Australian Summary.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1601, 5 February 1884, Page 2

Australian Summary.

UNITED-PRESS ASSOCIATION.

[rat S,S.-KOIOJIAHANA at the bluff.]

'.jr. .j'J January 29.:"Mf.KiS.'Smythe, the well-known theatrical agent, has made arrangements with George Augustus Sala for a tour in Australia; The latter will arrive in Melbourne in April, 1885, and intends to " do".the trip ia one year from Home to Home. He will witness tho Melbourne Cup of 1885. The .Minister of lands has directed that action, shall be taken to enforce a supply of life-saving apparatus at bathing establishments, on the beach, owing which have occurredU£tkly.; i\ : . _.;' . :

Messrs Sanders and Co. havo been the means of introducing into tho. colonies some .420 "native servants"" from-India, : they being employed by many persons in preference to females as household servants, andthe demand is increasing,

Several candidates are mentioned already.for the vacancy in the Assembly caused by Mr Francis' death. MrWebster Cramer Murray, a local man, ami Sir Bryan.O'Loghlen are likely to contest the election.

SYDNEY, ' ' ■ •;' '■■■'"■• '■'•'. January 29. Considerable excitement was occasioned on Monday by the report that the Blind Institution was on fire. It turnedoufc.to be a fact, but the inmates were safely removed, and the. conflagration was extinguished. The recent bush fires -in the Newcastle district devastated miles of conntry, and the land presents the appearance of being covered with snow, &c.,- haying been reduced to white ashes/-'- - ' ■

The New South Wales property tax, it is proposed, by the Treasurer, shall be framed oV tho'lines of tho New Zealand tax, and shall include property of all kinds, whether real, personal, land, houses, mortgages, shares, bank deposits, household;, furniture, wearing apparel, oxemption heitig allowed under .£3OO, and allowance to that amount to be taken-eff.when above, that value,- •

A'darihg attempt has been made to murder a constable by a youth- named Deenan. The latter had been arrested by. ; Hodgkinsen on the charge.of urid was being convoyed by the Pi.ctpn train;"' The prisoner induced the constable to remove the handcuffs, and then shot him four times with a revolver. The guard of the train Seattle., to the assistance of;the and De6nan was secured. The constable, though badly injured, is progressing favourably, The Hon,-John Blackland, M.L.0., died on Saturday, in his 83rd year,