AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2414, 30 December 1881, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

IBt Tkleokaph.l

[Per s.s. Wakatipu. at Wellington.]

BYD.NET, December 21.

Sir Henry Parkes was entertained at a banquet at Parliament House on the 12th. There were 110 present. Sir John Hay, chairman, proposed Sir Henry Parkes’ health, eulogising him as a man who did honor to the colony. The Premier, in replying, gave interesting reminiscensces of the parliamentary affairs of the colony, and dilated upon the responsible government now enjoyed, and gave a number of biographical facts of his own career. The speech was received with much enthusiasm, and the banquet altogether wos a decided success. Mr Hoskins, the late Minister of Lands, will also be shortly banquetted, bat the event is postponed until Sir H. Parkes’ departure. Mr Turner, the member for Northumberland, resigned his teat on the 12th owing to private reasons.

Mr Wm. Brookes, ex member for Northumberland, and once Mayor of Newcastle, died on the 12th, aged seventy two. MELBOURNE, December 24.

In the Assembly on the 12th the Appreciation Bill and Land Act Continuation Bill passed. The Premier intimated that it was not intended to co operate with Sir H. Parkcs in the endeavor to get Australian wool introduced into America free of duty, the present time being considered inopportune. The Government have declined to entertain the claim of Methodo and Cnrtia, brokers of Sydney, for commission for the half million loan on the grounds that commission on the transaction was only allowed to Victorian brokers.

3 he Premier mentioned on the 22nd that there were 20,000 tons of shipping at present in Hobson’s Bay waiting berthing accommodation. The Phy loxera Bill and the Regulation of Mines Bill passed their final stages on the same day. The Assembly on the 23rd reluctantly agreed to relinquish tha £lO poll tax on Chinese arriving from other colonies. Burglars broke into tha Technological Museum on tho 23rd instant, and stole gold valued at £IOO, also several uncut diamonds. BRISBANE, December 24.

A destructive fire occurred on the 20th at Petrie Terrace, where six shops were burnt out. The insurances effected were as follows Queensland Company, £570; Norwich, £SOO ; Victoria, £SOO ; New Zealand, £ 100; and other smaller amounts.

The funeral of Sir Joshua Ball, on tho 21st, formed an imposing [cortege a mile and a half long. The members of the Government, Freemasons, and a number of civil servants, were present.