AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hastings Standard, Issue 70, 17 July 1896, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

♦ FACTORY LEGISLATION. BUTLER BEFORE THE COURT. A TEA TRADER BREAKS DOWN. Sydney, July 17. The Factories and Shops Bill, which has been read a second time in the Legislative Assembly, aims at protecting the lives of women and children and preventing sweating. It also compels the stamping of furniture to prevent the evil of Chinese cheap l&Sor in that line. A conference is to be held here to take steps to prevent the spread of the tick pest. Four more collieries have started work. The miners are promoting a mass meeting to call upon the Government to introduce a Compulsory Arbitration Bill. MELBOURNE, July 16. Butler was before the Court to-day and- pleaded guilty to the charge of breaking and entering, but not guilty to the charge of robbery under arms. The accused delivered a very clever address to the jury on the second charge. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty, expressing the opinion that the evidence as to the identification of the prisoner was not sufficiently clear. Brisbane, July 16. Mr Wragge, the Government Astronomer, will attend the Meterological Conference in Paris in September. .The steamer Tsinan, with the new season's tea from Foochow, broke down, and is being towed into Moreton Bay. July 17. The Tsinan broke the tail of her shaft, which was the cause of her disablement. No news has yet been received concerning the missing boats' crew of the Norman.