AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Evening Star, Issue 4760, 4 June 1878, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Per Jiingarooma at tlie Bluff.)

Melbjurne, May 29.—1n the present dormant state of politics there is very little to interest. The Ministry made a great blunder in issuing free passes to country mayors to travel by rail to the Governor's levee, and in almost compelliug the civil service officers to be present thereat. The result was that more than one-third consisted of civil servants, while the mercantile interest did not number a dozen representatives. This week the Chief Secretary and other members of the Ministry are skirmishing over the country and attending banquets to local representatives.

The cable contract has been drawn up and forwarded by telegraph to London. The company have to duplicate their lines within eight months from the date of siguing the agreement; but if the cable is laid inside of tins period the subsidy will commence from five m .tiths after the signing of the agreement. Press telegrams must be dto 1 eansel newspapers, and be in plain Engisb, with no cypher or words of concealed meaning.

Mr Farrell having resigned his seat for Castlemaine, Professor Pearson and Mr William Gaunson are candidates on the Government side. Mr Chapman has been chosen in th 9 Opposition interests. The Government have found work for upwards of 200 of the unemployed in carrying out drainage works, and intend further to carry out two of the new lines of railway by day labor ; but a large number of the unemployed are not laborers, but belong to the building and mechanical trades.

Public confidence not being completely restored, very little building is being proceeded with. The Government are very anxious to commence the erection of tho exhibition buildings in Carlton Gardens, as otherwise the vote will lapse on the 30th prox. The building will untimately cost about LICO.OOO, and the Government are de sirous of proceeding without the concurrence of the Upper House, and with that end in view have tried, wito the City Council, to reconvey to the Government the land ve»ted in the Corporation as trustees. Country trade is very dull and no business of importance doing. It is stated that Governor Robinson has been offered an important position by the Imperial Government, but nothing is officially known and the statement is doubted. The revenue of Queensland shows an increase. The estimated revenue for next year is over a million and a half.

(Joveiuor Robinson subscribed twenty guineas to the proposed monument to the late Archbishop Polling, A Chinaman, for the murder of one of his countrymen at Goulbourn, was executed yesterday.

The physicians say that promiscuous kissing spreads disease. Heart troubles especially, eh ! A lady in London got the idea into her head that the devil was in her and hanged herself. If women go to hanging themselves for a little thing like that, they are going to be scarce, that all.