Late Australian News.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4705, 5 February 1884, Page 2

Late Australian News.

Melbottbne, January 29.

Sir William Clarke has given £500 as a prize fund for the militia in shooting, etc.

Professor Sample gave an exhibition of horse-training in the Exhibition Buildings last night for the benefit of the local charities. There was a very large attendance, and it is expected that from £700 to £800 will be available for distribution.

The Minister of Lands has directed action' to be taken to enforce the supply of life-saving at the bathing establishments on the beach, owing to the number of accidents which have lately occurred.

Sydney, January 29. The City Treasurer the sale of Sydney Corporation debentures on the London market as well as on the Sydney market. He is influenced in this course by the fact that the cityof Auckland; debentures, realised better prices in London than in the colonies.

MbngQOse are being sent to the interior for the destruction of rabbits. Fifty-two were'received for the Darliug district by tb> kit mail steamer.

Considerable excitement was caused on Monday by a report that the Blind Institution was on fire. It turned out to be a fact, bub the inmates were safely removed, and the conflagration was extinguished.

A daring attempt was made to murder a constable by a youth named Deenan. The latter was arrested by Constable Hodgkinson on a charge of horsestealing, and was being conveyed to Picton by train, when the prisoner induced the constable to remove the handcuffs. He then shot four times with a revolver. The guard of the train came to the officer's assistance, and secured the prisoner. The constable, though badly injured, is progressing favourably.

The schooner Glide, arrived from the New Hebrides and Solomn Islands, reports another outrage by the natives of one of the Solomon group. The crew p.f the labour vessel Windward Efo, were fired on by an unseen foe m the scrub, and two natives of the crew were severely wounded.

Adelaide, Jan. 29.

The Government are despatching a survey party to Melville and Bathurst Islands, north of Port Darwin. In 1824 a military post was established at Melville, but was abandoned on accouut of trouble with the natives. The islands are swarming with buffalos, the defendants of those lef^ by tfye sojd'jers. Fourteen fire insurance companies have drawn the attention of the Manager of Bail ways j;p the prevalence of §res along the line, owing to the insu^cieqcy of the spark protectors in u^e.'. At the ha.lf>yeariy meeting of the Ostrich Farming Company jt wag Mated the

company had purchased farms at a cost of £12,000 at Port Augusta, and had 152 birds. The company had shipped feathers valued at £425, and had £250 wjprth on the birds at present, Mr Malcolm, one of the managing directors, said the feathers alone met the working expenses and interest.