AUSTRALIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10238, 5 January 1894, Page 5

AUSTRALIA.

THE “ AGE ” LIBEL ACTION. MELBOURNE, Jan, 4.

At Mr Speight’s instigation, the trial on tho other ten counts in the libel action against tho Age will be resumed without delay, as tho preliminaries need not bo repeated. It is expected that the case will come ou when the Courts resume after the long vacation. There is some talk of raising a public subscription to pay tho Age costs. DESTRUCTIVE FLOODS.

At Orbost, in the East Gippaland district, 5000 acres of maize have been destroyed by floods. Fifteen inches of rain fell in one week in tho district. THE DUKE OP YORE,

At an open-air meeting held in Melbourne to consider the invitation sent to tho Duke and Duchess of York to visit the Colonics, a resolution was earned censuring the authorities for inviting “two political nonentities.” A resolution was also passed in favour of the abolition of the monarchical system of government, and the substitution of a Democratic and Eepublican form of government. Some of the speakers who addressed the meeting made use of very strong language. THE TAEIPF QUESTION. The Jrgus declares that a high policy tariff has broken down badly, and that the colony must export more and more ; therefore it is necessary to maintain export conditions, that is, to live on the low prices obtained abroad, and not on the fond but illusory hope of high prices locally. It concludes by stating that the duties should bo lowered to the New Zealand standard. COAL. The Secretary of Mines states there is no chance of the discovery of black coal at St Hilda. • ALLEGED EG UL AEITIES. SYDNEY, Jan. 4. In connection with the inquiry by Judge Pitz-Hardinga into the alleged irregularities in the working of the Deeds and Search tranche.! cf the Eegisfcrat-General’s Department, Mr E. C. Hopkins, one of the clerks, has' been dismissed. Mr W. W. Backuall, another of tho clerks, and Mr G. W, Hill, record attendant in tho Department, who were also called upon to show causa why they should not bo cUsmißsed> have been reinstated. THE POSTAL CONPEBBNCB. BEISEANE, Jan. 4.

At the intercolonial postal conference to be held in Wellington shortly, the Queensland delegates will bring forward the question of accelerating the mail train service between Brisbane and Adelaide. THE PROJECTED ROYAL VISIT. ADELAIDE, Jan. 4. A cable message received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies stales that the information published and the press comments relative to the invitation to the Duke of York to visit the colonies is not authoritative. Tho Marquis of Ripon adds that the Duke of York is much pleased at the invitation, and that au offiahl reply will shortly be sent. PAYABLE ORE, LAUNCESTON, Jan. 4, The Silver Queen mine, Zeobaa, has struck payable ore in the west cross-cut, which will probably bo the main lode.