AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1514, 23 March 1887, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Sydnky, March 17. 1 Quite a little soene ocourred m the Apsembly last night. The Treasurer, m answer to a question of the previous evening, had detailed the expenditure of the late Government upon picnios. Mr Dibba took occasion to deny that these picnics had been on the Ministerial account, but on the occasion of the Governor's visit to i the Clarence He characterised the statement as a deliberate falsehood. Then he accus9d the Government of packing off Mr Wisdom and Sir Patrick Jennings with £1000, apiece and buying them np. Sir H. Parkes replied that the dirtiest publio character m this country is owned by the hon membet whereat Mr Dibbs said that he would not soil his hands by disßectiog the Premier's body. The Government has been asked by the Seoretary of State to undertake the oontrol and administration of Noriolk Island. It is a rca'.ter requiring the gravest consideration, the Premier states, before any practical steps can be taken. The Presbyterian Assembly have agreed to the appointment of the Rev j. D, Lande's as missionary to the Hew Hebrides.

There la some probability of the winning crew la the forthcoming intercolonial eight oared race going to England , The Hon Gteorge Lee, at the Sutter banquet on Tuesday, aaid the tquattera were hanging ever an abyss of depression, and that to oall m the back reova woltld rula ruioy.