AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2393, 3 December 1881, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

[Br Tbmbobaph.]

(Per e.e. Wakatipu, at Wellington.) SYDNEY, November 26. In the Assembly, on the 22nd, Mr Sturt criticised the budget, while congratulating the House on the prosperity of the colony. He considered the finances not so flourishing as represented, and maintained that the surplus was principally duo to large land sales. The colony wai at present living to a large extent upon the land revenue, and he said that the expenditure was yoarly increasing without ohange in the ordinary sources of revenue. Mr Lloyd congratulated the Treasurer on the satisfactory statement, whioh he was glad contained no tinge of protection. Mr Beid contended the financial statement was less enoouragicg than the Treasurer made out, and argued that little or no surplus would be shown if the land revenue had not exoeeded the estimates.

At a conference between the Legislative Council and the Assembly, it was agreed to compromise the disputed points in the Ohinese Bill, the paymen of a £lO poll tax being agreed to, but the clause insisting on the Ohinese producing a certificate of payment was a' a idoned.

An important discovery of coal has been made twenty miles north of Gosford, and two miles from the proposed line of railway from Sydney to Waratah. The total force of military voluiteers and naval brigade in New South Wales is 2758, oosting an average of £32 per man. Telegraph wires in operation in New South Wales are 13 689 miles, producing a revenue of £84,000; Viotoria 6678, revenue £85,000 ; and New Zsaland 9578, revenue £83,000. Harris, the accountant in the Government Lands Department, was arrested on the 23 rd instant, in consequence of defalcations in his accounts, and was committed for trial on the 25th, on a charge of stealing a oheque of £lO. The extent of the frauds by the prisoner is believed to be £2OO.

A matoh between the English Eleven against Twenty-two of Maitland, ended on the 24th, and was drawn in favor of the Englishmen. The Twenty-two made 113 in the first innings. A. Bignell, 22 ; Wyndham, 17; S. Bignell, 12. In the second innings they made a total of 123, of whioh Austin made 43. The Eleven made 157 in their first innings. Ullyett, 68 ; Bates, 58 ; Barlow, 21. In the seoond innings 15 was made with the loss of one wicket, when time was called. The Perth Intercolonial Exhibition was opened on the 22nd. Governor Robinson, in replying to the address, expatiated on the resources of Western Australia. A cantata was then performed by the ohoir and the Austrian band. The Governor, with Lady Robinson, went through the building and examined a number of exhibits and aooepted the medals for the Queen and the Governor, whioh were specially struck for the occasion. Twelve additional refrigerating cars are being constructed for the Victorian railways. A boarding-house keeper named Bruns has been fined £lO, or two months' imprisonment, for orimping seamen.

A man named Walkin has been sentenced to six months' imprisonment for attempting to pass an advertisement bank note as genuine. ADELAIDE, November 26.

The Government have appointed Major Fergusson to prooeed to India to make arrangements to introduce coolie labourers for the Norther Territory.

THE BISHOP OF NELSON AND THE LATE NATIVE MINISTER. The following correspondence appeared in yesterday's " Lyttelton Times," and was referred to by the Hon. W. Rolleston in his remarks at the Avon nomination :

The Bishop of Nelson forwards the appended telegrams in consequences of the threat held ont by the Hon. Mr liolleston, that the Bishop ■would recognise that he was justified in publishing the correspondence. The Bishop was unwilling to publish them, out of regard for Mr Kolleston, but considers a public duty prior to personal considerations. The Bishop has yet to learn that it is the prerogative of the Government to nse the telegraph ad libitum for the purpose of brow-beating individuals who may, in the exercise of the rights of private citizens, express their opinions of the collective acts of the Government.

The Bishop did not make use of his office or position to propagate views which, although novel to the Government, deafened with the plaudits of present success, are freely expressed by many. The complete independence of any Government, which the Bishop enjoys, enables him to expose an act of espionage which might be disastrous to a subordinate.

November 25th, 1881. To the Bishop of Nelson, Napier. It has been stated to me that your Lordship has said to several people, whose statement I do not feel justified in discrediting, that the Government's treatment of the Natives on the West Coast has been actuated by poiitioal considerations with a view to influencing the elections. Will your Lordship bo good enough to inform me whether my information is correct. W. Rollebton, Christchurch. H. Reply. November 25th, 1881. To the Hon. W. Rolleston. The remarks complained of, whether made by me or not, seem to me to be self-evident and harmless. But I respectfully protest against the Government's requiring of me, or of anyone, an account of private conversations. We might as well be in Russia at once ! Much of my opposition would be removed if you cmld make it clear to me that Te Whiti really had the amount of land reserved pointed out to him ; if the Government would allow the question of the legality of the confiscation to be decided by law, and will secure that Te Whiti has the be»t professional advice that can be got, bo that his plea—not his alleged crime—may be gone into. Bishop op Nelson. 111. Christchurch, 9 30 a.m., November 26th, 1881. To the Bishop of Nelson, Napier. I have received your Lordship's telegram in reply to mine of yesterday, asking whether your Lordship was rightly reported to have said to several people that the Government's treatment of the Natives on the West Coast has been actuated by political considerations, with a visw to influencing the elections. Your Lordship's reply is, " The remarks complained of, whether made by me or not, seems to be self-evident and harmless; and you protest against the Government requiring of you, or of anyone, an account of private conversation." I submit that I have not required an account of private conversation, but asked as to the correctness of a statement reported to me that your lordship imputed to me, as lately holding the office of Native Minister, and to the Government of which I am a member, conduct of a character very disgraceful to us, either as public men or private individuals. I had hoped that your Lordship might have been misnnderstooa, or that you wonld have been prepared to correct what, on further consideration, would appear to be gratuitous and unwarrantable slander of men acting under a heavy seneo of responsibility. Your Lordship is pleased to state that much of your opposition would be removed if certain explanations wore afforded and certain assurances given in reply. I have to state that I consider it unnecessary to take any Bteps for removing the opposition of one who has not thought it inconsistent with his sacred office to privately slander his neighbour, and impute to public man base motives, in actions involving possibly the lives of large numbers of their fellow-creatures. Your Lordship will recognise that this correspondence is such as I am justified in publishing. W. Rolleston. IV. Napier, 3 p.m. November 26th, 1881. To Hon. W. Rolleston, Christchurch. As yon intend to publish the correspondence, be so good as to publish the whole. If my opposition wns worth noticing at all, would it not seem worth while to allay it by giving eome utterances on the points referred to? Let the people judge whether your remarks on me are justifiable. Bishop ov Nelson.