AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Temuka Leader, 26 February 1880, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Sydney. Mr Bach an An’s motion—“ That the fact of Stephen, Lieut. Governor, being' a member of the Legislative Council is inconsistent with the spirit of the constitution’' —was opposed by Pavkes, and negatived by 85 to 4. His motion —“That the prerogative of mercy iii future be exercised by the Governor, with the Executive Council, and not (.he Governor alone,” and censuring the Governor relative to the commutation of Williams and Bennett, .was lost, Buchanan alone voting “ aye.”

It is understood that the vital statistics about to bo issued show an increase of population during the past year which is unp’-ecedonted, even during the .early gold discoveries. The increase is nearly 40,000, making a total of close on throe quarters of a million.

During the empanelling of juri s t*) to try cases yesterday, the Crown prosecutor chalk hged the jurymen who acquitted Williams of rape on his own daughter. A company is firming a Kiama with LSUOO capital to conrkm-o mi k. Melbourne. J At a Reform League meeting at Duuolly on February 17th. Mr Berry and Mr Grant were present, and a most disorderly row took place. There were several fi rhts, and the police were called in, but were unable to .restore order, and the meeting broke up in confa cn, Mr McPherson of the Melbourne Jute - Works, a protected industry, has called a meeting of his creditors. It is believed there is a sv rphis of L 14,00 0. Th ■ R-former paper, with an issue of one hundred thousand, containing an adverse history of the Ben y Government lias bun published for dissemination broadcast thrmghout the country, Larkins, publisher of the Fire band* appeared at the Central Court to show cause why toe paper should not ho destroyed as obscene. He denied that it was more objectionable than passages in Shakespeare Bwinbounvp Bryon, or tin Bibl >. Tin huich ru'ed it to be disgust : ng an 1 obscene, and ordered it to be destroyed . It is to be understool that the performance of Agapaunone/anew burlesque on the Ministry will bo permitted. Action will only be taken if there i anything immoral or offensive ia it. A constable was endeavouring to arrest a voung man at Sandridge when the latter jumped and swam to a vessel some distance away, and defied the police. Several constables went in a boat and arrested him' after a severe struggle. Brisbane. Wells, the Cunamulla bushranger,has been sentenced to death for fbo >ting at Murphy with intent io im r cr, without hope of mercy. Adelaide. The Register complains tat the Government are importing iron bridges from America instead of calling for local tenders. This, it states, is a violation of a resolution of Assembly passed sev-m years ago. Some splendid flour ground with steel rollers at Berlin has be<n shown at Adelaide and much admired.