AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1088, 31 October 1883, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Sydney, Oot. 25. Kir Alfred Stephen made a long and exhaustive speech of three hours' duration last evening in the Council against the Contempt of Court Bill. A Bill has been introduced into tha

Assembly to amend the Licensing Acts. Its main feature is the extension of hoars : for selling liquor, and a modification of tha definition of a bond fide traveller. Tha breach between Mr M'llfaone and the Government has culminated in an open rupture. He accuses the Ministry ■ of breaking faith with him, and asserts that ha could have had any portfolio he liked, and that he was consulted upoh the . , appointments of all the Ministers. The cargo of frozen meat sent by the Teviotdale comprises the best mutton to be obtained in New South Wales, every care and attention b»ing paid to storage. The steamer also takes s everal hundred >■■ kegs of butter. The western pastorali ,is are opposed to the new Land Bill, but within the areas’ *''"' of settlement it is generally approved, Sufficient rain has fallen in all parts of . the country to improve the prospects of the crops. New buildings are to be erected at the' corner of Pitt and Bathurst streets for the Young Men’s Christian Association at a cost of L 33.000, of which L 12,000 has already been received. Mr John Frazer has given L 2,000. Mrs Hampson has closed her successful mission here, and leaves for New Zealand. The game of chess with living has drawn large attendances, and was"weTl conducted. Queensland, Oct. 25. The masterof the Government schooner Peale has discovered six new islands eastward of Normanby Group, New Guinea. They contain magnificent country, well watered, and thickly populated. , ’ J 1 The Congregational Union has passed a 1 ; resolution urging the annexation.of New Guinea. It is stated that a large number of «n-> • migrants, recently arrived, are leaving the colony. " Victoria, Oot. 25. - H. Williams, publisher of tha Stovv ’ was committed for trial on a criminal in* formation for libel, at the instance of tha Evening Herald. It is stated that Dr Beaney has commenced an action for damagei against the Committee of the Melbourne Hospital Robert Carter, convicted of fraudulent insolvency, has been sentenced to six months’imprisonment. The Tariff Commission, fay a majority, passed a resolution calling attention to the scarcity of labor in the manufacturing and agricultural districts.