AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 964, 8 June 1883, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[special to the press association.]

(Per s.s. Wakatipu at Wellington.) Sydney, June 2.

The short session of Parliament called to legalise steam motors in connection with tramways, commenced on Thursday and concluded last evening. At the opening a point was raised that calling Parliament together before the time appointed by the Governor’s proclamation was illegal. This led to a debate, but Speaker declined to give any ruling re the point. new Tramways Bill was, speedily passed through the Assembly by, a large majority, one or two members; strongly opposing the “ Infernal Ma- i chines ” as they were characterised. In the Council, one or two important amend-: ments were inserted, at the instance of Mr Darley, with the object of pifevehtin ' any conflict between the Judges and the; Legislature. The Austral has: had a successful trial trip, and averaged sixteen and a-half knots an hour. The cost of raising and repairing has been about L 50,000. The tunnel under the Sugar Loaf Hill for the Sydney Water Supply has been successfully pierced. Sydney, May 28. The new Macquarie lighthouse is fitted with electric light, and was opened on

June ir with great success. The light is visible for a distance of nearly twenty-five miles, and the entrance to the Sydney harbor is now lighted with the best light in the world. A Royal Commission on noxious trades recommend that there should be set apart a site where, the. whole of the noxious trades might be congregated. The vicinity of Long Bay or South Head of Botany is designated. Thomas Walker has donated LI,OOO to the Prince Alfred Hospital, as a nucleus of a monument fund.

The weather ,haa been very fine, bat cold.

Melbourne,

The trial of. Rowan's steam oar hits proved highly satisfactory. Between some stations it attained a speed of 20 niiles ah hour. .. '

Proceedings have been instituted in the Divorce Court by .Mr Thomas Babul, Inspector-General of State Schools,-against "his wife. . . . A wealthy squatter named John Dixon, of Wyderaskie, died : recently .near Wyckliffe, and has left L 20.000 to the Theological College of the Presbyterian College, LIO,OOO to the Ormujad College, and L 5,000 to the Presbyterian Cadres’ College. ; n .; A qon of Mr Graham Berryhasbeen awarded LSOO as .compensation for the Hawthorne accident.

A large new Coffee Tavern in Burke street has proved a decided success, j ;