AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6493, 19 December 1881, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[The Pbbbs Association.] (Per Alhambra, s.s., vi& the Bluff.) VICTORIA. Mbusottbkk, Deo. 10. The Committee of the Council recommend that the first polling for elections for the Council should be held on the first Thursday in November of next year. The principle of local option was further debated. The Assembly then adjourned for a week. The Bill for Abolition of Pensions passed through the Committee of the Assembly, will not affect the interests of any person at present in the service. A bill brought in to suppress gambling by sweeps, met with opposition, and was postponed. The revenue returns received daily at the Customs are very satisfactory. On Deo. 6 the sum of £10,780 was received; the largest for one day. Professor Nanson has commenced legal proceedings against Professor Elkington for the recent assault at the University. The Minister of Railways has declined to grant free passes to cricketers so long as they receive gate money. Heavy rains fell yesterday, and a severe thunderstorm was experienced on Wednesday. Mr 8011, a well-known resident at Mount Meroer, while driving with his wife in a buggy, was struck by the lightning and killed. At Talbot, a girl aged 18 was struck by lightning during the same storm, and was carried home paralysed. Mr Busden, clerk to the Parliament, has again asked to be allowed to retire. He claims a pension of £6OO a year, having occupied his position for 25 years. Mr M. Mateon, formerly secretary to the Board of Agriculture, committed suicide in a horrible manner. He was of unsound mind. NEW SOUTH' WALES. The case against the Milburn Creek trustees will be heard at the February sittings. Another case of small-pox—-a child—is reported.

QUEENSLAND. Governor Kennedy has received a telegram from Lord Clanwilliam, dated from Shanghai, stating that the detached squadron had been dispersed. Those of the murderers of Mrs Watson who were discovered have been punished. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. During nine months of the present year, 86,916 acres were sold for £84,886 cash i and on deferred payments, 497,669 acres, for an aggroato of £601,160. The boiler in the bone crushing mills at Dulwich burst, and wrecked the premises, hut no one was injured.