AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2906, 19 July 1882, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[By Telegeaph.j (For e.s. Manapouri at the Bluff.) Mblbouene, July 13. Since the tobacco duties were affirmed and the budgets as a whole approved, political events have boon quiet. Some progress has boon made with the Hail* way Bill, the comprehensiveness of the measure commending it to members, Mr Mirams, as Chairman of the Tariff Commission, bears witness to the strength of the feeling for intercolonial free trade. Ho says be will bo greatly disappointed if the Commission is not able, while preserving the principle of protection, to take proposals to secure the desired end. The Insurance Companies have accepted an insurance of £IOO,OOO on the ne v Law Courts at 2s per cent. Three accidents occurred on the suburban railway line on the same day, the 7th inst., but no serious results were occasioned. Each case was owing to the defective working of the points where new works wore in progcss. The Austral and the Manapouri, the two latest special modern ocean steamers, created much interest while here and were largely visited. The sudden death of John Matheson, late Manager of the Bank of Victoria,

caused generaljregret. The seizure was very sudden and was caused by appoplexy. A young man named Maxwell, Manager of the Colonial Bank at Winchelsea, is under remand, for embezzlement.

The Government are increasing the berthing accommodation at Williamstown, to meet the demand of the new Messageries steamers, beginning next year. The Harbor Trust are also making a new wharf on the banks of the Yarra,

A singular case of neglect,. causing death, occurred at Sandhurst, where an old woman and her daughter were found in a hut suffering from disease and covered with vermin. The woman died. An old man in an adjoining hnt, who was in a similar condition, also died. There were ample provisions, and a sum of money was found in the hut. Owing to the breaking of the driving wheel of the steamer Durham, when between Adelaide and Portland, she had to put into the latter port. She subsequently came on to Melbourne without mishap.

Sydney.

An expedition has sailed to Port Darwin to explore and inspect the new country in Western Australia. It consists of six men and twenty-two horses. They are provisioned for a six months’ journey. Their object is to look for pastoral country. Information has been received that the British India Company are building two new steamers for the Queensland trade. Over sixty thousand sacks of wheat from San Francisco arrived last week. Hobabt. Parliament has been opened. The Hon. T. D. Chapman was elected President of the Council, and Dr Bullen was re-elected Speaker of the Assembly. (Per City of Sydney at Auckland.) Sydney, July 13. To-day Colonels Scratchley, Christie and Spalding visited Bare Island, in Botany Bay, to inspect the fortifications in progress there. A letter addressed to MrLayard, the British Consul at Noumea, by Captain Wain, of the schooner Jabberwook, shows that the French Government have sent instructions to suspend the present labor-recruitiug in the Islands for New Caledonia. Messrs Willis have been advised that the barque Victoria, coal laden from' Newcastle to Launceston, was totally wrecked on Waterhouse Island on the 2nd inst. , , Newcastle The Ministerial party on their arrival from Boggabi, examined the shipping and other appliances of the harbor. After visiting the hydraulic cranes on Bullock Island, and making a trip tumid the harbor, the party returned to town. Melbodbne. . The Commissioner of Customs has decided that publicans selling impure spirits shall be criminally prosecuted.