Australian Telegrams.

Auckland Star, Volume XI, Issue 3125, 27 April 1880, Page 2

Australian Telegrams.

CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

DEATHS FROM DIPHTHERIA,

VICTORIA, April 22.

The Treasurer has requested Mr Archer formerly Registrar General, and later Under Secretary of Lands, a Black Wednesday victim, to draw a scheme of appointments and promotions in the Civil Service. The Government desires to introduce competitive examinations, and abolish patronage. A prize of a hundred pounds will be shortly offered for the best musical composition set to the accepted poem on the Exhibition openiug, open to all Australian Colonists.

The Central Board of Health has appointed a committee to investigate^ the recent outbread of diphtheria at Hamilton whero twenty seven were attacked, and eight died. The committee visited Hamilton and. isolated the sufferers. An outbreak of measles at South Kichmond is now causing anxiety. A four foot coal seam has been discovered at Cape Patterson. The Minister of Mines promised a deputation that he will introduce a bill to secure indefeasible mining titles, ou the basis of continuous occupation and bona fide work.

A meeting of cabinetmakers formed an Anti - Chinese Association and resolved to ask Ministers to insert a clause in Government furnishing contracts excluding work by Chinese. The language used was violent, but the prevailing disposition is to try lawful expedients. Two men, named Beresford and Williams, have been arrested for gilding sixpences. An extensive plant for electro-plating counterfeits was found at their residence.

The Associated Banks have decided that it is inexpedient to reduce the lates of discount, in view of the largo amount of deposits they hold at high rates. The promoters of the Frozen Meat Company deputationcd Mr Cuthbert, requesting him to repeal the stock tax. The Minister, though favourable to the abolition, doubted whether tho condition of the revenue would permit of it, Mr McMahon is to have the Government support for the Speakership. A man picked up a parcel in Flindersstreet, and it immediately exploded, shattering his hand. The Government have refused the petition for the release of David Henry, the embracery convict.

Mr Gauosou has been oilered the post of Ministerial whip, at £1,000 per aunum. He has refused it, and intends taking his chance for the Chairmanship of Committees. MELBOURNE, 22. Captain Fullerton reports that Hobsons Bay is silting up three inches per annum at the wsstern part, and ouo inch per annum at the eastern part. The late Count Castlenan bequeathed 500 valuable books, chiefly on eutotnology and icthyology, to the* Public Library. The Medicfil Society has resolved to support the project of paying for wards on a large scale in Melbourne Hospitals. Parker's reef tributo washed 180 tons for 494 ounces of gold. The memorial to the police murdered1 by Kelly's gaugr, has been inaugurated at Mansfield. The residcuce of Mr Ankerson at St. Kilda, was robbed of £250 worth of jewellory. Keductions in the Land Tax Court are proceeding, tho Treasury holding the opinion that two clerks are suliicient. It is expected that the main Exhibitiou buildings will be out of the contractors' hands in about a fortnight. The ship Ivanhoe, stranded at Tasmania, which sold for a nominal figure, has been refitted and started for England. It is reported that the lion. W. Clarke withdraws Petrca from turf, and will use her as a hack for Mrs Ch'rke. At the Royal Society, Tenuyson, Mr Woods read a paper which stated that llodgkinson Goldtield, Queensland, was likoly to prove one of the richest iv Australia. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. April 22nd. The life sentence passed on John Dibley, for killing his wife in 1876, has been remitted, on the ground that well-founded jealousy prompted the act. The Glenelg and South Coast Tramway will stop tralllc and sell the line immediately, in consequence of the iusufliciency of capital. There is no work proceeding at Buna, but sales of the Company's freehold are proceeding. It owns 10,000 acres, worth £6(J,0i0.

The reveuue returns show the quarter's expenditure to be £454,800, which is au increase over the corresponding quarter last year of £1,500. The bonded debt is now £9,900,000. A despatch from the Hon. Hicks-Beach states, that he will advise the Queen to extend letters patent to the Adelaide University, so as to enable women to take degrees.

A dispatch from the War Minister states that one cadctship annually has boon allotted to each Colonial University for the Sandhurst Military College.

Parliament meets on M«y 27th. ' The acceptances for the Adelaide Cup are:-: Richmond, Gleuarmiiston, filibuster, Viceroy, Bclladruru, Rivalry, Mountaineer, Pawnbroker, l'irst Water, Don Carlos, Electricity, Buccaneer, and ilitih Jinks.

The Commissioner of Public Works, after inquiry, decided that the redfnt accident at tho Port Kailway rose from an unexplained cause,. despite every precaution. The Cabinet uphold the decision, and presented tbo engine-driver with £10, in recognition of the presence of mind he displayed on tho occasion.

11. Z. Sparks nos been appointed manager of the Laud Mortgage Company recently Routed by Ban Smith, iv Edinburgh.

A successful trial, has been made with Rowan's steam motor.

A meeting was held at Mount Gambier to consider the manufacture of farina from potatoes. It was adjourned for the collection of information.

The Rev. Elleum, Bishop's Chaplain, replying to a letter charging him with advanced Ritualism, says he found himself in utter spiritual loneliness among congregations whoso whole demeauour Bhowed how little they had in corrimoiu

The Jockey Club havo formally rescinded the disqualification of Mr Saville and paid cost*.

Inthccasoof Ward v. the "Port Adcelaido News" for libel, tho preliminaries are proceeding. \ <! , The wheat market is depressed. QUEENSLAND; Tho Customs officers proceed to visit the wreck discovered by Mr Jack, during a prospecting expedition of Capo York. An expedition under the leadership of T. 11. Fitzgerald has started to establish a settlement for sugar plantation in Mourilyan Harbour, where he and the Hon. Dr. O'Ddhcrty selected sixteen square miles of splendid tropical scrub. Ho takes kanakas, whites, buildings, tools, and machinery. Henry Thorn, late M.P., is dead. CARPENTARIA. The'projcctora believe the scheme feasible at a moderate cost of the colony. , The Commissioners appointed to investigate tho condition of the kanakas at Mnry liiver plantations report that their general health is good. The recent exceptional mortality at ouo station wan due to bad water. Tho Registrar General's returns estimate , the population at the end of last year at 218,000, au increaso of 7,500 during the year. It is understood Governor Kennedy will bo asked by the Goverumont t.o give evidence relative to the defences before] tho Koyal Commission iv London. , IS ews from the ne\y rush .at the Palmer is encouraging. Many Europeans aro doing well.. | The colt Wildrakc, by the Maribyrnong, while cantering at Brisbane racecourse broke his caunon bones short oiF. He \vas shot. < • NEW ;SOUTII WALES, n • Letter received .stato that two liveSj Mi■ ChaUis mud bis sister, raunt intervene before the legacy of £100,000 h available for the University. , Tho Assembly has accepted the Council's amendments on the Education Act, which; has now passed both Houses. The second reading of the Electoral Bill was carried in the Assembly without a division. The Japanese Commissioner proceeded to Japan via Brisbane; also Governor Weldj to assume the Government of the Straits. Hoaton brings au action against the Government, it is understood iv connection with printing the Dictionary of Dates. ~ The formal closing of the Exhibition took place on the 20th. The official programme was fully carried out. Tho Governor came iv state. The Permanent Fo;ces turned out. The day was gazetted a, holiday, but was only partially observed. The crowd was large, but not equal to the opening attendance. It is intended that the judges' report shall be compiled and edited, as a record of the Exhibition. Mr Gully's painting of Lake Wakatipu has been purchased for £100 by Mr Edward Knox,

Experiments have been proceeding at the Museum with alleged snake bite. The antidote of Baptist is a failure so far. Of

two doga bitten and anti.iotcd, one died, and the other recovered. The trustees of the Art Gallery of New South Wa^s have purchased for £5000 several of the choicest oil paintings in the Exhibition, including "Nou an^li scd Angcli." Several small meetings of the working classes deprecate the action of the Legislative Assembly relative to the Council's amendment on the Stamp Duties Bill. The proposed Licensing Bill will remove dealing with publican's license from the ordinary beuch. Hurley's bill, to limit nsury, was thrown out owing to an informality.