AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LII, Issue 5805, 3 October 1879, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

The second reading of the Reform Bill in the Victorian Parliament was carried by 53 to 31. The division is no test of the future. The Opposition claim that Government will barely get an absolute majority in the House on the third reading. . Evans, the man impersonator, is still in, Bendigo Hospital. It is expected that she will soon recover her health in body , and mind. Her “wife” has only once gone to see her smoe the exposure. . : The Manager and four Directors of the Provincial’and Suburban Bank were charged with conspiring to defraud the customers and shareholders of the Bank and the general public.. The case was adjourned till the following day, the prisoners being bailed, , * Negotiations'are proceeding for a boat race ’ betwdjin Edwards, of Melbourne, and Laycpck, of Sydney;' .Edwards wants a minute start in three-miles,” Ltfycpck is willing to row any two Melbourne oarsmen, one to start even And the'other at a‘mile and a half. The boat in which ten' natives drifted out to Sea from Codktpwn last August has been found in a sandbank;; .The natives are supposed to have been drowned. ! i An officer in the Sydney Survey Department is ohargeffwith' holding over a million acres of picked land, without attempting .to conform with the regulations. . ; " Several coal-miners .engaged in Adelaide have reached, the Waratah mine.

Sweetmeat Won the. Wagga Wagga Gold Cup. Within fifty yards of the post CJwiveller collided with Seeundus, giving Sweetmeat an advantage, and enabling hint to win by half a length. The South MstraUan Government state that.'thej are prepared to make a firm stand to protect the interests of the Colony over the mail contract. If-Victoria refuses the South Australian.; terms, other means will be adopted to -convey.,the mails of;the Colony; The Register contends that it will be ' suicidal to accept the Victorian conditions. ; ■ . The-.proposal ito . establish , a'.permaneht military force in South Australia has; been, abandoned.

In Queensland a constitutional difficulty arose through the Council's amendments on the Divisional Boards' Bill. The Assembly has rejected the .'amendments, affirming the right of the Assembly to control taxation, The Council insisted on; the amendments, but on the Assembly proceeding to give a reason apart from the right of the Upper House to make euch amendments, the Council refrained from-further insisting on its amendments. The Appropriation Bill was passed. -, - ■ ■ ■■. : ; -■