Australian News.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4368, 3 January 1883, Page 2

Australian News.

(Peb City of New Yoek, at Auckland.)

(Pee Peess Association.)

Sydney, December 28,

Another appalling wreck occurred yesterday evening. The New England, a steamer engaged in the Clarence Biver trade, left the Grafton wharf on Wednesday afternoon for Sydney, having aboard 53 people, all told, including a number of passengers. She proceeded down the Clarence Biver, and passing outwards struck the bar with tremendous force and subsequently drifted to the No^th Spit, where the seas completely washed over her, and rendered the vessel a complete wreck. The passengers * were panic stricken. Both they and the crew sought every available means of escape; some took refuge in the rigging, and others in different parts of the steamer, but many were washed overboard by the waves, which from time to time submerged the vessel. Two boat loads of people landed but it was found .that a large number of those aboard the steamer had been, washed overboard. The schooner C. Walker made two trips to the wreck, and saved several of the passengers. The pilot boat also went out but did not venture near the wreck on account of the tremendous sea that was. running. The disaster caused the greatest consternation in Grafton.

The coming parliamentary session is likely to be short. Only the estimates will be passed. Very fine weather for the holidays, larger crowds than ever assembled at the various holiday resorts, and everything passed off without accident.

Melbottene, December 28. The banks have raised the interest on deposits by half per cent.

Mr H. H. Weltenhall has been elected unopposed to the Legislative Council, vice Mr Sladen.

The musical festival has been an immense success, bnt it is not yet known whether it paid expenses. A fire occurred at Cohen Brothers furniture warehouse, corner of Stephen and Lonsdale streets. The stock was insured for £3,500 in several offices. .

The Harbor Trust propose increasing the aocommodatian in Hobson's Bay. Beisbane, December 28.

A contract for the construction of the trans-continental railway from CharleviHe to Point Packer,, with a branch westward to Cloneiirry has been-concluded with Mr Henry Kimber, acting for the Australasian Eailway Syndicate. The agreement provides that the line be finished within seven and a half years, under a penalty of £25 an acre deducted from accruing to the land grants.