AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2551, 25 May 1881, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Bv Telegraph.] (Per s.s. Australia at Auckland.) Sydney, May 19. Dibbs, who underwent 12 months’ imprisonment as a debtor with liabilities of £3355, representing judgment and costs against him by tbo Supreme Court in an action for slander, has been released. In the Insolvency Court on Monday the amount was submitted as a claim upon Dibb’s insolvent estate. Its admission was opposed by the insolvent on the grounds that his imprisonment had liquidated the debt. The Acting-Commissioner held to the contrary, and admitted proof of claim. Dibbs intends to appeal to a full Court. Learning that shippers using private wharves have undue advantage over those who use Government wharves, the Government have decided that the, wharfage rates at Newcastle shall be abolished for the present. The Curriers’ Society of Melbourne forwarded £SO as an instalment towards the support of the men on strike. Efforts will be made to send a like sum weekly during the strike, and aid from other societies is solicited. The Seamen’s Union resolved to subscribe £3 weekly towards the support of curriers now on strike. They also decided to raise a subscription for the benefit of the relatives and friends of the members of the various Seamen’s Unions in Aus tralia who were lost in the Tararua.

Melbourne. The Mayor has issued invitations for a ball during the visit of the squadron. In answer to a deputation, Mr Berry indicates tis intention if possible of transferring £25,000 from the railway loan to the Eiucational Department for (he construction of new schools, such transfer to hold good for a year and be recouped by a fresh loan for educational purposes, which it is intended to submit to Parliament next session. Adelaide. The Wesleyan Conference, after a long dehate, negatived the motion affirming the expediency of making the New Zealand Conference independent, and adopted a resolution to the effect that the proposal was premature, and that a carefully prepared plan should in the first instance be submitted. The Rev Mr Bavin, the New Zealand delegate was unable to attend the session through’ serious indisposition. The Church of England Synod passed a resolution expressing sympathy with the survivors of the Wesleyan delegates drowned in the Tar&rua. It is to be forwardrd to to (ho President of the Wesleyan Conference. It is reported (hat Government intend introducing a Bill to repeal the Civil Service Act and abolish the retiring allowances. At the Wesleyan Conference on Thursday, the Rev Mr Brown, who led the expedition against the perpetrators of the massacre in Blanchq Bay, New Britain, gave an exhaustive statement of his action. After some discusion a resolution of sympathy with him in his perplexing and painful position, and assuring him of the entire confidence of the meeting was passed. Trooper Pearce was murderously assaulted by a man named Johnstone near {[Kingston, on Monday, and has since died.