AUSTRALIAN CABLE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 341, 15 January 1881, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN CABLE.

Melbourne, Jan. 12. The Australian Cricketers are passengers by the

The Orient Company’s steamer Chimborazo, which recently went ashore in Backstairs Passage, has arrived here safely. The Intercolonial Yachting Regatta takes place in Port Philip on Saturday. For tho Grand Challenge race, over a fifteen mile course, there are seveu entries, including the Tauiwha and the Victorian yacht Janet. Sydney, January, 12.

The business premises of Becket, an American importer, in Barrack street, were totally destroyed by fire last night, all efforts to subdue the flames being fruitless, Becket ordinarily slept on the premises, and as he cannot now be heard of it is f ared that he perished in the fire.

It lias transpired that William Becket whose premises wer s destroyed by fire last night, was absent at the time from Sydney, he having gone to Shoalhaven. The insurances comprise :—On the stock : Mercantile Company, L4oeo ; New Zealand Company, L4ooo ; City Mutual. North British, and London and Lancashire Companies, each L2ooo — total, L 14,000. On the building : United Company, Lfiooo, half of which was reinsured in the Victoria and Australian Alliance Companies.

Mr Skutoorpe telegraphs that he has obtained the journal of Ltichardt, the explorer, tor his whole trip, and Classans journal for half his journey. Both are in good preservation. Cooktown, January 12th,

The French war-ship Distress reports that she visited Basilisk Island, the scene of the massacre ot the French naturalists, and destroyed a multitude of huts and plantations, but was. unable to reach the natives owing to tike scrub and rocks. She also found' a Marge barque wrecked near Brooker Island. The boats had left for Syeney or New Caledonia, leaving the captain’s wife and ■ some seamen on board.