Australian News.

Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2601, 19 August 1878, Page 3

Australian News.

.(PER. S.S .ARAWATA,)

MELBOURNE, Aug r 14. : The Ref&rrn debate still continues, and is likely to .continue till the eml-;of next week. The question is losing interest, most of the best debaters in the House haviHgepoken. .' ;' ~ '■ The Council as still engaged on its Constitution Reform Bill which has nearly passed through theiiouse. _•:■• The new loan is to ha floated by Bank in the usual way, not by Me delegates who go home with .#># Reform gjll as was first Intended. ' - ■•

Mr Morgan, the Chief Secretary 6f S6uth Australia, and Mr Burns, of New S6uth Wales, now;)iere, will consider the position of matters in addition to finally settling cable matters Mrij Graham Berry has some idea that postal subsidies do riot answer that > the colony should/trust to any of the steamers for the mail. It as" not expected that this will be carried. . - ; -" . ■ :\ ■-■■-. Matters fare improving. An important fact has been discovered of a gold bearing reef 1,340 feet : in the Prince Patrick mine said to yield 3ozs to the ton. ".'.' ■ The steamer Somersetshire arrived last night. Among its passengers are Dr Ryan, avlio gained such fame at Plevna, and Mr Slade, the spirit and writing medium. Much buildiug is going on, five large shops in Collins-street alone. Contract of overso,ooo has been taken for 50 miles of railway.-between Geelong and Queensclifiy .... ...-: \r : - ','■': . : Tenders will: soon.be: accepted for ; the Gblbum Valley line andOakleigh line.' Business is dull. :', .There have, been several failures here and in Sydney. At sales ■of draught; stock . yesterday, after the horse show, some ..purchases were made.on New Zealand account. The seeond'highest price given was bought for a .New Zealand. land company viz.,; 530 guineas. Maclean secures a prize for Bismarck, 400 guineas.; Tremain, 300. Somms bought Young Clyde for 345 guineas. A 21-month old colt,, by Ranting Robin, was purchased by Mr Hislop, of Hawkes Bay, for £1000. This is the highest price ever obtained in Australia for colts of his

age. The Assembly have decided to abolish wattle bark duty. Advices from NewGuiuea state that those who have gone there are in great destitution and misery. Gold has not yet been found. The natives are generally friendly, and willing to • afford assistance, but many whites have been guilty, of disgraceful acts towards the native people. The captam of the Sapphire investigated several cases. He says New Guinea is quite uufit for the habitation of white men, and it is quite impossible for gold-digging to be carried on there. Many have returned to Cooktowu, while many remain suffering.