AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

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

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(PER. STEAMER AT AUCKLAND) 1 Sydney, September 4 j A seam of coal has, been discovered at ' Rocky Mouth, Lower Clarence. It has already been cut through two feet in ' thickness. ' The Rev, Ralph Massfield, who was editor of the Sydney Morning Herald from 184Q to 1854, is dead. The prospects of Payne's Gully goldfield are encouraging. Claims have, been pegged out for upwards of a mile. A rush is expected. Two hundred and sixtyeight pounds of quartz from* Victoria Flat, near Tuena, picked from 30 tons, yielded &Q ounces of gold. A, sharp newspaper correspondence is being carried on between the Rev, Mr. Jeffries and Mr. Proctor. The former challenged the deductions from a religious point of view, and Kkade a trenchant reply. A simi.l&r correspondence is going on various writers relative to li&r, Proctor's proposed lecture at the Theatre Royal. Rich pirites have been raised from a depth of 380 ft. in the Reform Company's mine, Lucknow. It is estimated to be worth L3OOO per ton. The Colonial Secretary, on behalf of the Government, intimated to Mr. Proctor that the government cannot allow the {theatre to be open on Sunday for lectures. Mr, Proctor published a reply stating that he had taken the opinion of counsel, and had teen advised that his lecture vc-oiild not be an infraction of ths law, and declines to alter his arrangement for next Sunday. September 4. Mr., ©erry, in the Assembly on Thursday, stated that he had taken steps to float the balance of the last loan in the London market. The date to be fixed by the banks will probably be the middle of October. The minimum would be fixed by the Government, but was unseated, The Commissioner of Railways in consequence of the Board of Snquiry exonerating Ford, the Engineer for conhas reinstated Ford, dispensing ; with the services of Green, who was appointed by the Service Government in his stead. Mr. Higginbotham has formally protested. Replying to a deputation of the antiChinese league, Mr. Berry promised to confer with the other colonies! with reference to the prevenUoy of the influx of Chinese, The oustom House allows travellers' samples to be exported for drawback. At a Cabinet meeting on Friday, Ministers arranged to overhaul their various departments and make, as many dismissals as possible. It ia expeoted that these will be numerous in the Customs and lands departments. Adelaide, Sept. 4. Theys was a sharp debate in the Assembly on Thursday on the Boothby case. Some members contended that the service was suffering from long delay in deciding the matter. Others considered the Government were right iq giving the fullest enquiry tp. a,u ofScer of long service. During a disoussion on the Licensed Victuallers Bill, an attempt was made to render it a legal contract for a publican to obtain beer from one brewer exclusively, but the feeling of the House was adverse to the proposal. An attempt to legislate against music, dancing, and, theatricals at hotels also failed. The export duty on gold is generally condemned in the Northern Territory. It is stated that the Paris Exhibition Commissioners have handed Mr. Boothby LI2OO for his personal expenses at that exhibition. Brisbane., September 4, The Courier, ordinarily issues Hansard in byoad*sheet form, omitted to do s.a on the 2nd, also the Council Hansard on the Brd, in consequence of legal advice that they can be held responsible : for libellous matters in the debates. The special occasions were the remarks of the Minister of Works in connection with a witness at a committee of enquiry upon Mr. Hemmant's petit\os against the Premier's purchase Q.f rails in London, and also the. at?ictu?es made in the Council affecting the Government printers. ' It ia believed the Government will telegraph the ratification of the mail service contract, accepting the responsi- ; bility to Parliament. A demurrer relative to the Premier's , right to tho seal of Parliament will be argued in Full Court on Tuesday, The blacks rushed ft surveyor's camp at Johnston River and killed the man in charge aiptd looted the camp.