AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXI, Issue 7246, 21 May 1884, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Pek Puess Association.]

(Per s.s. Eotomabaua, via Auckland.)

NEW SOUTH WALES. Sydney, May IS. The Assembly has settled down to a discussion of the Laud Bill, though but slow progress is being made. The principal topic is tho creation of local Land Courts. An attempt w;is made to secure appeal from the Ministers’ decision to a Judge of the Supremo Court, but without success. The forthcoming aquatic contest on the IScpoiin. river is causing considerable excitemont. A large stand is being erected, and tho banks of the river are being enclosed for a considerable distance. Both men are very fit and doing good hard work in and out of boats. Several bets have been made on Lay cock at short odds. Bishop Barry at Mr Booth s Gospel Temperance meeting on Monday, over OtXIO persons being present. The Bishop said he was not a total abstainer, ami did not intend to be one. At the same time lie gave his hearty approval to the movement. Enoch Hughes, of Lithgow, connected with the iron trade, has failed. Tho liabilities are about .£OO,OOO, and the assets £jooo in excess of that sum. ' Mr Giblin, general manager of the City Bark, died this morning. He was seized with apoplexy two days ago, and never rallied. , Tho weather, which had been warm and sultry, culminated on Tuesday night in a sharp thunderstorm, since which it has been cold and fine. Rain has reached the western district of the Colony, and the drought may be said to have broken up. The unemployed continue to engross the public attention. A large number of men are now housed nightly, and fed at the Government expense, but it is believed that a vorv considerable proportion of these do not want work, and will not accept it when pro vided. No doubt there is a good deal of genuine distress and want of employment, but not so great as alleged. - Meat is very dear, and rising in price, owing to the short supply. Owing to the action of the trustees, a new Art Gallery is likely to be shortly erected in the Domain. His Excellency the Governor forwarded to the Secretary of State a despatch upon the Eeeidiviste question, setting forth in a clear and forcible manner the wrong which would be inflicted on these Colonies if the French Government insisted on carrying out their proposal. QUEENSLAND. Parliament will meet on July 9 or 15. A public meeting is to be called to protest against the deportation of French criminals to .the Pacific Islands. Messrs Birehall, Robinson and Co., influential farmers and sheepowners at Manilla, intend opening up a regular trade to the Colonies by a three-monthly steam service.