AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6504, 31 December 1881, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[B» Tbmowvb.] (Per e.s. Wakatlpu, viA Wellington.) NEW SOUTH WALES.

Bidmbt, Deo. *4 Sir Henry Parke* vu entertained aft a banquet at Parliament Houieon Dec. LO{ 110 persona wore P ro »« nfc v u Bip w p«22 { the chairmen, proposed Sir H. »«»•» health, ealogiiioe him as a men who did honour to the Colony. The Premier, In replying, nw eome Interestingreromtofenoee of the paniementary affaire of the Colony. He dilated upon the roponslbillty of Governmeat now enjoyed. «d gave a number of biographical facte la hie own career. Hie speech was received with matt enthusiasm. TOe banquet altogether waa a deeded sue°*Mr Hoskins, the late Minister of Lands, i» shorilv to bo banquetted. but the event is postponed until Sir fl. ParW ‘llr Turner, the member for Northumberland, resigned bis seat on Dto. 20, owing to Prl ir WHJto Brookes, the ja-membor for Northumberland, and once Mayor of Newcastle, died on Dee. tO, aged 72. A fresh case of em&pox wai the Sanatorium on Dee. fl. Lewis were seised by the dliewe. The otter patients are at present pwgmiing favorably. Dr Collette, on Dee. 81, performed a Requiem Man for the cool of Mr Fitspatritt, after which bo proceeded to the grave with the family of deceased, and performed tte burial service according to the prescribed Ttfk Parke* on Deo. 21. the third annh varsary of the present Ministry, entertained the member* of the late and present Governmenu and the Judge* of the inpremo Court, at his private residence at Fauloonbridge.

VICTORIA. Ib the Assembly on Dec. 20, the

Appropriation Bitl and Lands Act Ooßtinnalion Blit were passed. The Phylloxera Bill and the Regulation of Mines BUI passed their final stages on the earns day. The Premier intimated that It was not in* (ended to co operate with Sir Henry Parke* in the endeavour to get AustralUn wool introduced into America free of duty, the present time bring considered inopportune. Government have declined to entertain the elaim of Messrs Methsdo and Omtis, brokers, Sydney, for commission on floating the half* million loan, on the grounds that commission on the transection could only bo allowed to Victorian brokers.

The Premier mentioned that on Deo. 28, 20,000 tons of shipping was then in Hobson’s waiting for berthage accommodation. In the Assembly on Deo. 28, it was reluctantly agreed to relinquish the £lO Foil Tax on Chinese arriving from other Colonies. His Excellency the Governor prorogue* Parliament on Saturday, Burglars broke into the Technological Museum on Deo. 23, and stole gold valued at £lO0 1 also several uncut diamond*. Mr Barker, Clerk of the Assembly, will shortly he appointed Clerk of the Councils Experiment* will shortly be mode in lighting the streets by electricity. Tha Australian E eotrioity Company are employing domestic lamps. The gross takings at the 11 Oldo English Fairo," were £SOOO. The conclusion of the match between the Efagiiih B even and Victoria,’which resulted in a victory for the former bv 18 runs, was attended with much excitemennt. Boyle for Victoria played an excellent innings of 48. Palmer, with 14, was the only other doable figures. M‘Donnell, Horan, Edwards, Cooper and Bonnor each had 0 for their score. The Englishmen sailed on Deo. 20, for Adelaide. Successful experiment* were conducted in the presence of twenty shareholders of the Southern Cross Petroleum Company, New Zealand, with samples of oil from the com* pony’s ground. Proceedings will shortly he instituted against several firms for the fraudulent use of the trade marks of Hennessy’s and MarteU’s brandy, and J.D.K.Z. gin. On the evening of December 22 a younj: woman named Susa Burke fired a pisto: at the head of .Charles Chapman, musio* seller, at the latter’s shop door. The ballet only grazed his oheek, and Burke, who Walked away, was soon arrested. She' said Chapman had ruined her, and refused to give her money, and she consequently swore to kill him. The collection on Hospital Sunday amounted to £6600. The profit on the working railways of Victoria during the year amounted to £679,000. equal to 8| per cent on the capital. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. . A large denotation waited on the Minister for Lanas on Deo. 20, and represented the groat distress amongst settlers in Ooonatto, Finds, and other districts. They asked Government to become mortgagees of two-thirds of the value of the property. The Minister said Government were anxious to meet the settlers by postponing payments, but could not become mortgageesof selections. Thti Segitter believes tbe cause of dietrees is that the land is unstated to wheat growing, and urges prompt and strict inveeligation of the whole circumstances.

Charles Massey, the well-known scenic artist, died suddenly of apoplexy.

QUEENSLAND.

A destructive fire occurred on Deo. SO, at Petrie Terrace, where six chops were burned out. The insurances were a* follows: Queens* land Company, £670; Norwich, £600; Victoria, £6O0 1 New Zealand, £400; and other smaller amounts.

The funeral of Sir Joshua Bell, on Deo. 21, formed an imposing oort&ge, a mile and a half long. Members of the Government, the Freemasons; and a number of Civil servants iron present. WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

A prospecting party, who selected 6000 acres of mineral land In the Darling ranges, report finding a promising reef musing in a south-east direction.