AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 261, 1 October 1884, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

(Per s.s. Wairarapa at the Bluff.)

(UNITED PIIKBS ASSOCIATION. ) Melboprsk, Sept. 24. Semi-official papers acute that the Railway Commissioners effected a reduction on the expenditure m til** department of stores amounting m the aggregate to £90,000 annually. This result was achieved by the introduction of an cqiitable system of letting contracts. An extraordinary divorce case occupied the oourt several days last week, Belcher v. Belcher. The husband sought a divorce on the ground of his wife's adultery with the co-ies pondent (Mclienzie) . He also charged her with incestuous intercourse. The latter fainted several times m court. Eventually a verdict was given for the respondent. Belcher first met his wife when going to New Zealand. No fresh cases of smallpox have been reported m Victoria for several days past. It is believed the disease is virtually stamped out. Madame Fanny Shnonsen took a . farewell of the stage last Saturday. The Governor and Lady Loch were present. The Queen has presented aii autograph copy of " More Leaves from my Journal of Life iv (ho Highland*" to the Melbourne public library through the Governor, The lectures at the University on the law of property, which were re cently suspended, owing to the misconduct of the students, have been resumed, the latter signing a written apology. The names of the offenders were not, however, disclosed. At a numerously attended meeting at the Town Hall last night to support the action of the Government' m connection with Federation and other questions, the motions were submitted and carried with enthusiasm. It was decided to forward copies ot the resolutions to ihe Premier for conveyance to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Mr Berry, replying to a question the other night, intimated that when the mail contract of the P. and O. Company expires three. years hence, no more contracts will be entered into. : Competition will give the colonies all the mail facilities they require. Gnstave Beyer, who «hot a girl at Prahran last week, afterwards fired at himself and died the following day. The giil is still . alive, but her recovery is very doubtful. Svdnk*, Sept. 24. The Intercolonial Sanitary conference continued its sittings, which an; expected to last all this waek. A motion has been carried unanimously m favor of establishing outposts for quarantine purposes, to which vessels having 1 disease aboard shall repair before proceeding to their first port of call. • The steamer Caliaroy, which three years ago went ashore between Sydney and Newcastle, has bten successfully floated and brought to Sydney. Her hull is uninjured. t Adelaide, Sept. 24. The Supreme Court has given judgment m the action by the Adelaide Marine and Fire Insurance v. the | Colonial Insurance Company of New Zealand, to enforce a contract for a /re -insurance on a cargo of wheat loaded at Timaru by the ship Duke of Sutherland. The defendants accepted a four- tenths' interest iv the cargo, and the ship was shortly afterwards lost. It was contended that the local manager had no authority to biud defendants ; that the adventure had not begun, and that the plaintiff had consequently no insurable interest. The Chief Justice gave judgment m favor of the plaintiff tor £1788, being full amount due, with interest at 8 per cent. Brisbane, Sept. 27. The French warship Triuot has been taking soundings with a view to test the practicability of laying a cable between Noumea and Australia. The French officeis speak most favorably of the route, and believe it is perfectly feasible to land the proposed cable at Sandy Cape, Queensland coast.