AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1130, 27 October 1893, Page 19

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Telegraph. — Press Association. — Copyright Sydney, October 25.

In the Legislative Assembly a point of order was raised on the motion for the second reading of the Telegram Copyright Bill, on the ground that as it interfered with trade it should be introduced in committee. Mr Suttor, on behalf of the Postmaster-General, stated that the Government opposed the measure. The Speaker disallowed the point of order, and after some discussion the second reading was negatived by 40 to 4. Sir Henry Parkes, speaking at a local option meeting, declared it to be the clear right of the people to say whether they should have additional publichouses, without any question of monetary compensation arising. He expressed himself fully in accord with the principle of local option. Melbourne, October 25. An important action is pending to test the power of banks to lock-up Crown moneys. The Master-in-Equity lodged ,£30,000 by order of the Supreme Court, and the Government claims that this money cannot be locked-up. The, defendants contend that the money does not belong to the trust funds of the Treasury, and is, therefore, in the same position as the moneys of any other depositor. Brisbane, October 25. The country in the vicinity of Flinders is in a deplorable condition from drought. The stock are dying in large numbers. The heat is intense, the thermometer registering llldeg in the shade. There is no appearance of rain.