the public Receiver, with whom it remains.

(Pers.s. Ardwata at the Bluff.) Sydney, May 25. The Executive Council remitted the capital sentence of Marie Laye, tor the murder of her child to 10 years’ hard labor.

Reports from the Forbes give dis tressing accounts of suffering and loss from the effects of drought. Immense numbers of sheep and cattle have died for want of food. •

The captain of the schooner Rachel reports that when off Cape Hqwe a sailor named Henry Stambandt stabbed the mate, John Wallace, on the blade, without provocation of any sort. Stainbandt was one of the saved from the Auckland barque Glimpse, and it is supposed he is suffering in his head owing to the privations experienced at the time of that wreck. Melbourne. John McKain, the teacher to whom Mr Bent apologised regarding the fracas in Swanston street, has issued a" writ against Mr Bent for wrongful arrest, claiming £93 damages. The gold yield at Sandhurst last week was 26,0000 z, the largest return for years. Colonel Hutton recommends the raising of a militia of 2000. Brisbane. vi. The Waterworks Board intend spending £90,000 for a new reservoir. Two men named John Campbell and Lewis Pritchard fell 160 feet down a shaft at Gympie, and were, blown to pieces!by a shot just previously lighted. Adelaide. The banks,have raised their rates to 8 per cent for drafts, 7 per cent for discounting promissory notes, and 6 per cent for bills. The revenue from cable messages last year amounted to £30,000. Nine hundred Volunteers were reviewed on the Queen’s Birthday before 7000 spectators. The Governor lost his cross of the order of St. Michael and George on the ground..