Australian

Southland Times, Issue 12771, 2 December 1893, Page 2

Australian

SYDNEY,'Dec. 1.

The Bank Bill has passed through committee in the Legislative Council without any serious objection being raised to it. Sir George Dibbs has given notice of a bill to amend the lunacy laws. It is understood that its main object is to provide for the care of lunatics belonging to New South Wales in the other colonies and vice versa.

The Stamp Duties Bill has passed committee in the House of Assembly. Its chief feature is a clause to prevent the avoidance of probate duties by the distribution of property before death. The Government met with a severe rebuff in committee on the Mining on Private Property Bill. An amendment to limit the area of leases to five instead of twenty acres was strongly opposed by the Government, the Hon. Mr Copeland asserting that it would drive away capital. With the exception of Sir Henry Parkes and Mr McMillan, who supported the Government, the Opposition sided with the Labour party and carried the amendment by 46 to 32. Another nail was driven in the coffin of the Ministry by the reduction to six months instead of twelve as the time after which leases are to be cancelled if work on a claim is suspended in a mine. From Mr Copeland’s remarks it would seem that he relies on the Council deleting the objectionable alterations. Sir George Dibbs, replying to a question in the House of Assembly, said there was no leakage of Chinese into this colony, and that therefore there was no need of legislation on the question, this session. MELBOURNE, Dec. 1.

The woman Thwaites or Knorr, charged with child murder, went into the witness box and affirmed her innocence, and accused the man Thompson of strangling a baby girl and burying it. She admitted that she had buried two children in back yards, but declared that they had died naturally. The statement created a great sensation. /. Riflemen at the recent mee.ting paid a high compliment to colonial-made ammunition, which was used exclusively in the contests, with the exception of the Federal match. Never before have such excellent results been attained, although the weather was not favourable to good shooting. " A fearful explosion took place at the Defiance mine, Ballarat. The dynamite magazine exploded and blew a miner named Burke to atoms. Toms, an Adelaide cyclist, has lowered the record between Adelaide and Melbourne, doing the.journey in 96 hours. It' has; been ascertained that the statement as to an impending collapse in the London butter market has been circulated by a ring of importers. The effect has been that local exporters have frightened producers into accepting their terms. Mr Muntz, of the Mercantile Bank directors, who stands committed for trial, has become insolvent, his deficiency amounting to L 24,000. One cause of the insolvency was the cost of defending himself during the recent prosecutions. The inquest on the man Glasgow, killed in a fight, resulted in a verdict of manslaughter agaiust one of four men who has been arrested. ADELAIDE, Dec. 1. The Legislative Council has approved of the proposal for the establishment of village settlements, but dissented to the voting of L5O to each settler. The Labour paity haa decided, "as Mr Woods’ pledges to his party are not interfered with, by the charge of bigamy brought against him, the matter is one for his constituents rather than the Labour party to i ake into consideration.