AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 11 August 1880, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(BY STEAMER AT AUCKLAND.) Sydney, August 4. In the case of Speechly and wife v. the Commissioner of Railways for damageß received as a result of the collision at Paramatta on Boxing Day, tho jury assessed the damages at LIOO for Mr. Speechly and LIOOO for Mrs. Speechly. The libel action Lottie Wilmot v. tho publishers of the Town and Country Journal was tried in the Supreme Court. The libel was to the effect that Wilmot and Chiniquy went shares in the Bpoils of their lectures. A verdict was given for the plaintiff for Ll5O. Brisbane, August 4. In the Assembly yesterday the Speaker called attention to a breach of privilege in a letter in the Courier signed John Douglas, together with an extract from, the evidence taken by a Select Committee on Mr. Hemant's petition. The Premier moved that Mr. Douglas had been guilty of contempt. Mr. Douglas said he was quite prepared for the consequences of his action, which he would justify by the gravity of the situation. He submitted! that he acted fully within his rights. He then withdrew. Mr. Griffiiths argued that the House had no power to commit Mr. Douglas for contempt, and quoted the jury case of Falconer v. Doyle and others, showing that the Speaker and members voting for such a motion subjected themselves to an action for damages. In the present case M&. Douglas had not disobeyed an ordef of the House. After a debate the motion was carried by 19 to 13. The Speaker, in reply to a question, stated that lie would take action unless he was specially re» quested not to do so. This afternoon, the Speaker called upon Mr. Douglas for an apology. He had been on the previous evening adjudged guilty of contempt. Mr. Douglas regretted if he had broken tho law, but submitted that he had nctwi within his rights. He asked the Hoasa to visit the offence with such punishment as the law dictated. The Speaker ruled that Mr. Douglas had declined to apologise. The Premier moved that Mr.. Douglas be committed to th» custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms. for oontempt against the House. Mr. Griffith again urged thatt the House had not power to commit for such an offence as was charged against Mr. Douglas. The Attorney-Gen oral concurred, and advised the Premier to withdraw his motion, which was done. Tho. Premier, however, intimated that bft would take steps to have the law amended) so as to give the House the powJS to, commit in such cases.

Melbourne, August Sir John O'Shannassy, it ia. understood, will oppose the Ministry. At a meeting of tho- Constitutional Association held to-day, Mr. Service presiding, a resolution was adopted that no action be taken toward opposing tho Ministerial elections. There is a feeling amongst all but the immediate supporters of the Ministry that Mr. Berry's Government is likely to be ephemeral. Mr. Clarke, the Commissioner of Co*toms, to-day announced tho abolition of the extra rates of overtime for loading colliers and other vessels, whioh received certain concessions. The overtime was of great value to the mercantile public. .Adelaide, August 1 The Government intend taking aoMo» as soon as possible for forcing the deeisiou of the question of disputed boundary between Victoria and South Australia), either by selling dutiable articles on tho disputed strip of country, or granting & lease thereof. During a dispussion, Berry's answer to Mr. Morgan's application for a reference to the Privy Council* was characterised as evasive and £ insulting. ' Surprise was expressed that Mr. Servioe had refused to reopen tne question. Considerable amusement w fl& caused by Mr. John Rouensville moving that a certificate for the disputed strip should be sent to Victoria, with Soul Australia's compliments. , The Treasurer said the Governmen did not intend to introduce a measure this session extending the northern ran* way, but were taking steps to develop® the resources of the Northern Territory* and granting liberal concessions to persons desirous of engaging in the tion of sugar and other tropical preduc • The Chinese Bill has passed througn Committee. The only important alteration was that striking provision return l is entrance fee to Chinese after three y<» residence. . A motion ha 3 been passed affirming desirability of acquiring all the whax > and vesting them in local trust, details to be settled by Commission. (Per Wakatipu, at Wellington.) v Melbourne, August a. The preliminary investigation into tn charges" against Kelly takes pIM

_ __it, nTI Friday next. It is ex the Kelly sympathisers wil pected iowhich event th« ma^0 * Hon will be held inside the gaol £X in fU been very quiet since hi: Slat Beechworth and is only visitec ?f h i 3 solicitors- His sudden remova surprised his Greta friends, anc fcfsited Benalla to confirm the statemade by the press. An attempl "t?to made to obtain a pestponement oi t*"* 5- > for a week. The witnesses tc ! he Jamiaed ou behalf of the Crown will & t made bv Kelly at Jones publicP eD Glenrowan, previous to the arrival f the police. It is also expected that witJLa will be brought from Jenldene. fod Kelly's demeanor in the tram was _ OT +Taordinary than was at first ret gis hatred for Sergeant Steele very marked. On the way up, he ***„„ 0 n him and had to be thrown down seat by two constables. At Enroa ko fc e d out of the train and pointed to a fence, saying, " That's where Steve Hart hang np his horse when be saw the , ,j policeman coming. The fool L«ed him, and Steve said good day to EJJ bat he did not drop him." At Glenrowan Kelly told Sergeant Steele he oald lite to have him m the bush, W d he would shoot him ; and also, that a til 3 t in the bush he had made hi 3 own *owder With regard to the proceedings ft Jones' Hotel, he said he and Byrne started firing from the verandah as Hart T tw Kelly were too slow in coming a fter the police had fired. They fired afam from the chimney, and it was then that he was wounded. He then went into the house and searched under the beds for Bracken, to shoot him, bnt could not find him. Having done so he walked out ttonzh the back door, and told Byrne he would break through the police line at flight. When he commenced firing he expected the gang to come out and join Wo. Subsequently he said he was sorry tfcat* he and the others had not rushed the station when the train came in, for if he Bad done so he was certain they would hare killed all the party.