AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 2744, 10 July 1883, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Bs Telegraph.] (Per Te s.s. Anau at the Bluff.) Melbotjbnb, July 4. An action haa been hfard, Sir Charles Macmahon t. Berris, to recover £250 due m shares m the Southern Cross Petroleum Company, New Zealand. Berris was sent to New Zealand to report on the prospects of the Company. He stated the shares had been given him. A verdict was returned for the defendant. Henry Winter, an insolvent known aa " The Corn Doctor," has been remanded from Brisbane, where he was arrested, to Melbourne. At a meeting of the Amateur Turf Club at Caulfield on Saturday.tho Ladies' Bracelet was won by Tho Ghost. The Victorian Football Association handed cheques for £140 to Melbourne charities. The case against Catherine Griffin for obtaining money by representing herself as one McCoy has advanced another si age. Griffin was brought up at Brighton on Thursday before a Bench of eight magistrates, who by a majority of five decided to dismiss tbe case; but Mr Alley, Police Magistrate, refused to concur, and committed the girl for trial on his own responsibility. Tbe case has caused a good deal of comment. A trial of Rowan's steam car has been made with aal i.ifactory results. The car took thirty tons up an inoline of one m forty over fifteen miles. Tbe American ship Chrysolite, from Belfast harbor, suffered considerable damage during bad weather. The Governor opened Parliament on Tuesday. In his speech he stated the movement for tha annexation of New Guinea to tho British Crown, initiated by Queensland had been cordially supported by his Advisers, who were also impressed with the importance of securing the islands between New Guinea and Fiji. At the Intercolonial Conference held m Sydney, Victoria, New South Waleß, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia agreed to apply for admission to the Postal Union on conditions which shall secure to the Colonies adequate representation and strengthen the hands of the Mother Country. The recent conneoi ion of the railway at Albury afforded an opportunity for the expression of viowb on federation. The subject had assumed such importance as to command the earnest attention of all intereited m the welfare and development of the Colonies. Negotiations would be opened with the other colonies, with a view of ascertaining tfie extent to which federation wus practicable. This Government recogniied the necessity for placing the defences of tho colony on an efficient footing, and the works wore being pushed forward. The torpedo boats were approaching completion. The necessity for the abolition of political patronage had led to tbe preparation of Bills for the future management of railways, for the proper selection, appointment, promotion and coutrol of all per3onß m the public employ. Billa would also be introduced for the establishment of irrigation trusts, and for supplying agricultural land with water. It was proposed to establish a militia and obtain an efficient naval military instructor. Amongst other measures proposed were Bills providing for the suppression of the rabbit past, for an increase m the number of his responsible Ministers, and for the conservation of forests. The Speech concludes by offering cengratulations on the flourishing condition of the country. . STBirBT. Dright, a stonemason, who was run over by a steam motor, has been awarded £1500 compensation. Tbe Chief Justice stated omphatically that the running of Eteam trams was illegal at the timo the accident occurred. Mrßuohan, Police Magistrate, has been seriously ill, but is now able to resume his duties. The jury, m the case of Daviea versus Harris, returned a verdict for the plaintiff with damages of one farthing. Davie?, who is a C.M.G., m cross-examination made four attempts to spell the word January, and each time failed. A daring case of highway robbery, followed by the clever cspture of the thieveß, occurrad on Saturday. Topham, Angus, and Smith contractors, were driving near tho Nepean Tower, when two masked men Btuck up the buggy, presented revolvers, and took Topham and the groom and bound them, blindfolded, to a tree. They cleared out with £1500, which Topham had to pay men on ihe waterworks contract. Topham succeeded m freeing himself and Ihe groom and gave information to the police, who arrested the. men m a train the same evening with the whole of the money m their possession. Both were committed for trial. At a meeting of the Presbytery on Thnraday, the Hey. Mr Wilson called attention t the action of the Rev. Mr Strong, as regard, the Sunday question. An animated debiti ensued, the Pres3| being excluded. Ulti mately a motion regretting the stand taken b] Mr Strong was adopted.