AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2870, 4 December 1890, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(liv w.wruf ••.•f-XKcsitAPit.—iwykkjiit.) Hydnt.V. December '2. A n.f tragedy took plit'jc near Dorh-sl'i.rd to-day. A man named Avi«ou. suspecting his wife of inlidelity, ivt iirnw.l home unexpectedly arid found her paramour, a man named Hon re, in the lionso. Avison attacked him savagely with a tomahawk, which he drove several times into hid head, and was only prevented from killing Lis wife by the intervention of a friend. IToare is dying. December 3. The Herald considers that the proposal of the South Australian Government in connection with the reduction in the eable rates is both unfraternal and ungracious. The Now Zealand Government pleaded poverty as their excuse for standing out, and said they were in severe trials from the commercial depression that had lately existed in the colony. The Herald thinks Mint, the reason given by the New Zealand Government cannot but be respected, and says that! the good feeling prevailing between the colonies concerned in the guarantee has evidently prompted the South Australian Government to take an unfair advantage of the guarantors.

A now Licensing Bill has been introduced into the Legislative Assembly by Sir H> nry Parkes. It provides for tlic of licenses to publicans for ii. period of three years. This lengthened duration of the license will be regnrleil as suflicient compensation to the publican for any loss he limy suffer thereafter. The measure also sets forth that a. twothird majority of house-holders can prevent the renewal ot' a lisause, and a simple majority can reduce the number of licenses in any district by a certain number, or determine whether or not new licenses are to be granted. Adelaide, December In the House of Assembly lust night Kir G. AV. Downer gave notice of his intention to move a want-ol'-contidenee in the Government. The members of the Defence Commission, who have been inspecting the dofonces of King George's Hound have returned. They recommend that the defence works of the Sound be proceeded with at once, and express an opinion that the various positions are of the utmost importance. The Imperial Government, have intimab (I !. strong desire to commence operations immediately. The (Innmiission visits Tasmania shortly but it. is unlikely that they v.-ill proceed to Po'-t Darwin or Thursday island before April owing to the state of the weather. The Mining Commission havo decided to recommend the ' 'overninent to approach the other colonies with the view of appointing a joint Commission to arrange it uniform mining legi-datb 11.