AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1495, 1 March 1887, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

— . ♦ ... — ■ Mblbodrnb, February 22. An investigation into the damage done to the works at the entrance to the Gippsland lakes by the rooent storms shows a loss of over £2000 A demonstration of firemen takes place this week and a large number of men from all the Oolonloa are present m Melbourne. A large ohuroh parade of firemen took place last Sunday. Mr P. K. M'Oaughan, late member for Riverton, returns to New Zealand shortly. He will probably oontest the Hokonul seat at the next general election. . Simonsen's Ital'an ope -a season closed this week after a successful ran of nine weeks. The divorce case, Weeding v Weeding and Rose, is now proceeding. The presiding judge has forbidden the publication of the evldenoa m the newspapers. February 23. Daring a fire at a house of a man named Graham, at Hotham, the corpse of Graham's wife was burned to a cinder. The Cabinet have deoided to take no initiative for aelebratlng the Queen's Jubilee, but the Mayor has deoided to oall a meeting of Metropolitan and Suburban Municipal representatives. Sidney, February 22 A Urge meeting of the unemployed was held yesterday. The men afterwards interviewed Sir fl. Ptrkes, who promised to grant what measure of relief was possible. It is rumoured that a syndicate is about to purchase a piece of laud near Sydney, for the purpose of starting open air amusements, fireworks, &a. The cost of the gronnd is said to bo from £30,000 to £50,000. A Government veterinary surgeon has been despatched to Silverton to investigate the outbreak of malignant typhoid, which has broke a out m that neighborhood. Enquiries Instituted by the Minister of Works show that 300 stonemasons are out of work, and many are m great distress. The elections are now nearly all oonoluded, and the numbers show 76 Freetraders and 28 Protectionists. The latter, though not returning tbe number they anticipated, have very largely strengthened the party m the House. Government are busily eagaged m tbe framing of the Estimates for the different departments, and considerable reduction has been made. It is rumored that Government will meet the deficit by the issue of Treasury Bills to the amount of two millions, and funding the debt, and will also propose direot taxatfoa. It is not thought that the Treasury witl delay the budget long after the meeting of Parliament. Another outrage is reported from Waterloo. Although the girl stated that she was a consenting party, her age being under fourteen, criminal proceedings cm be take" against the prisoners. The Marine Board have deoided that therecent collision between the Oonambara and the brig Syren was caused by the wrongful act of tbe captain of the steamer. In the divorce case Blake v Blake, now being heard, the respondent is acoused of adultery with Mrs Amy de Fountalne Spencer, opera bouffa singer. The Judge will not permit the publication of the evidenoe. JBrisb4se, February 23. News from Thursday laland states that two men named Goodshaw and Thompson, who were prospecting on the mainland m New Guinea, were attacked by Natives: Goodshaw was dangerously wounded. It was stated that payable gold had been discovered at Sanford, about 15 miles from Brisbane, and a rush took place. The Gold Warden visited the place, but failed, however, to find the color, and declined to reoommend the reward olaimei by the prospectors. The Tramway Board intend to use electric power for propelling the Oars,