AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2199, 23 April 1896, Page 22

AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

Sydney, April 18. THES GOTHENBURG SYSTEM. The adoption of the Gothenburg system of controlling the sale of liquor was urged upon the Premier by a deputation from the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. Mr Reid, replying, said the Gothenburg .system was one which put the whole question on a footing more favourable to reform than any proposal made by the prohibitionists. The prospect of getting a majority in Parliament to legislate for prohibition was so remote that he heartily welcomed the action of the deputation, as it brought tbe matter within reach of practical politics. Personally, he opposed local option. He did not think any member of the community had a right to prevent anyone else drinking moderately, but the proposal of the deputation, with modifications, was quite feasible. He thought this was a matter which the Government should take up. He intended to introduce a bill next «esMon dealing with adulteration, including intoxicating liquors, bat he thought it was impossible to promise any general amendment or temperance reform next session. DRINKING CLUBS. Apropos of drink reform, Judge Murray passed * severe sentence on two men convicted of brutal assault at a drinking club. He said these clubs required most stringent legislation j and much more strict control ttiaa the police were at present allowed to exercise. They held oat temptations to working men to spend money aud gamble, and took the worst form of the old-fashioned uncontrolled publichouses. The judge referred to tbe larrikin "pushes" which infest the city as congregations of human jackals whioh wanted wiping off the face of tha earth. j THE MBRCADOOL CASE. Alarmed at the enormous legal expenses and waste of timft over tha first of the series of Mercadcol land dummying cases, the Crown and counsel for defendants, after lengthy negotiations, came to an arrangement by which the remaining 14 Cases, on all main issues, will be heard as one. The evidence submitted, except where objections were raised on the first case, will be accepted in tha others, further evidence being restricted on its individual merits, each finding of the board will, however, be leparate in each case. HORSEB FOR ENGLAND. Another descendant of Musket journeys to England to meet" the demand there for the Musket strain. Carbonado is the latest offer to English fanciers. Mr Hordtra, the owner, intends to introduce fresh blood at Wilton Park stud, and to this end Power, who gi.e4 with Carbonado, will purch»s« a couplo or' thoroughbreds to take the placa of the departing horse and the defunct Nordenfeldt. BREACH OF PROMISE. Two New Zealanders have figured in a, breach of promise case at Dubho, in whioh Cordelia Compton sued Harry Tyer for breach of promise. Plaintiff alleged that defendant deserted her and her child. After an absence of four years the woman traced him to Dubbo, and discovered he bad married another. The jury awarded a solatium in the shape of £300. ASSISTING SETTLERS. The Minister for Lands is visiting the Riverina district. Replying to the harrowing representations with regard to the ruinous drought jrad devastation by rabbits, he made a number of important announcements with reference" to Government proposals to assist settlera. He stated that they intended next session to' push forward a bill reducing selectors' rents and otherwise easing their burdens, also allowing settlers to purchase on easy terms suitable settlement areas. Referring to the question of large e»tates, he "had no detire to confiscate property, bub large owners must remember that land carried its obligations as well as advantages. By excluding others from the soil they were making the country dangerous to live in, creating discontent amongst the people, and creating unemployed by neglecting the proper use of the land. The Government would take the earliest; opportunity of introducing a bill to split up 'large estates for agricultural settlement. He advocated ligbb railways in agricultural districts, but hinted that they could not be constructed unless there was a good chance of their paying. Surveuwere completed for a vast system* of water conservation and irrigation, and Parliament would be asked in the coming session to ■ecure to th.c people the right to water in all streams in the country. Millions would be spent on irrigation. Then instead of people wanting selections of 640 acres, they would bo content with 10 acres. Carrying out the con■ervation scheme largely depended on large owners showing thair willingness to pay for water. A aew Rabbit Bill would be introduced, which would place the destruction in the hands of local bodies, assisted by the Government, which, parallel with these bodies, would pursue vigorous extermination on Crown lands. He mentioned that since 1890 millions had been spent in the destruction of rabbits, half the amount being paid by the Government. FRENCH CONVICTS. By mail steamer newa^has arrived that the steamer La C*ledonie reached Noumea with 471 convicts. During the voyage nine undesirable deportees died. A STRANGE PHENOMENON. A peculiar phenomenon was witnessed at Maclean. A mitt, retembliDg a light fog, with a sulphurous odour hucj; over the town for a wbole d*y. The theory is advanced that it might have been blown across from one of the South Sea Islands, where an eruption may possibly have occurred. * Melbourne, April 18, BAD WEATHER. The tempestuous weather which prevailed during the past 10 days on the const and round to the westward gave sbippiug a lively time. The Konoowarra, bound to the Golden West, had a- trying experience after quitting Adelaide. During the hurricane two seamen were thrown hither and thither on the deck by tli9 sea. One Doyle had his scalp completely lifted, and ribs and collarbone broken, and died in a few hours, while the other was seriously injured. THE BRUNNER FUND. The Druids' Gala Committee voted £50 to the Brunner fund. The Argus fund for the same object amounts to £93, and ths mayor's foadtoASM.

CHINESE SECRET SOCIETIES. When the Chinese establish a secret society they take oare to make the code and penalties Bimp'e, but painful for anyone breAking the covenant, and to witness one - such mode of ejectment; is calculated to inspire othern with the sacrednesj of the oath. Some cuiioua allegations came out in an assault case heard at Bendgo, where a Chinese secret society exists. The couusel for the society explained that members were sworn not to give evidence against each other in court. One of the brotherhood, having violated this principle, was sentenced by the society to 108 beatings. This was admhiiitered by a big stick, after which he was dragged out of the clubroom by his pigtail with such suddenness and violence that the appendage was torn out by the roots. This ended bis connection with the society. A sensation was caused when counsel stated that tbc disappearance of Constable Ryao, lost on the White Hills eight years ego, was due to the machinations of the society. COMPETITION OF WOMEN. When the committee of the hospital instituted the practica of appointing six medical students who headed the honours lut of the nnirersity each year to the positions of resident officers they nearer calculated on the opposite ccx entering the ranks of the profession, or at any rate securing high 'university honours. Tais year they are brought faoa to face with the fact. The first six students include two ladies, and the expectation that they will be appointed to the posts is causing the committee anxiety. Women have asserted their claim? in many professions, but Miss Burton is, perhaps, the first; to seek a marine officer's position. The lady, who had been a stewardess for some yoar.% applied to the Marine Botrd to be allowed to enter for a second mate's examination, but the board refused permission because the regulations required four years' service on deck with* practical seamanship. Tho lady announces her intention to proceed Home _to endeavour to compass her ambition. Adelaide, April 18. A TROUBLESOME TRAMP. Fitzgerald is a tramp who on three occasions recently deprived the inhabitants of this part of the globe of cable intelligence by cutting the trans-continental line. Whenever Fitzgerald got off the track he found it easier to cut the wire and discover hie whereabouts than to try to rectify his mistake by other methods. A sentence of six months' has been meted out as a hint to desist from such practices. Brisbane, April 18. A. LONG SWIM. The experience of the woman in the Quetta wreck, who kept afloat some 36 hours after tho wreck of the illfated vessel, had a parallel c»sb in ttiab of a Japanese diver, who disappeared from a pearling ketch a fortnight ago. : The difference was that in the latter case the man was an expert s trimmer. He states that after swimming two days and nights he reached a •mall, island near West Island, where he was rescued four days later in a stats of semistarvation. He caught a turtle, which came to lay its eggs, and subsisted on the flesh till it became putrid. Then he ate the eggs. UNGRATEFUL QUEENSLAND. The meeting to devise means of raising funds to assist the widows and children of those who lost their livcß in the Brunner mine disaster has been again postponed. The Governor was present, and expressed regret at the small attendance. This apathy of Queenelanders is in. striking contrast to the vigorous help rendered from New Zealand at the time of the flood devastation.