QUEENSLAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3896, 12 October 1880, Page 3

QUEENSLAND.

The leader of tho Opposition in the Assembly has v.Eorously condemned tho action of the Government "in ratifying the mail contract without tho consent of Parliament. Ho stated that he had telegraphed to the contractors that tho Opposition, claiming to represent a largo majority of tho colonists, would not consider themselves bound by tho contract without such consent. He had told them he would not consider them bound by the contnu-1 •■•*. hieh he repudiated as unconstitutional, ihe potition presented to tho nesday rq> vied tho breakdown of the machinery of the Albion, New Zealand to Melbourne vil Hobart Town. The mate of the Albion boarded the Ouzco. In reply to a requeßt for information, the mate stated tbat the vessel ould, at thab time, have been safely taken to thafc port. A testimonial has been presented to Mr John Bern et, the lessee of the late Victorian Theatre, a» a token of public sympathy. Extraordinary proceedings have occupied the Wagga Bench, ending in the conviction of the presumed defaulting debtor, Green, a publican, who sued four respectable residents for damages amounting to J62C00, for assault and false imprisonment. It appears the I laintiff drew £800 from the bank, and apparently prepared to bolt from Victoria, when one of the defendants, who wero his creditors, before doylight placed themselves near his house. When he camo out, the defendants arrested him, and one pointed a pistol at him saying, "Pay what thou owest." The man, alarmgd, then paid them in fa ll . He was then released, and subae* quently brought this action. The jury found a verdict for tho defendants.

Assembly alleges thafc several proprietors of newspapers in tho House are disqualified, as being contractors for the Government advertising.