AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1650, 5 March 1886, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

(Mararoa at Auckland.) , , (united press associations ; Sydney,; Feb.{2s. After a considerable amount ofnegotiation a coalition Ministry was lortned late last night. The difficulty arose m the allotment of offices, particularly as concerhed'i Messrs Burns and Lyne. 'The' Ministry is considered fairly strong, but they will be confronted by a strong Opposition under Sir. Henry Parfc.es. s The elections committee have decided not to unseat Mr R. B. Smith for the MacLeay, on Mr Dangar's petition. The. report of the Select Committee' m the Melville 1 case was yesterday referred back to the committee, as it was considered unsatisfactory. The intermittent water supply is causing great "'inconvenience,'- hut'addi-i tional pumping gear will soon be completed. Still the rainfall, continues at a minimum. The 1 Local Option League protest against 'the names of men directly interested m the liquor traffic being placed on the Eoyal Commission. . Sir John Robertson, it seems ridicules the idea that the Premiers of the different colonies should meet and consult about the naval defences. In a memo to the Governor he suggests that England should provide an efficient fcea sesr. vice for the defence of the outer waters of Australia, and that the cost should be dividend ;bejtween the colonies and- the Mother country. : ' ; ;, ,-.;.; ' . Beisbane. The bakers are on strike * for shorter hours.; U ' • ■ "'■■ : : : '■'■■■' >■'' ' l • ■ Considerable interest is being shown m the proceedings of the Pacific Islanders Compensation Court, , . ' ■, _.- , : . • , ,i-.;v.-''. ; " : - Melbourne. .■,- The revenue forlthe seVen and a-hali months. of the financial year shows an excess 0f. J25.000 over Mr Seryice's estii .mate/ *' ' .. --„.. ■.. :;f ..:;- : The, elections excitement is proceeding, . and num^ous'nieetings are being held. . Mrs'Hamptoii and her 'daughters bave been committed for trial f or the Coburg murder.;,, ■