AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 57, 20 October 1888, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Electric Telegraph. — Copyright (PER UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION. I Sydney, October 18.

About 350,000 ft of first- class dressed kauri timber, ex Syren, Seabird, and Lookout, was sold at auction yesterday and realised from 11s 9d to 19s 6d, according to size.

A solicitor employed by Holt, ex man ager of the Bank of New Zealand, has published correspondence showing that Mr Clarke, the Minister of Justice, prom ised that Holt should be released from goal if 60 members of the Opposition in Pai liamenl signed a petition to the Minister praying that Holt be released This was done, and Sir Henry Parkes, the Premier, endorsed the pro nise made by the Minister of Justice, but subsequently withdrew his consent to the course proposed. Holt's solicitor, in a letter accompanying the publication of this correspondence, accuses the Govern ment of torturing Holt by holding oui false hopes that his term of imprisonment would be commuted.

A very severe drought is being experienced throughout this Colonly, oad will likely prove almost unexampled in its effects, and the outlook is con>equently very gloomy. In the agricultural district s the crops are a partial or entire failure, attd the c ndition of all kinds of stock of is wry low. A great colonial disaster can only be averted by an early and copious rainfall. Melbourne, October 18.

A disgraceful scene occurred in the Legislative Assembly last evening dur* ing a discussion on the New Electoral Bill. Mr C. E. Jones, one of the members for Ballarat East, accused the ; 'rentier of being drunk.

Mitchell's {joinery works in Burnley street were partly destroyed by fire today, damage to the extent of £20,000 being caused.