AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2240, 3 May 1881, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

[By Tblhqhaph.] [Per s.s, Rotomahana, at Bluff.] MELBOURNE, April 27. Mr Graham Berry, with Mr Reid, member of the Council, Messrs Grant, Longmore, Dow, Mirams, and other members of the Assembly, was entertained at a banqnet at Homebush on the 22nd. Tho Premier, in a speech, reviewed the Reform question. He said he was sure the country desired to see Reform settled, and ho would not abandon it, although it took ten years to consummate. He further said, that, while receiving the support of tho country, he would not be satisfied until both Houses were brought within the control of the people. The Victorian Post Office have decided to exercise its potter of detaining the Peninsular mail twenty four hours, unless the British authorities should previously accede to its demand to alter the date of departure of mails to Tuesday.

The Minister of Lands speaks highly of Raymond’s “ rabbit exterminator.” and says the results obtained have fully realised expectation. The Melbourne Presbytery held a special meeting yesterday to consider the report of tho committee, and to examine the Rev.Mr Strong’s article. A considerable diversity of opinion was manifested, several speakers moving separate amendments. The meeting finally adjourned until to-day. The profits of the National Bank for the halfyear are <252,000. A dividend was declared of 12J per cent.

Messrs Swallow and Ariel have prepared for transmission to London a trial-shipment of beefbiscuits, consisting of a mixture of beef and flour. It is stated that the biscuits are very palatable, Offenbach’s opera-bouffe “ Fille da TambourMajor” was on Friday performed for the hundred and first time in Melbourne, the longest run on record in the colonies.

Tho Lusitania tcok several hundreds of poultry, a quantity of fruit, and a large quantity of milk. A few baskets of fish were also shipped for presentation to tho Australian clubs in London. The success of the milk-shipment is awaited with interest.

SYDNEY, April 27. Prevoust, the Commandant of the Marquis de Ray’s expedition to New Ireland, before the Board enquiry, contradicted certain statements by the immigrants, and defended the Marquis from the charge of dishonorable conduct. Nearly seven hundred immigrants are still unemployed, and information has been received that Italian visitors are dissuading them from taking situations

Following the intelligence of farther finds of a payable goldfield, a rush hai taken place to a spot three miles north of Mount Poole. Splendid rains have fallen in the Wilcannia district.

Of 2000 recently-arrived Chinese, 1500 have already proceeded north to work in mines. They have almost all gone to the interior. The principal winners in the recent racemeet ng are—Mr W. Branch, with .£2200 ; Mr Chirnside, £119; Mr Long, owner of Flaneur, took only £lO.