AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 737, 20 August 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(PER ARAWATA AT THE BLUFF.) Melbourne, August 14. The debate on the Reform Bill still continues, and is likely to continue till the end of next week. The question is losing interest, most for the best debaters in the House having spoken. The Council is still engaged on its Constitution Preform Bill, which has nearly passed through the House. The new loan is to be floated by the banks in the way, and not by the delegates who go Home with the Reform Bill, as was at first intended. Mr. Morgan, the Chief Secretary of South Australia, and Mr. Burns, of New South Wales, are here and will consider postal matters in addition to finally settling cable matters. Slurry has some idea that postal subsidies are not necessary, and that the colony should trust to any of the steamers for the mails. It is not expected that this will be tried. Mining is improving. An important fact has been the discovery of a goldhearing reef, 1340 feet, in the Prince Patrick mine. It is said to yield Sozs. to the ton.

The steamer Somersetshire arrived last nischt. Amongst the passengers are Dr. Ryan, who gained such fame at Plevna, and Mr. Slade, the spiritist and writing medium.

Many buildings are going up, including five large ones in Collins-street alone. A contract of over L 15.000 has been taken for 50 miles of rail.vay between Geelong and Queenscliffe. Tenders will soon be accepted for the G-oulburn Valley line and for the Oakleigh line. Business is dull. Several recent failures have occurred here and in Sydney, At a sale of draught acock yesterday, after the horse show, some purchases were made on New Zealand account. Farmer's Fancy, for whom the second highest price was given, was bought for the New Zealand Land Company for 530 guineas. Mr. M'Kellar secured Prince Bismarck for 400 guineas, and Tremain for 300 guineas. Mr. Terrans bought Young Clode for 305 guineas. The Assembly has decided to abolish the wattle bark duty. Advices from New Guinea state that those who have gone there are in great destitution and misery. No gold has yet been found. The natives generally are friendly, and willing to afford assistance, but- many of the whites have been guilt}' of most disgraceful acts towards the native women. The captain cf the Sappho investigated several oases. He says New Guinea is quite unfit for the habitation of white men, and it is quite impossible that gold dig.;- : "an be carried on there. V : „;v }.' ivturuod to Cooktown, while ii, • y i-._-iii.iiii there in suffering. ' A twenty-one months old colt by Ranting Robin, has been purchased by Mr. Hislop, of Hawkes Bay, for LIOOO, the highest price ever obtained in Australia for a colt of his ago'.'

(i'HU AUSTRALIA, AT AUCKLAND.) Melbourne. Walter German, a trader, is committed for trial for absconding with LI2OO belonging to his creditors in Victoria. In the Legislative Council, Mr. Sladen has given notice to move a new clause in the Reform Bill to reduce the qualification for members to freehold property of the value of L 125, instead of Ll5O. Mr. Anderson has given notice to move that the number of members be forty, and that the Provinces be' increased to eight. Adelaide. Mr. Boucant moves that the land tax be sixpence in the pound. A readjustment of the Custom-duties ensues immediately. The Kapunda Rabbit Preserving Company shipped 42,0001b5. of rabbit flesh by the Cuzco, and sends 61,0001b3. by the Aconcazua. Queensland. Good gold prospects are reported from the Palmer diggings. ' " New Caledonia. The Own Correspondent to Sydney Herald says that the total number of '' victims " known to have been niassacred is close upon one hundred and' thirty. Thirty-two dead bodies of Kanakas.have been, found, everyone of which, died of gunshot wounds. The latest news is that a detachment of infantry surprised the rebels at a village named Ambo, and killed 20. They then burnt the village and a considerable quantity of provisions, etc. In this encounter the second column of soldiers who approached o.u

the other side by night were by mistake fired, upon by their comrades, fortunately without any injurious result. It is reported that the insurgents are becoming hard up for provisions, as must of course be the case ; they having no means of stowing any quantity of food, even if of it. There is nothing from the revolted districts-. Other parts of the island are perfectly quiet, except on the native land at the Poya, north of Bowrail. The weather continues very hot. The settlers look forward to another hard summer if plentiful rains do not soon come. Official information has been received that troops will arrive from France and Cochin China.