AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 850, 6 January 1879, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(PER WAKATIPU, FROM SYDNEY.)

Sydney, Dec. 31. Members of Mr. Parkes' Ministry are seeking re-election. In addressing his constituents, Mr. Parks condemned the existing system of land alienation,' but promised merely to amend the details, by enactment. The extent of improvement required from selectors is to be reduced from LI to 10s. He undertook to, rapidly construct the railway, extension into the heart of the city. With regard to the Chinese he promised restrictive legislation, but spoke in vague and guarded terms. Ten thousand persons attended the anti-Chinese meeting. They were very orderly, but afterwards marched in procession to the Herald office, where groans were given. : BreadstufFs are a little more plentiful owing to recent arrivals. Four hundred tons arrived from Port Pirie yesterday, and small shipments are being steadily forwarded from Melbourne. The best brands of Adelaide flour are still worth up to Ll3 10s for bakers' quantities. Brisbane.

It is expected that the Ministry will be beaten by a small majority on a no-confi-dence motion when Parliament meets. - -.

Fresh alluvial and quartz-reef discoveries are reported at the Palmer. The reefs are yielding well. A brutal outrage was committed by Europeans on a Chinaman at South Brisbane on Christmas Day. They first beat the unfortunate Chinaman in a most unmerciful manner with their fists, and afterwards forced his lower extremities into a vessel of boiling water, scalding him badly.