AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13926, 7 December 1908, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

/t> , \. ■"> ■ • " "; \ By Telegraph.—Press Association.— DISSOLUTION IN VICTORIA.; (Received December 7, 12.35 a.m.) Melbourne, December 6. The Governor has granted , the Premier, Sir Thomas Bent, a dissolution. . '* [Mr. Murray, a member of the Countrj party, moved a direct want-of-confidence motion in the State Government on:the 3rd inst. The party decided not to support Mr. Cameron's motion, but to take separate action. Tho Leader of the Labour party intimated that 'Mr. Murray's motion had his assent. Mr. Murray said his charge against , the Government was that it ,J had done nothing according to fixed principles. Ever since : . Sir Thomas Bent's advent "it had become more and more a ofte-man Government. 3 Sir Sx| Thomas Bent was weak, vacillating, and extravagant. He had outlived lihis.usefulness as a leader of the Government. Mr. Watt ' charged Sir -s Thomas 1; Bent; with making ■ > ' false statement in denying that he had purchased land along the route of the Brighton- , ,> St. Kilda tramway. He had misled Parliament in stating he had no land along the route, and then secured the passage of the Bill which, had placed thousands of pounds in 'Si Thomas Bent's pookets. ;. Sir Thomas Bent characterised Mr. Watt's statement'as - untrue. The route ho had p&posed for the line was not adopted, the present route taking its place. A syndicate of ten, including himself, had purchased land at auction. He bought it because it was * not on the -route he lad proposed. ' Ho had made no secret of his purchase. ' Eventually Mr. Murray'* motion was carried by 37 votes to 25.] .. NEW SOUTH WALES BOWLERS. (Received December 7, 12.35 a.m.^ . - Sydney, December 6. There is no chance.of.Vthe .New,'., Sijiith" Wales bowling team visiting New Zealand. THE CHINESE STOWAWAYS. Sydney, December 5. The , Chinese stowaways found in the steamer Eastern, which arrived from Hong-, V'vr i kong, had formed a cavity beneath 300 j tons of cargo consigned to Melbourne.-"All their faces were covered with revolting sores. ;"■'■■'./ V : :,' ; ■'■■■-■■;.■ : » ; qO^ : 6':?M;M , SOUTH 'AUSTRALIAN LOAN. Adelaide, December & The Assembly has parsed a Loan Bill authorising the-'raising of a sum of two|||| and a-half million.- tor expenditure « public works.