AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 646, 29 May 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Sydney. May 24. A meeting of working men held at the Trades hall resolved to take steps to testify their appreciation of the services rendered to the colony by the late Mr. Mort. The working-class representatives and the Borough Council met to urge the connection of the suburbs with the city by railroad. The Committee of the Trade and Labor Council is making arrangements for a public meeting to agitate for the suppression of Chinese immigration. At the Australian Wesleyan Conference, the Rev. Mr. Morley, of Christchurch, New Zealand, was elected one of the Secretaries. He moved an amendment to the Committee's report offering class meetings as the test of membership, substituting as the qualification of membership general adhesion to Church rules.

The amendment was, however, negatived, and class meetings affirmed, with provision that all devout persons who could not be persuaded to attend class meetings should be invited to partake of the Sacrament, receiving quarterly communicants' tickets, and be entered on the circuit book. Melbottkxe, May 24. A Parliamentary Commission; has been appointed to enquire into the working of the Land Act. The Government has issued a fresh proclamation, prohibiting sending stock from ports outside -Australian colonies and New Zealand. Mr. Byron Moore has been appointed agent for the New Zealand Government iu Victoria. Stephen Massett lias arrived. Frank Smith, the solicitor, who is missing, is supposed to have gone to New Zealand. A warrant has been issued, as it is alleged some trust estates have been tampered with. At Brisbane a man named Michael was murdered by a Chinese cook. Deceased was in charge of a flock of sheep, and was proceeding to the station. The body is terribly mutilated. There was no provocation,, Adelaide, May 24. Mr. Severn delivered his first lecture under the auspices of the Council of Education. Poet Dakwin. Captain Robinson and his brother, of the schooner Kingstown, were murdered by natives while fishing off Marbiac Island. One Chinaman and a number of clivers at Jardiuc, Cape York, were attacked by the blacks, but were forewarned, and killed 17 blacks.