AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7649, 28 May 1886, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

ALLEGED LIBEL. (recter's telegram Melbourne, May 27. Messrs James Henty and Co. have commenced actions against the Argus, Age, and Daily Telegraph for £10,000 each, on account of alleged libels in publishing references to the firm's afiairS in their reports of the last general meeting of the National Bank of Australasia. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT, Adelaide, May 27. The South Australian Parliament was opened to-day by His Excellency the Governor, Sir William Robinson, who in his speech on the occasion referred to the jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen, and also to the Indian and Colonial Exhibition. His Excellency, after announcing the probability of His Highness the Prince of Wales visiting the colony, passed on to deal with matters affecting the Government of the colony. Regret was expressed at the existing depression of trade, but His Excellency was satisfied that by energy and the exercise of economy and judicious legislation prosperity would be restored. It had been deemed inexpedient to continue the subsidy in connection with the administration in New Guinea, and in order to effect retrenchment within the colony it was proposed to reduce the cost of Government in the Northern Territory, and to lower the salaries of members of the Civil Service. His Excellency stated that the railways to Silverton and Melbourne were rapidly approaching completion, and he anticipated the ljnes would result in great benefits to the colony. Various Bills are announced, including measures for dealing with local self-government* education, insolvency, vermin, and providing for the establishment of a Board for the management of railways. A Bill will also be introduced in order to bring the colony under the federation union. NEW SOUTH WALES PARLIAMENT. Sydney, May 27. The Legislative Assembly in committee last night affirmed the principle of the payment of members subject to the necesary sanction of Parliament. . THE CABLE SUBSIDY. Sydney, May 27. The Government of New South Wales have declined to extend the period of cable subsidy beyond the time already provided for, but they will accept the conditions offered by Mr. Pender if non-contributing colonies are allowed to participate in. the concessions.