Australian News

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 10, 6 July 1886, Page 2

Australian News

(Per s.s. Wairarapa at the Bluff.) SrDtfEr. June 30. News from Noumea, dated June 25, reports that when tbe mail arrived eight days ago, everyone rushed for the Sydney papers in order to ascertain what the Australian Colonies thought of the French occupation of the New Hebrides. The first item noticed was a copy of the despatch to Lord Carriugton by Acting-Consul Layard, containing some remarkable outspoken ideas on the situation. People were astonished that a despatch of such a confidential nature should bo handed to the press. *The local papers at once set to work to abuse the Consul, and requested the Government to take up the matter. The Consul is utterly indifferent to the. attacks at present, but is annoyed at the action of the New South Wales Government in publishing his despatch. At Sydney a largo meeting was held in the Masonic Hall on Monday night, for the purpose of expressing sympathy with the National Irish party. The hall was crowded, hundreds being unable to gain admission. The chair was occupied by Sir John Robertson. '* Among those who addressed the meeting were Sir Patrick Jennings and the Hon. Messrs Wise and Copeland. The following resolutions were .unanimously carried : — " That the citizens of Sydney and the colonists of New South Wales in public meeting assembled heartily approve of Mr Gladstone's policy of self -government for Ireland ; that the meeting hereby express its conviction that the establishment of an Irish Parliament would not only promote the prosperity of Ireland, but would also add to the stability of the Empire."