AUSTRALIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 10483, 22 October 1894, Page 5

AUSTRALIA.

[Special to Press Association.] THE SPIRITUALISTIC SENSATION. SYDNEY, Oct. 21. In connection with the spiritualistic sensation. Dr M’Oarthy publishes some extraordinary statements regarding the medical examination of certain forms materialised by Mrs Mellon, which he states emphatically are not those of a woman. Mrs Mellon expresses her determination to give a materialistic seance under tho most rigid test, in order to prove her genuineness. . FRANCE AND MADAGASCAR. MELBOURNE, Oct. 20. In the Conference of the Council of the Congregational Union, the suggestion of Dr Sevan that a protest should be entered against French interference with the development of the Malagasies was dropped, on a Madagascar missionary expressing the opinion that such a protest might make the position of British missionaries in the island more unpleasant than it is now. VICTORIAN DEBENTURES. The Government has raised the price of 4 per cent debentures to a premium of 3 per cent in addition to tho interest accrued from July 1. No inscribed stock is at present available, but it is intended to ask Parliament to authorise a further issue. A JURY’S DIFFICULTY. Oct. 21.

The jury disagreed in the case of Morrison, charged with wife murder. They were unable to come to any decision on the question of the man’s insanity, and have therefore been discharged. In the meantime Morrison has been remanded for examination as to his mental condition. RETRENCHMENT. HOBART, Oct. 20. The revenue is still falling, and further retrenchment is unavoidable if the exhibition does not improve the Customs revenue. It is intended to call Parliament together in February or March to consider the position. A special session meets on Tuesday, but the only business is assessment, and it ia expected that Parliament will prorogue in two or three days.