AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2841, 31 October 1883, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[BT TEI.S9BAPH.] (Per s.s. Xarawers at Auckland.) Sydney, Oct. 25. Sir Alfred Stephen made a long and ex» htmetive speech, laiting three hmra, last evening, in the Council against the Contempt of Court. Bill. A Bill has been introduced in the Aifembly to amend the Licensing A'jt. The m»iu feature of the Bill is the extension of the hours of sitting ami a modification of the definition of a bonafide (raTeiler. The breach between M> McElhone and the Government Ima culminated in en open rupture. He accused the Ministry of breaking faith wi'h him. He a«.«erta that he could have had any portfolio he wanted, and that he was consulted upon the appointment of all the Ministers. The cargo of frcz:n meat sent by the Teviotdale comprises the best mutton to be obtained in New South Wale*, every care and attention being paid to storage. The steamer also I»ke8 s'veral hundred iegi of butter. The western ps#tnralists are opposed to the new Land Bil, but. within the areas of settlement it is generally approved. Sufficient rain Ims fa'ien in all parts of tbo jount'v to improve the crop pr.iepeets. Ha* buildings for tbo I'oQGg Men's Chtis* tian Afsariation or* to be erected at the ;orner of Pitt and Buthuret st-eets, at a cost jf £33 000, of wbioh £12,000 has already been received. One John Fraser has given 62000. Mra Hampton has closed her successful million here and leavci for Bev Zealand.

A game of chess with living figures has drawn a large crowd, and *as well conducted. Bbtebanb. Tho master of the Government schooner Pearl discovered sit new islands eaftward of tho Uormanby Group, New O-uinca, containing magnificent country, well watered and thickly populated. Tho Congregational Union has passed a resolution urging the annexation of New Guinea. It is stated that a Urge number of immigrants recently arrived are leaving the colony. Melbottusb. H. William*, publisher of tho Sun, has been committed for trial on a criminal information for libel- at the instance of the Evening Sevdld. It is stated that Dr Beany has corumertce.i an action for damages against the Cjinmittee of the Melbourne Hospital. Robert Carter, convicted of fraudulent insolvency, received a six months' een'ence. The Chief Justice remarked that whatever his own opinions were, he could only trout tbe prisoner as one convicted. Richard Henry, for the Commercial Bank robbery, received six years with hard libor. The Tariff Commission by a majority passed a reao'uticn calling attention to the scarcity of libor in tho maouficluring and Uui'icultural districts.