Australian Summary.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3350, 17 September 1879, Page 2

Australian Summary.

[Special Wibe to " Stab."]

(Pjbb Pjbsss Association.)

Later ly the s.s, Zealaadia at

Auckland.

NEW SOUTH WALES. September 11. Henry storms with floods in Sjdney and the neighbourhood: The total amount of rainfall registered during the two days, ending the 10th, was 757 inches, representing 750 tons weight of water to the acre. In Sydney Harbor the steam launch ,of the Austrian war ship Heligoland sunk, that of the Wolverine which broke from her moorings, and narrowly eacaped the same fate. At Windsor the river is 30 feet over its banks, and at Richmond the water is 15 feet over the bridge. WEST MAITLAND. The Hunter river is up 13 feet. At Penritii the river has risen 27 feet, and is new only 6 feet from the ■ bridge. At Goulburn it is still raining, but the water is falling. At Port Macquarrie strong easterly gales with heavy rains and a big flood is anticipated. At Cnmden there is every appearance of a flood. From Blayney, Moruya, Woolongoo, Parramatta, and Braid wood advices of heavy rains have been received, and at the latter place the highest flood that has occurred for years has been experienced. The traffic in the district has been suspended, and much property is destroyed. The Hawkesbiiry river is 50 feet above the ordinary level. Farms are being rapidiy submerged, and farmers are removing to the high ground. Their stock is nearly all up. -It is reported that Messrs Kerwin and Hoskinson have lost some valuable mares.

FOEBES.

The roads between here and Orange are in a frightful condition. The road is lined with teams -bogged and unable to move. It is raining heavily.

NEWCASTLE.

It ha§ been raining incessantly since yesterday morning. A flood is expected in tbe Hunter, at Maitland.'The river is up nearly 30 feet, and is still risin?. From Xiama the President of tbe Marine Board received a telegram froiu tbe pilot stationed there :—'* SchoonerBertha ashore on Bass Point. Reported total wreck; cre w all saved. Another vessel reported ashore near Lake Illawarra, supposed to be schooner Franz. Particulars not yet known. 1' j The rain and storm inflicted some damage on the Exhibition buildings. The leakage in the galleries injured some exhibits in the Austrian and German Courts. Several exhibits of fancy goods suffered seriously. - The damage is not yet ascertained, but will amount to several hundred pound* / The progress of fitting up is delayed by the condition of the grounds.

On tho s railway line, the railway embankment between the . Paramatta junction and Paramatta gare way, causing a suspension of traffic. The flood waters rose 20 feet.

. September 10. A terrific fire is raging. In the midst of the deluging rain bells and guns j?a?e warning,] and thousands ot persons thronged to the scene in Hunter street, in the centre of the city. The following places were totally destroyed:—O'Gallagher's (draper), Meßickards Bros, and Mrs Heyden (grocers), Smith's boot WRreiioase,O'KeeftVs (solicitor), Bussell's London Tarern. A number of small adjoining places caught fire, also Featherstone and Smith's (drapers), and Michel's j (American Consul)* but these were saved ! by the fire brigade. £10,000 worth of property is destroyed. The fire originated at O'Galiagher's through the escaping gas. Q'Gallagher was nearly killed. He was insured for £1200—not half the ralue of his stock. The other premises are partly insured.

I (PjJK B.S. AItAWATA AT THB BIUM.)

The following summary by the Arawata is additional to that already published by us:—• *" VICTORIA. * Violent scenes occurred in the Aiiem* bly during the eighteen hours' sittings of laat week. The Minister of Works was again taunted by being called a duller, Patterson warmly repudiated the slander, aud, in declariug his innocence, became greatly agitated, and finally sank into ibis seat and burst into tears Mr Berry, in addressing his Geelong constituents, declared that it was better to bo slaves and swamp the Assembly altogether than to leave Victoria any longer in the grasp of a selfish minority with , monetary instances to serve. lie an> nouneed his intention of stamping the Colony. '■ Claims amounting to over £60,009 have already been . proved against the Provincial Suburban Bank, and probably twenty thousand more will be proved. A severe earthquake shock was felt in the west district. Excluding the Government and departmental accounts the deposits in the Associated Victorian Banks shows a falling off of over half a million during the March to June quarter. The Te Anau, a sister ship to theßotomahana, is expected by the end of the year.. ' . • . > A conference of delegates of the School Boards decided in iavor of the mainten* ancc of education in its present form.. A lad at Lillydale blew his brains out because his father .chastised him,for misconduct. . •■- - . The net Land Tax up to June 30 was two hundred and fifty- two thousand* and the expense of administration, £23,000. P. A. Proctor, astronomer, proposes lecturing in New Zealand during the winter of next year. The Euryalis, which is unsuitable'for the East Indian station, relieves the Wolverine. \ : '"' ."*.; llegarding the,sensational claim for.five millions worth of land in Melbourne, the Victorian . Lands Department, knows nothing of the alleged grant on which the claim is based. r. . ,/,,.. rIt is suggested that Triekett should meet the three best Victorian settlers in a three mile race, a new man to encounter him at the commencement of each mile.