AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3307, 7 November 1883, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[By Telegeaph.] (Per s.s. City of Sydney at Auckland.) Sydney, .Nov. 1. The contempt of Court Bill introduced in the Council by the AttorneyGeneral has been rejected by a majority of five in a house of thirty-three members. The subject had been well agitated through the country, but the result was not altogether unexpected. A debate has taken place in the Assembly on the subject of intercolonial free trade, arising out of a motion by

Mr Young that the Government should make an effort by conference or otherwise, to induce the Governments of the other Australian colonies to remove by legislasion the various import duties now charged by them on the produce and manufacturers of New South Wales. Victoria was regarded as the stumbling block to any such arrangement, and the Treasurer, in the course of his speech, said he regarded federation as a sentimental idea, with little hope of being carried out.

A Royal Commission of civil and mechanical engineers has been appointed to enquire into the stability of iron railway bridges. Mr McElhone has been addressing his constitutents in opposition to the Land Bill. Opposition to the Bill is also coming from Western squatters. _ A Selectors’ Land Conference is now sitting in Sydney but is unlikely to result in much practical benefit. Another application is to be made for the removal of the lunatic Cresswell to England but it will be again opposed by the Attorney-General, on the ground that the identity of Cresswell has been fully established. A tender has been accepted for the third section of Illawarra railway at £318,000,

Melbourne,

The Commissioner of Customs has decided to obtain an estimate for the extension of the Alfred Graving Dock by about one hundred and fifty feet. A final meeting of the Tariff Commission has been held. The proceedings were of a somewhat lively nature. Trouble is still being experienced with the coolies imported by Mr Palmer, near Warnambool.

The City Council is making rapid progress with the underground drainage works in the city. A meeting of Freemasons resolved to form a Freemasons’ Hall Company, with a capital of £20,000, in order to erect a suitable hall in Melbourne.

A verdict with £2 damages has been given against the “Leader” for libelling D. Crichton, a journalist. A motion made in the Assembly for the establishment of a daily “ Hansard ” was adjourned after discussion, and was virtually shelved for the session.

A Bill has been introduced to increase the number of Ministers in the Council to two, and limit the number in the Assembly to eight. Brisbane.

Thirty Chinese employed on J. Swallow’s plantation at Cairn’s having disobeyed orders, warrants were issued to arrest them. The police on proceeding to execute the warrants were fiercely attacked by the Chinese. A severe fight ensued, in which one Chinaman was killed, and three wounded. At a banquet to Mr Griffiths, at Ipswich, much enthusiasm was displayed. Mr Griffiths disclosed nothing in regard to his future policy. The loss of stock on the Darling Downs during the recent drought has been very heavy.