AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1551, 9 June 1885, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Mklbousn*, June 2. The boundary line between the Rw'ti«h and German possessions in New Guinea is thus described in a talajr&m to the Go-

vernor from Earl Derby:—A line starting from the coast near Mitre Mock, on the eighth parallel, and following this payllVl to degree 147 B. longtitnde, thence in a straight line to where the sixth p—outs degree 144; thence weat north-west r to where the fifth parallel cuts dgeree 141. 1c is understood it will equally T divide the territory.

The question of establishing a reciprocity treaty between Fiji and Victoria waa discussed on Thursday, when it was dacided to request Lord Derby to have an Enabling Bill passed for Fiji. A libel action, Walker ▼ McKinolay, has been brought by B. D. Walker ageing the proprietors of the DaUy Telegraph. In 1884 the Age newspaper sent an exploring party to New. Guinea, Walker being special correspondent to "the erpedition. In October the Daily Telegraph published two articles in reference to tha expedition, one containing a statement made by Kerry, another member of the party, which had bean previously published by the Sydney Daily Telegraph,. The comments of the latter paper worn added as well as their own comments on the subject of Kerry’s statement, and the comments referred to constituted the libeL It was alleged on behalf of plaintiff that these extracts from the comments contained libellous reflections on him in his capacity as a member of the expedition * and as journalist, by accusing him of participating in the slaughter of the natives and suppressing important information. The jury returned a verdict for plaintiff of LIOO damages, with costa, A meeting was held on Friday to consider the advisability of erecting a statue to General Gordon. The Governor presided, and Bishop Moorhouse proposed that a statue be erected, which waa carried unanimously. The Governor and Lady Loch have left for a visit to Sydney for a fortnight. Dr Taylor, the eminent scientist, has delivered a course of popular lectures here.