AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 991, 10 July 1883, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Melbourne, July 4. The action of Sir Charles MacMahon v Berries, to recover L 250 due on shares in the Southern Cross Petroleum Company, Ne w Zealand, is decided. Berries wont to New Zealand to report on the prospects of the Company, and stated that the shares had been given to him. Verdict for defendant. Henry Winter, insolvent, known as the corn doctor, has been remanded from Brisbane (where he was arrested) to Melbourne. At the meeting of the Amateur Turf Club at Caulfield on Saturday, the Ladies’ Bracelet was won by ’Hie Ghost. The Victorian Football Association has handed cheques amounting to Ll4O to the Melbourne charities. The case against Catherine Grifhn for obtaining money by representing herself as Prof. McCoy’s sister, has advanced another stage Griffin was brought up at Brighton on Thursday before a Bench of eight Magistrates. A majority of five decided to dismiss the case, but Mr Alley, the Police Magistrate, refused to concur, acd consmiited the girl for trial on his own responsibility. The case has, caused a great deal of comment. The trial of Rowan’s steam car has been made, with satisfactory results. The car took thirty tons up an incline of 1 in 40 at the rate of fifteen miles an hour. On level ground it travels at the rate of thirty. The American ship Ohyrosito has put into Belfast harbor, having suffered considerable damage from bad weather. The Governor opened Parliament on Tuesday. The speech stated that the movement for the annexation of Now Guinea to the British Crown, initiated by Queensland, was cordially supported by

his advisers. Later on, the importance of securing the islands between New Guinea and Fiji induced the formation of a Committee of the Colonies, with a view of urging their annexation or a protectorate over them. 411 the colonies gave their hearty co-operation. At the Intercolonial Conference held in Sydney, '• ictoria. New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, and Western Australia agreed to apply for admission to the Postal Union, on conditions which would secure to the Colonies adequate representation and would strengthen the hands of the mother country. The recent connection of the railway system at Albury afforded an opportunity to express views on Federation, a subject that had assumed such import-

ance as to command the earnest attention of all interested in the welfare and development of the colonies. Negotiations would be opened with the other colonies with a view to ascertain to what extent Federation is practicable at present. 'he (li vernment recognise the necessity of placing the defences of the colony on an efficient footing, and works are being pushed forward. Some gun and torpedo boats are approaching completion. The necessity for the abolition of political patronage has led to the preparation of Bills for the future management ef railways and for the proper selection ana appointment and for promoting the control of all persons in the public employ. The establishment of irrigation trusts for supplying agricultural land with water is contemplated. It is also proposed to establish a militia, so as to obtain efficient naval and military instruction. Amongst other measures Bills will be introduced \ providing for the suppression of the rabbit pest, to increase the number of responsible .. Ministers, and for the conservation of forests. The speech concludes with congratulations on the flourishing condition ; * of the country. . •; ■ v Sydney, July 4. Dwight, the stonemason who was . run over by a steam motor, has been awarded L 1,500 compensation. The Chief Justice stated emphatically that running steaigf i trams was illegal at the time the accident • occurred. r ; Mr Buchan, Police Magistrate, has been seriously ill, but is now able to resume his duties. The jury in the .case of Davies v Harris returned a verdict for the plaintiff, damages one farthing. Davies, who is a , C.M.G., in cross-examination made four ; ; attempts to spell the word January, and _ each i itne failed. - ; A case of highway robbery, followed by a clever capture of the thieves, occurred on Saturday. Mr Topham, of the firm of Topham, Angus, and Smith, contractors, was driving near Nepean Tower, when ■ two masked men stuck up the buggy and 1 presented revolvers. They took Mr Topham and his groom, bound them blindfolded to a tree, and cleared out with L 1,450 .which Mr Tophamfhad to pay the men on the water-works contract. Mr * Topham succeeded in freeing himself and the groom, and gave information to the police, who arrested the men in the train the same evening with the whale of the money in their possession. They were both committed for trial.

In the Presbytery on Tuesday, the Rev Mr Wilson called attention to the action of the *Rer Mr Strong in regard to the Sunday question. An animated debate ensued, the press being excluded. Ultimately a motion regretting the stand taken by Mr Strong was adopted.