AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2924, 11 April 1891, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

(HT IXUC'I'HIC ■IKI.KOUAriI.—COI'I ItlUIIT.) Mi:i,i:oi;i;xk. April 0. Pounds, who was connected with the Mount Otway platinum frauds, is insolvent. His liabilities are ill<>7.ooo, and his assets £1)2,000. iSince the rededion in ocean postage to 2Jrl, correspondence with Great "Britain has nearly doubled. April 10. Tli " action in which Mr Andrew liowan claims £-■'>,000 from Mr Ilorsfall as damages for alleged libel and slander arising out ot' a disimte with Goldsbrough, Mort and Co.'s directors, has been referred to arbitration. There is also cross-action, in which Horsfall claims X'.'iO,ooo damages from Rowan for libel. Syh.vky, April 10. Sir Harry Atkinson and Capt. Russell return to New Zealand by the Manapmiri. The Government will sumuiou Parliament for the despatch of business at the end of J [ay. They propose to introduce measures dealing with local government, electoral laws, and the coal mines regulation. This being the last session of the present Parliament, no attempt will be mado to bring the question of Federation to the vote of the House, but it will form the main plank upon which tluv Government will go to the country. IiitiSBAXE, April 9. The South Queensland carriers will not strike, and will begin carting wool shortly. At a meeting of shearers at Blackall, it was decided to recommend the strike committee to waive freedom of contract, on condition that the pasloralists guarantee that for a specified time they will not employ ali-jn labour, reduce wages, or throw obstacles in the way of the union organisations. Serious Hoods have occurred in the Cairns district. (Several families liavu had to seek refuge in trues. Traffic is suspended, many coach and pack horses having been drowned.