MISCELLANEOUS.

Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 4290, 30 April 1879, Page 1 (Supplement)

MISCELLANEOUS.

At the Colonial Institute meeting next; Tuesday, which, owing to the very large attendance expected, is to beheld in St. James's Hall, the debate on Sir Arthur Gordon's paper on Fiji will be opened by Mr Gladatone, and amongst the speakers will be Lords Granville, Selborne, and Cardwell. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach will be preßent, but will not take part in the discussion. Mr Hayter is to read a paper the aame evening on Victoria at the Statistical Society. It ia so seldom that papers on Australia are read elsewhere than at the Colonial Institute that it ib to be regretted that the two should clash, but no other arrangement could be made.

Sir John Ooode's reports on the Melbourne, Geelong, and Warrnambool harbours are despatched by to-day's mail, the former direct to the Harbour Trust, and the latter two to the Government.

The reports that have lately been in circulation of the intended appointment of Lord Hardwicke to the Governorship of Tasmania have been contradicted.

Lord Bateman intends moving "resolutions on the 29th April in reference to free trade and reciprocity, advocating the latter in future treaties with foreign nations. At a meeting of the Huddersfield Chamber of Commerce, on the 12th instant, it was resolved to support an application for a Boyal commissi on to inquire into the causes of bad trade. All the speakers expressed the opinion that unless the working classes would agree to the lengthening their hours of labor, it was useless to expect the woollen manufacturers to make headway against foreign competition, and they considered that any return to protection or reciprocity would only land the country into farther difficulties.

A telegram from Berlin, dated yesterday, announces that the tariff commission has decided to raise the import duties both on rice and meat. The latter is resorted to to restrict the importation from America. A duty of five pfennings per cwt. upon foreign coal is also proposed. On Wednesday, Sir Cunliffe Owen was entertained at dinner at Willis's rooms, Sir S. Waterlow presiding, by a number of the jurors and exhibitors at Paris. He was presented with an illuminated address and a cheque for 3500 guineas, which had been subscribed by 550 persons. A splendid diamond Maltese cross waa given to Lady Owen.

The number of members of the Colonial Institute js largely increasing, and the Australians form the chief majority. At the meeting of the council on the 4th. inst. the Marquis of Hartington wo* one of the elected. ;

Mr Guildford Onslow and Jtwo others paid their usual periodical visit to the Claimant at Portsmouth a few days ago. His health is said to be excellent, and his weight is not over 15st-.

In the case of Mr G. F. Dickinson, Australian merchant, who failed iome days back,

no less than twenty-six actions were pending against the bankrupt when the insolvency order was made. These were all stayed. The whole American cattle meat trade is at present at a standstill, owing to the coming into force of the Privy Council regulations for the importation of stock. Judgment was delivered by the Privy Councd on the 11th in.t. in the case of the Borough of Bathurst, N.S.W., versus Macpherson. The action arose out of an accident met with by Mr Macpherson when riding through Bathurst, owing to his horse falling into a hole, which it was contended ought to have been repaired by the municipality. Sir James Martin, before whom the case was tried, directed a verdict for the municipality on the ground that it was not bound to keep the roads in repair, but on application for a new trial the majority of the New South Wales judeeß allowed it, and the appeal was against that decision. The Privy Counoil upheld it, and expressed their opinion that the attention of the Legislature should be drawn to the matter, with a view to the settlement of any doubts on the question.

Mr Rotbery, tbe wreck commissioner, and two assessors held an enquiry, on the 6th March, into the loss of tbe Northam, burnt off the coast of Brazil on her voyage to Sydney, on the 21st of December last. Nothing w-s elicited as to the origin of tbe fire, a.d the enquiry was finally adjourned without result.

The Clare eleotion committee was reappointed on the 10th inst. It includes tbe Home Secretary, the Attorney. Generals for England and Ireland, tbe Chief Secretary for Ireland, Mr Spencer Walpole, Sir W. HartDyke, Lord. Francis Hervey, Mr W. E. Forster, Sir Wm. Harcourt, and Mr Whithead. The nomination of Mr Butt was negatived.