AUSTRALIAN CABLE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2251, 8 September 1891, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN CABLE.

Melbourne, Sept. 6

Influenza is prevalent. Lord and Lady Hopetoun, the Premier, and the Chief Secretary, are all prostrated with it.

An action is being heard, McCormick v. Cuthbert, claim £SOOO damages for libel. Plaintiff is a magistrate and defendant was formerly Minister for Justice. The libel is alleged to have been contained in official letters which were taken to infer that McCormick had improperly and corruptly adjourned certain cases. The defence applied for a nonsuit on the ground that a Minister in writing on matters of state is absolutely privileged. Sydney, Sept. 6.

News from the Solomon Islands and New Guinea states that a trader named Gunderson had been murdered and his store looted by the natives of the firstmentioned islands, and that at New Guinea a report was current, but not confirmed, that two missionaries and native teachers have been killed.

The auxiliary fleet arrived yesterday. There was no official reception. In response to a query from the New Zealand Eifle Association, the Sydney Association have decided that matches at two, three, four, five, and six hundred, and a thousand yards, shall be open to a New Zealand team, and a special match will probably be arranged as well.

Hobart, Sept. 4.

The R.M.S. Ruapehu arrived from London, via the Cape, this forenoon, and sailed again for New Zealand at 6 p.m. She brought 57 passengers for Australian ports, and has 84 for New Zealand.