The respective Premiers of the Australian colonies on June 28th received a cable dispatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, asking whether they would consent to the dispatch of three vessels from the Australian station for temporary service in Chinese waters. Assent was promptly given in all, the Assemblies, and the vessels will probably leave within few days. The vessels most likely to be sent are the Katoomba and Mohawk, 3rd class cruisers, and either of the gunboats Karrakatta and Boomerang. Their places will be filled by ships at present in reserve at Sydney, crews being promptly sent tor-wand from I ition, the Premier of N.S. Wales he could oiler the services wf the Naval mated that if any men were required
Brigade who recently volunteered for service in South Africa. Mr. Philp, Premier of Quovnsland, has further offered to the british Gorernment the use of the gunboats Poluma and Gayund sh, which have been heretofore employed in surveying and training duties. All the above vessels are of comparatively light draught and comparatively modern armament, and should prove highly useful for River work. The cable intimated that the matter was one of urgency, ay _applica-tious for gunboats for protection of life and property were pouring in from consulae posts in the various outpo:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.