Australian Telegrams.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3175, 23 April 1879, Page 2

Australian Telegrams.

(We:.'s'.s, Tas±jiriX. : at "the',..BipFP.)

(Pbb Pbess Agency.)

■ • Meibournb, April 17. j l On Eaitcr'Monday there was an urilooked for sensation. Henry L'Estrange, known as vlhe Australian Bldpdiri/ win asQendingin a balloon from the Agricul;^ftral. Society's grounds. ! Th«i\inflatipii; was perfect end the ascent most successful, bat when the balloon attained an altitude of about a mile it burst with a loud report, arid the whole thing collapsed.; Thousands of people witnessed the catastrophe, and the greatest excitement; prevailed regarding the fate of the •aeronaut, who was seen rapidly descending by a parachute which kept the car tolerably steady. L'Estrango had the presence of mind to throw out all the ballast, but the car came down with frightful _ Telocity. Fortunately, tit alighted in a tree in the Government House Domain, arid with the except on of a few bruises, L'Estrange was unhurt. His escape was mpsi piiraculous.;, ;The accident was caused l>y his own! inexperience, as he did not allow for the great expansion of air consequent upon his rapid ascent. ■• ■ ; 1 Very welcome rain has fallen pretty, generally o?er the country, but scarcely' sufficient t> do much good., : ■ ! Owing to the Easter holiday Tery little is doing. « The Government are in favour of accepting the tender of the Orient Steam Navigation Company, which they consider will provide cheap passages tor immigrants. ' '..J,'.. ..'

David Henry, under sentence for embracery, has been seized with a fit of 'apoplexy, and has remained insensible for the last ten days. . . Henry Varley was a passenger by the s.s. Durham, for England.

The colonial war ship Nelson will take the Victorian exhibits to Sydney. A formal invitation to the Prince of Wales to open the .Victorian Exhibition next year will be sent by the outgoing mail.