AUSTRALIAN.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3676, 6 October 1880, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

Melboubne, This day. The Governor's Ball. His Excellency the Governor gave a grand ball at the Government House last night, at which 2500 guests were present. It was a brilliant success. Festivities in Melbourne. The Victorian Exhibition Commissioners entertain the Governors of the several colonies, the Foreign and Colonial Commissioners, and other distinguished visitors at a ball in the Town Hall on the 12th, and at a Conversazione at the Exhibition on the night of the 14th inst. The revenue of Victoria during the last quarter amounted to £109,200, being a decrease of £41,000 compared with the corresponding quarter of last year. Sydney, This day. A crowded meeting was held last night to consider the best means of showing sympathy with the, Evening News, in connection with the contempt of Court case. It was resolved that the Judge's action was calculated to endanger the liberty of the subject, and the meeting further decided to make an appeal for subscriptions to pay the fine of £250, imposed on the paper. Sydney, September 28. Treachery of South Sea Islanders.

Farther details of the massacre of the crew of the schooner Sipple state that the Japanese and the crew ,of the Ripple fought like demons, usisg their rifles after exhausting their revolvers. The latter killed at least fifteen men. A King native named Beta was the first man shot. The natives, when beaten from the ship, fought from their canoes. It was a dreadful spectacle aboard the Ripple. The killed and wounded, with

spears, arrows, and axes, covered the deck. Six are dead and two more are not expected to recover-. She reports that on the 9th of August, whilst trading with the natives of Cape Le Gros, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, the natives, about 103 in number, suddenly attacked the ship and killed Captain Fergusson and three colored men. One woman was wounded severely, also nine others, including a German passenger, William Pense, who had both his arms broken. The fight was most desparate. The natives were only driven off with extreme difficulty. Only Pense has gone to the hospital. The cargo consists of copra and some tortoise shell. Mr Brown, the missionsry at York Island, rendered most valuable help. The wounded men of the Ripple reported the affair to 11.M.5. Conflict.