AUSTRALIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 9512, 7 September 1891, Page 5

AUSTRALIA.

[Received Sept. 5, at 10.45 a.m.] RIFLE SHOOTING. SYDNE3T, Sept. 5. In response to inquiry from the New Zealand Rifie Association, the • Sydney Association has decided that matches at 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 1000yds shall be open to a New Zealand team, and a special match will probably be arranged as well. INFLUENZA. MELBOURNE, Sept. 5. Influenza is prevalent; Lord and Lady Hopetoun, the Premier, and the Chief Secretary are all prostrated with it. LIBEL ACTION. An action is being heard, M'Cormick v. Cuthbert, claim *BSOOO damages for libel. It has been adjourned. The plaintiff is a Magistrate, .and the defendant was formerly Minister for Justice. The libel is alleged to have been contained in official letters which wore taken to infer that M'Cormick had improperly and corruptly adjourned certain cases. The defence applied for a nonsuit, on the ground that a Minister, in writing on matters of State, is absolutely privileged. [Received Sept. 7, at 12.30 a.m.] MURDERS BY NATIVES. SYDNEY, Sept. 6. News from the Solomon Islands and New Guinea states that a trader named Gunderson has been murdered, and his store looted by natives of the firstmentioned island, and that at New Guinea a report is current, but is not confirmed, that two missionaries and a native teacher have been killed. THE AUXILIARY FLEET. The auxiliary fleet arrived yesterday. There was no official reception.