AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2796, 14 June 1890, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

(lA' ElixTKlC rKLBGKAI'H.— COI'VHIGHI.) Sydnhv, June 11. Mr Punch has offered to back the American oarsman O'Connor for the sculling championship for a stake of 200 a-side, and a side wager of £300. Kemp's part? arc agreeable to these conditions. June 12. The Government's attention has been drawn to the state of the potato, carrot, parsnip, and peach tree roots which are infested with insects, which arc likely to become a national calamity. The pest is identified as similar to that which devastated large tracts of the best country in Germany, and also caused serious damage to the crops in America. John Faruham and Buchanan, the fireman and stoker of the Sydney train which collided with the Brisbane mail train at Forley on the 13th ult, have been acquitted on a charge of manslaughter. At the inc|uest into the circumstances attending the collision, the jury had found that Faruham and Buchanan were guilty of culpable negligence, and they were arrested to answer the charges. A letter has been received from Dr. Mausen, the Swedish Artie explorer, regretting he is unable to visit the colonies on a lecturing tour owing to his being engaged in preparations for another Arctic expedition. John Steele, the bank note forger, was found guilty and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment. When arrested several hundred clever forgeries for £1 notes on the Australia Joint Stock Bank, Sydney, and the Union Bank, Melbourne, were found in his possession, and in his house at Waterloo copper plates, stamps, dies, and other engravera' appliances were found. June 13, The Opposition claims the right to nominate two delegates to the federal convention. Mr McMillan has acknowledged the right and the Government have promised to consider the point. Pkkth, June 13. The schooner Johauua bound from Mauritua to Melbourne has put into this port in distress. The majority of the crew are down with fever, four having succumbed to it. Very tempestuous weather was met with, but although the vessel was leaking, the mate with the assistance of the captain's wife, managed to navigate her into port in safety.