AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1412, 23 December 1884, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Melbourne, December 17. It is understood that the officers of the Lands Department are bus>ly engaged in the preliminary work of bringing the Land Act into operation. It is announced to-day that from an early date passengers on Victorian railways will be allowed to insure their lives for a single journey on the principle adopted on the English lines Further correspondence has taken place between the Australian and the English teams in reference to the proposed second match to be play d in Melbourne on the first January. Alexander offered to accept 40 per cent of the proceeds, and to hand over the profits to the Melbourne charities after deducting expenses. The English decided the offer, and wanted L2O for each m>n, which was refused. It is expected. however, that the Englishmen will play a combined Australian team on the aate, whether with or without any members of the Australian team, is not known. The Scots Church dispute still occupies attention. The members of the Scots

Church session were summoned to appear before the Presbytery to explain their action in allowing the congregation to meet for the purpose of approving 'the Session Bill. Messrs T. G. Stewart and T. Baillia answered the summons. The proceedings were conducted with closed doors, with the result that the Session was finally admonished to be more careful in future. It was arranged that a Corn* mittee should visit Scots Church to endeavor to bring the congregation into harmonious relations with the church.

Some excitement has been occasioned by the confession of Barnes that he murdered J. B. Slack, the notorious litigant, on the night of the 10th of September. Barnes is a West Australian convict, and was several times convicted in this colony. He is the same man who committed burglary at Government House daring Lord Normanby’s Governorship. Barnes made a full confession of guilt. He says he broke into Slack’s house, cut his throat while sleeping, putting a razor into his hand while dying. The polios made inquiries, which resulted in the man’s statement being to a large extent corroborated. Sydney, December 17. Mr Stuart, Premier, is now on bis way to Melbourne by train stages. He does not leave the train at night. From Melbourne he goes to Tasmania, and after that to New Zealand.

Two cases of smallpox broke out at Mosaville, traceable to one of the patients now quarantined.

Brisbane, December 17.

The Executive decided to carry out the death penalty in the cases of the prisoners McNeill and Williams for the murder in the South Seas, notwithstanding the petitions in tneir favor signed by several thousand persons. The A.S.N, Company’s steamer Giancoor has gone ashore at Bowen. She is on the reefs near Stone Island in an unsafe position. There are 12ft of water in the hold.

Mr Mcllraith and others criticised the action of the Government in the Assembly in borrowing such a largo sum as is provided for in the loan estimates.