AUSTRALIAN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 285, 30 November 1881, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

Stdxet, November 19. Commodore Wilson, referring to the r°cent release under the Habeas Corpus Act of Bates, the deserter, says the decision strikes at the root of naval discipline, and will affect the movements of the Queen' 3 ships as regards Australia. The English cricketers arrived on the 17th, and were warm'y welcomed by the Cricket Association. The New Zealand tour commences in Dunedin on the 12th January. The Australia arrived on the 16th, after the quickest voyage on record from San Francisco, being under 23 sailing days. Strong complaints hare been received from English and Belgian artists cf the careless way pictures were handled at the Sydney and M lbourne Exhibitions. Private Allan, of Victoria, scored seven bullseyes successively at 500 yards, winning tbe first prize in tbe members' match of the Intercolonial Rifles. MKLBOrEXE, Xov. 1 0. Mr Quick introduced in the Assembly a Bill forbidding advertising and circulating any announcements for betting, sweeps, or gambling ; also making illegal the negotiation of any cheque or biil for gambling debts. The estimated expenditure for education for the year ending June next is £80,000. A letter from Honolulu advises that a Russian fleet of five steam corvettes is shortly expected — viz., the Africa, Asia, Plasto'un (?) Vestnick (?) and Strelsk. The vessels proceed from Honolulu to Auckland, and thence to Holiart and Melbourne, A wooden building at Malsbiiry, near Kyneton. wa? discovered to be on fire on tho 18th. On the police entering, they found a man named H (-party cutting his throat, with a child beside him" in bed. The nolice removed the child and took Ilegarty to the hospital. He had been drinking heavily lately. The house was burnt to the ground. The Associated Banks have raised'the interest on deposits to 2, 3. and 4 per cent, for three, six and twelve months Spureeon. and Moody and Pankoy. have declined invitations from the Youn^ Men's Christian Association to visit Australia. The tender of MeEw.in and Co of •£159,000 for 20,000 tons of steel rails,' was accpted by the Government. A special Hoard is now hearing evidence in Mrs Jones' claims for compensation for the destruction of the Glenrowan Hotel. The evidence of the Crown witnesses showed that Mrs Jones wa9 in sympathy with tho Kellys, and one swore sha boasted of having kissed Ned,

A dispute has arisen in the Presbyterian Assembly between the Revs. Webster and McVcan. The latter told Mr Webster that a congregation was available at Menindie, whereas he only found one Presbyterian within a radius of fifty miles. Mutual recriminations were exchanged, and Mr McVean refused to sit iii the Assembly till an apology was given. He declined to receive a deputation on the subject. George Bold, clerk in the Victoria Life limirauce Company, bas been charged with forging scrip of a huuclved shares, and committed for trial, hail being allowed.' Brisk am-:, November 10. . Inspector Fitzgerald brought a Native prisoner from Cape Bedford, who gave an account of the murder of Airs Watson at Lizard Island. She barricaded herself in the house, shot one Native dead, and wounded another, before being killed herself. The body was thrown imo deep water. The baby was saved, but afterwards killed because it kept crying. The Native offers to show the spot where the body was placed. lOI.S. Spitfire probably goes in search.