AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3115, 28 March 1883, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[By Telegraph.] (Per s.s. Australia from Sydney). Sydney, March 22. Tho principal event of the week has been the Copeland episode. On Saturday night Mr Copeland, the Minister of Works and Railways, who is not an Irishman, attended the St. Patrick’s banquet, at which Mr Redmond also was present, Sir Patrick Jennings being the only other Minister present. When “ The Ministry ” was proposed, Mr Copeland rose to reply. It was then seen that ho was not in a lit state, and hia friends tried hard to persuade him, but he obstinately refused to sit down, and rambling on amidst interruptions justified himself in refusing a free pass to Mr Redmond. His language wasi not tho most choice. Eventually ho was compelled to sit down, and tho “ Evening News ” states that ho placed his head on the table and went to sleep with his pipe in his mouth. The “ Herald” reported tho speech freely, and next morning there was much adverse comment, and Copeland’s resignation urged. The matter was mentioned in tho House by Mr Buchanan, who stigmatised the conduct of the “ Herald” managers as brutal, disgraceful, and malicious. A debate

followed, in the course of which Mr Stuart stated that Copeland intended to resign, but bis resignation had been withheld, and at the instance of Mr Buchanan, who had gone round with a requisition, an attempt was made to coerce Ministers into retaining their colleague. Public opinion, however, is in favor of his resignation. The Austral has gone to Pitzroy dock to undergo reparation preparatory to he departure for England. It is likely that Parliament will be asked to vote a sum of £2OOO for the representation of the colony at the Calcutta Exhibition. Mr Redmond has left for Brisbane. A long spell of fine weather has been experienced. MELBOURNE. Sir Bryan O’Logblen denies Mr Gillies’ statements with reference to tho condition of the railway finances, and characterises them as fallacious. The libel action, Eev Dr Jacobsen v. Julius Matthews, resulted in a verdict for the plaintiff for £3OO. The evidence for the defendant corroborated the defence set up, that the plaintiff while filling tho office of Babbi, acted contrary to the law of tho Jewish Church.

Mr W. Sanderton, Minister of Justice, was returned unopposed. The Harbor Trust request the Government to introduce an amending Bill to authorise the Trust to borrow a million for carrying out important public works.

Mr G. L. Johnston, architect, was awarded £2581 by the Supreme Court, on account of the Hawthorn accident. Victoria has been allotted an inferior position at the Amsterdam Exhibition. Means are being taken to improve it. Beisbane. Tho Premier, while travelling between Gootchie ami Maryborough, narrowly escaped a serious accident. Near Tiro Station, the train, going about 20 miles an hour, swept round a bend on a long bridge, and after going a few yards on the bridge, one pair of wheels of tho tender left the track and travelled a hundred yards across tho bridge, and. a hundred and fifty yards on the other side across the sleepers, before the train could be stopped. Fortunately no damage was done. Three Frenchmen arrived on Rockhampton coast from New Caledonia. They state that they are free men. They subsisted for some days on shellfish and grass.