AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 137, 17 May 1883, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

[united press *ssociaticn. | (pee s.s. manapoubi at bluff.) | Melbourne. A. terrible catastrophe occurred at I the village o.f Sutfcon, thirteen miles from Beeehworth, by which a man named Coupin, his n ife, and foar child* ren were burnt to death. It appears the man woke up and found the, house m flames. He carried out two children. ; and rushed back for bis wife and the remaining two, but all perished. The two rescued children, who were both under seven, made their way to the bouse of^ a .neighbour m a frightfully burned ..condition, and both died from the effects of their injuries. L&st Sunday the Art Gallery and Museum were opened m the afternoon to the public. Nearly 6000 persons visited the building, but the utmost order and decoruo prevailed. A. meeting held on Monday night by the opponents of the movemenc w>s very disorderly, aud although the Chairman 1 declared a motion carried condemning the opening-, the majority was a matter of considerable uncertainty. Considerable personality was indulged m, and the remarks of one or two of the speakers are generally condemned by the Press. The funeral of Sir John O'Shannassy was very large. The Premier and such members as were m town attended. Sir Arthur Kennedy and Miss Kennedy have arrived here from Queensland, and leave for^Lon don by the Orient.. The Hon. Ivo Bligh was a passenger for England by the Ko»setta. Duting the passage of the Manapouri from New Zealand, John McKay, a compositor, who joined the steamer at Lytdlton, for Hobart, died from delirium tremeris, and the body was buried at sea. It is alleged that, the captain failed to make a proper report to the health authorities at Uobart, although he informed the police. He will pro--1 pably be called on for an explanation. The entertainment of the Kennedy family on Saturday night was crowded, and was very succesrful. A heavy rainfall occurred on Monday night. During the storm a man was washed down the gutter m Elizabethstreet along with another man who at* tempted to rescue him, and both were nearly drowned, being only got out with difficulty. Sydney. The Government invited its supporters and the delegates to the Postal Conference to a picnic at Hawkesbury on Saturday. No invitations were issued to the Press. Ministers presented a report of the speeches for publication m i

the Herald, which refused it on the ground that it was not usual to accept second hand reports of affairs of that nature.