AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 5302, 24 September 1885, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

THE HOT HAM BANK ROBBERY. Melbourne, September 23. The trial of Seymour Robinson, for robbery of the Hotham branch of the Federal Bank was concluded to-day, when the prisoner was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment. SPECIAL CABLE NEWS. .«. Lo^dok, September 20. The contracts which were entered into by the Admiralty with several steamship companies for the use of some of their vessels as armed cruisers will not be renewed. Mr Gladstone, in his manifesto to the electors of Midlothian, referring to the reform of the House of Lords, expresses the opinion that the time is yet distant when it can be expected, and urges that it is necessary to recognise the influence of birth and wealth. He advocates an easy system of land transfer, and that the power to will should be limited to the next life only. The question of disestablishing the Church of England is not, he holds, yet ripe for action to be taken. The Marquis of Hartington and the Right Hon. Mr Chamberlain differ considerably with the views thus expressed, but Mr Gladstone, if anything, leans towards Lord Hartington's opinion that there is a want of firmness in hhe foreign policy advocated, except in the matter of the Afghan difficulty. The manifesto is generally considered a moderate one ; and not at all calculated to arouse any enthusiasm amongst the Radical party. September 21. The feeling of the St. Petersburg press over the revolution in Roumelia is one of triumph. The Berlin and Vienna papers ' are perplexed and irritated, whilst the Standard considers that it does not J concern England unless the Powers interfere in the matter. Spain is now landing troops throughout the Caroline group for their protection. - France has conceded "great" rights to Burmah in connection with the commercial treaty existing between them.