AUSTRALIAN CABLE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1713, 20 March 1888, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN CABLE.

Melbourne, March 16,

Sailed—Maruroa for Auckland.

A fur her telegram received irora Eorbes, in reference to the fire there, states that the Post-office escaped destruction although the tower took fire, The fire originated in the hotel stables, and two horses were burnt to death. A groom, who had been recently discharged, has beeu arrested on suspicion of having set the stables on fire. . Griffen, the defaulting teller of the English and Scottish and Australian Chartered Bank, who was wanted for the embezzlement of £2OOO, has been arrested at Euroa.

March 17.

The Australian cricket team which is about to visit England is now composed as follows : Macdonnell. Turner,; Ferris, A. Baunermati, Jones, Trott, Blackbam, Edwards, Boyle, Worrall, Lyons, and Jarvie. Bonnor is expected to join the team in England. ; bYDiJEY. March 15.

Liilywhite's cricket team lost two marches and Vernon's learn one while in Australia.

'ih-j.8.8. Mozuud, from Shanghai an Houg-Ivoug, has arrived with one

Chinese passenger suffering from the worst form of small pox, and four convalescent. The vessel h»K hi>en quarantined. The Chinaraau died shortly after arrival.

March 16

Sir Robert Wisdom, formerly At-torney-General, died to-night. Sir Robert has been ailing 6ince his return from Europe suffering from a complication of disorders. He suddenly took a turn lor the worse. The primary cause of deaih was jauudice, . A large number of sheep have been destroyed in the prevailing bush fires, and these have so serious that a number of men are leaving town to cope with them, as much as a pound per day beiug offered for assistance in some places. !

March 17,

His Excellency, Lord Carrington, has received a despatch from Queen Victoria stating that she is greatly gratified at the telegraphic accounts received of the brilliant and loyal celebration which took place in commemoration of the centenary of the colony.

The locomotive tender question is not definitely settled, hut it is understood that the workmen are disinclined to agree to the proposal-of.the manufacturers for [n reduction in wages. The contracts will now probably bo given to Jinglish firms.

S-'arch for the missing municipal books and accounts has not proved sac cessful as yet, It is believed they cover a period in which the largest defalcations occur.

In consequence nf the number of disorderly scenes in the Legislative Assembly, tfie Government have cabled to the English Government for a copy of the proceduro rules adopted by the House of Commons, with a yie.w to proposing the adoption here of such of the new rules as may be suitable to th 9 circumstances of the colonial legislature. There have been over sixty incidents of disorderly conduct this session.

Information is to hand from the New Guinea States that the Gprman company lias spent over a quarter of a million in exploring the country. All the harbors in German territory have b u en surveyed, and a number of stations Imve been planted along the coast. Large suijar plantations hn\t> been started, which it is antiui|.aie'i. will prove very successful, native labor being cheap :ind abundant. The company is encouraging emigration from Australia, Sailed Hauroto, for Wellington. Lilly white's learn are passengers by her. 'ihe ship Aristomene, with 2700 tons of coal en board consigned tn San Francisco, caught fire at five o'clock this morning. The fire is supposed to have originated in some flax which was stowed under the lockers. The pumps were spt t« work at once, an J an immense body of water was put into the ship, hue then showed signs of sinking, and the ffficeis decided to run her aßhore, A' 4 o'clock this morning the fire was got under without the ship having sustained any serious injury. , The cost of repairs is estimated at £3OOO, Brisbane, March 17.

An elderly man nsiued Issaac Greer wounded bis wife severely last night find then shot himself dead. The couple had only been married twelve months, but they quarrelled frequently. Is is stated that Greer was drunk when he fired the shots.

A mining party which left some, time ago to prosppct Joseph's river, New (iuineo,' have returned to this city. They report that they lost everything, and that their lives were endangered by tho cupidity and hosti'iiy of the natives. They only escaped with their lives by stea in* four cauoes, and dropping down the river in the darkness, the natives having previously plundered all their goods. The party say that the Government, as represented by the High Commissioner, gave them no Assistance whatever, and are doing nothing to facilitate parties going inland to develop the country.