NEW SOUTH WALES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1778, 1 March 1888, Page 2

NEW SOUTH WALES.

Newcastle, February 29. A coal seam, twenty teet thick, bas been discovered near the Curlews railway station, two hundred miles north of Newcastle. Sydney, February 29. The report of a Select Committee, appointed by Parliament to enquire into the purchase of certain properly at Circular quay, Sydney harbor, was. laid on the table of the House this afternoon. The report exonerates members of the Government of being improperly connected with the purchase of property, and, on the other hand, commends their foresight m securing the land before other purchasers. The broker employed to negotiate the purchase of the property is blamed for indifference to the interests of the colony m allowing the purchase to be concluded at such a high figure, and the rep >rt concludes by stating that m the opinion of the Committee all difficulty would have been removed had the property been secured under the special Act applicable to the case, instead of by private contract. The amount paid for the property m question was and the Committee think it could have been obtained for less.

The widows of the* victims of the Bulli colliery accident last year, for whom a large sum of money was raised by public subsciption, object to the provisions of a Bill which has been introduced m the House, vesting the fund m trustees, and appointing a paid secretary. Acting under the advice of friends they intend to take the necessary steps to have the Bill opposed when it comes on for the second reading, with a view to defeating its object.

Mr A. J. McCulloch, jun., member for Central Cumberland m the New South Wales Assembly, has been declared bankrupt, and has vacated his seat m the House m consequence.

The Cabinet have decided to impose quarantine regulations to put a stop to the influx of Chinese, which has become a serious evil m the colony, especially at Port Darwin, and the northern territory generally. The regulations declare all Chinese ports to be infected ports under quarantine laws, and that all Chinese passengers from China shall upon arrival m the colony be kept on board the vessels which bring them to the colony for a period of twentj-one days before they will be permitted to land. The regulations further provide that the authorities at Hong-Kong be advised that a poll tax will be imposed on every Chinese passenger landing m the colony. The regulations are made subject to the approval of Parliament,

The Agricultural Bureau has appointed seven members, including Mr j. D. Custance, Professor of Agriculture for the colony, as a Board for the conservation of water.

The Premier has telegraphed to the Agent- General asking him to institute an exhaustive inquiry into M. Pasteur's method of rabbit extermination.

In the Assembly a motion altering the Standing Orders to prevent disorder m the House by scenes, etc., has been given.

A motion to impose a half-penny postage rate was negatived by 19 to 17. At present papers are posted free m this colony.

One batch of men arrested on a charge of being implicated m the recent outrages on women m this city have been committed for trial.

The Space Committee of the Centennial Exhibition have allotted all available space at the Exhibition.

Goverment have decided to take no notice of the statements made by Lord Augustus Loftus m respect to the references made by him to this colony at bis examination m bankruptcy,