AUSTRALIAN. [BY TELEGRAPH-COPYRIGHT.] [REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.]

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1695, 17 May 1883, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN. [BY TELEGRAPH- COPYRIGHT.] [REUTERS TELEGRAMS.]

Sydney, May 15. It has transpired that the New Zealand Government was invited to acquiesce in joining the Postal Union, but declined.

Melbourne, May 15. The election of a member for Sandhurst, to fill the vacancy in the representation of that constituency caused by the death of the late Mr R. Clark, has resulted in the return of Mr A. Mackay. A man named Geo. Sweeny has been arrested at Sydney, charged with the robbery of £GOO from the Colonial Bank at Brunswick, near this city, last month. The accused was bound for San Francisco when arrested.

[Received May 15th, 10 p.m.] It has been ascertained that the prisoner Sweeney, who was arrested at Sydney on the charge of having robbed the Colonial Bank at Brunswick last month, is known to the police under the aliases of Longmore and Palmer, as a notorious criminal, both in this colony and New Zealand. Tt is stated that he escaped from custody at Christchurch, where he had been arrested on a charge of burglary.

[Received May 10th, 12 G p.m.] Melbourne, Yesterday. It is reported that heavy defalcations have been disclosed in a bank at Sandhurst, and that the manager is implicated. The Argus, to-day, expresses a hope that the New Zealand Government will re-consider its refusal to join the Postal Union, and announces that Mr Berry has undertaken to proceed to Wellington with the object of explaining fully to ihe Government the advantages of the Union.