AUSTRALIAN.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4636, 13 November 1883, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

Mehboubne, Yesterday.

The " Salvationist "Knowles, who confessed to having murdered the actor named Bates, and was arrested by thfl police, was brought up at the Police Court to-day, and remanded for a week.

A serious railway accident occurred on the Essendon line at noon to-day. A train which was conveying visitors to the races had passed North Melbourne station, when the axle of one of the second-class carriages broke, causing the carriage to upset. Three passengers who were severely in» jured were conveyed to the hospitial, and one of them now lies in a serious condition. The remainder escaped with a severe shaking .

The Australian overland telegraph lines are interrupted.

Sydney, Sunday. An extensive and disastrous conflagration occurred in the lower part of the city at a late hour last night. The fire commenced in the Chinese quarter, Lower George street, and spread rapidly. Among the buildings destroyed are two Chinese warehouses, and the premises occupied by Dynon and Co., crockery warehousemen, and Mitchell, Prances, and Co., ship chandlers. The coffee palace was also damaged. 'The total loss is estimated at £20,000, part of which is covered by. insurance.

Bbisbane, Yesterday. T.ie Hon. S. W. Griffiths has successfully effected the formation of a Ministry in succession to the Mcllwraith Govern* ment. The various portfolios hare been allotted as follows :—Premier and Colonial Secretary, Hon. W. Griffiths ; Treasurer, J. B. Dickson; PostmasterGeneral, J. Carrick; Attorney General, Rutledge ; Secretary of Public Works, A. Miles; Secretary of Public Lands, Button ; without portfolio, Sheridan.

A destructive cyclone passed over the town Toowoomba to-day. The gaß-works were totally destroyed by the violence of the wind, the manager _ being killed. Other damages to a considerable extent was done to buildings and property along the path of the storm.