AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 184, 20 January 1880, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

I [Via Bluff.] MELBOUBNE, January 14. The Government profess a desire to terminate the session of Parliament quickly, in view of an immediate dissolution. The Governor is favorable to this course. There is a probability of a very stomy close to the Parliament. Mr Berry, speaking at Geelong, defended the nominee clause in very qualified terms, although recently he described it as the kernel of the reform scheme. Now he says he attaches much less importance to it than to the sixth clause, which he was recently willing to abandon, and the plebiscite, which he described as at best only a necessary evil. The Orient company have arranged for a regular fortnightly service to and from the colonies, alternating with the P. and O. vessels, commencing on February 20th. The Orient steamers will prooeed direct to Naples. France, Italy, Belgium, and other countries are intimating that the space applied for in London ex eeds the amount originally anticipated. Mr Berry instructed the Exhibition Commissioners to provide another hundred thousand feet of space at an additional cost of about £15,000. At Emerald Hill, Wade, lately a fireman on the steamer Suva, endeavored to enter a house where a servant girl tamed Driver lived. She was once engaged to him, but had broken it off. She refused to admit him, whereupon he twice fired at her with a revolver. She escaped to a neighbour's house. Wade, after trying to gain admittance, blew out his own brains. Campbell, Messrs Bell and Coleman's representative on board the Strathleven, telegraphs that the meat reached Aden in good order. He expects to land it safely in London. The difficulty between the Government and Banks is still unsettled, the latter declining to amend their proposals. The Japanese Government have granted £7OOO to secure efficient representation at the Melbourne Exhibition. The "Argus" estimates the yield of Victorian gold last year at 715,000 ozs, being a decrease of 38,78-1 ;zs. The Mining Department estimates the yield at 760 J 3ssazs, but their data are known to be unreliable. The Melbourne Irish Famine Fund amounts to £3OOO. J. J. Clarke gave £SOO, and a number of gentlemen £IOO. The Goulburn Valley railway, tapping the richest wheat country in Victoria, was opened on the 13th inst. ADELAIDE, January 14. The Government offer to provide public school teachers with the apparatus required for teaching science at half cost. The revenue shows a deficiency of £16,000, compared with the corresponding quarter of last year, chiefly in land revenue. The medical men are endeavoring to obtain a legislative disqualification of unqualified men from practising. BYDNEY, January 14. A numerously attended meeting of protectionists was held at Sydney, apparently to enable Mr Buchanan, M.L A., to renounce his free trade opinions. It is considered doubtful whether the Government will succeed in carrying the whole of their fiscal policy. Wine and spirit merchants strongly protest against increased taxation in their business. The quarter's revenue shows a decrease of £291,575. The revenue for the year is £4,481,665, showing a decrease of £510,253 on the previous year. The Exhibition Commisßir.n has decided that the jurors are simply to classify meritorious exhibits according to four grades, leaving the Commission to determine what medals shall be allotted. All expenses of the management of the Exhibition are recouped. The returns show that there have been 600,000 admissions. Two women were killed at Sydney in a thunderstorm. The Bobycito, from Dunedin to Newcastle, took fire off Port Stephens on Jan. sth, owing to a pot of tar upsetting and setting fire to the deck house. The foremast was burned and fell over the side, carrying away the maintopmast and mizzen. When towed into Sydney the forepart of the vessel was all burnt, and half the deck. Scott received intelligence that the Executive refused to reconsider hi» case. He has written an autobiography, which he has entrusted to Mrs Amess, who alleged that she was affianced to him. Further efforts are being made to save Rogan. The Sydney Irish famine fund exceeds £2500. A number of gentlemen, including Archbishop Vaughan, subscribed £IOO. A woman named Biker, while bathing a child three years old, upset a kerosene lamp, which exploded and burnt both to death. BRISBANE, January 14. The Lunny post and telegraph master, Charles ViUe, was fined £2O for telling a housekeeper the contents of a telegram received by him. Mulligan, aftei three months' prospecting at Graham's Creek, North Palmes, was unsuccessful. The revenu.B for the last quaiter Bhows a. comparative deficiency of £35,0C0. The expenditure during tha half-year exceeds the revenue by £140,000. The barque Scottish Knight, bound from Rockhampton to London, tra.9 wrecked off Bustard Head, Gladstone. No lives were lost. It will be necessary to discharge the vessel to stop the leak. HO BART TOWN, January 14. There are thirty-three horses in the Hobart Town Cup, including P6trea, Sst lib; Avernus, 7«t 131 b; His Grace, 7at 91b; Bosworth, 9st 31b ; Richmond, 9at 41b. Bishop Bromly proceeds on a visit to England.