AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 778, 9 October 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(PER S.S. TAPwABUA, at the bluff.) Melbourne, October 2. The Loan Bill for live millions passed the Council after a short discussion, and has been assented to by the Governor, and there has been rather a lively time of it in the Ass.-mbly over the Reform Bill. Mr. H. 11. Wiiliams moved an amendment limiting the Bills which are to be passed without consent of the Council to the Appropriation Bill and the ad interim Bill of Supply, the object being to provide that tax, loan, and other money Bills shall be subject to the plebiscitum arrangements of the Ministerial measure. In reply to the Premier, he said that he would not be unwilling ultimately to the limit of the Council to the annual -Appropriation Bill and the Bill imposing taxation for the year, the Assembly to be the judges of what these measures should contain. In that case the Loan Bill. Land Bills, and cognate measures would be removed -'ro.n the category of money Bills. As to the Loan Bill, the Chief Secretary said there will not be the slightest objection to take that out, but Mr. Berry argued that it was necessary, in the first instance, for the Assembly to put forward its extreme claims, because otherwise they could have nothing to give way upon, when they met the Upper House in Conference, or when they went to London. As to the plebiscitum, Mr. Berry says that he does not regard that as an essential feature of the Bill. It is a Conservative concession, put in for the sake of, and to be used by, the Legislative Council, and as he has overwhelming evidence that it will be unacceptable in England, he is not disposed to make its retention a vital question. The amendment was lost by 41 to 20. Mr. Stevens and the Government supporters have obtained two victories in the Supreme Court. After the black Wednesday proceedings, a Judge's warrant was applied for with the view of determining the status of the County Court Judges who had been dismissed and reappointed. The Court refused the summons, as a majority, consisting of Judges Barry and Molesworth, held that the Government could dismiss County Court Judges without cause. The Chief Justice alone dissented, and held that the Government had no power to dismiss County Court Judges except for misbehaviour. After a somewhat stirring debate, the Assembly agreed to purchase Mr. Marshall Wood's statue of the Queen for L3OOO. The Church of England Assembly closed its session, after having passed the Dean of Melbourne's resolution iu favor of Bible teaching in schools. The subject of religious education "has just been brought before the community, owing partly to the remarks of the Bishop of Melbourne in favor of a separate grant to Roman Catholics, and n-irtly to tho Bill introduced by Sir John O'Shannassy, providing that a srant, shall be made to schools. in which it is shown that the prescribed standard of education has been reached, the object being to give separate grants to Catholic schools.

The Eastern Extension Cable; Company do not like the idea of giving up the cable subsidy altogether, and have made a fresh proposal, allowing a reduction of 75 per cent, over their own lines without restriction of combination to Press. This will make the cost of messages 6s 3d per word : but ti>is will be no advantage no the public, unless the nse of cvpher is permitted also. The awkward cable interruptions have prevented the conclusion of the negotiations. A serious mining accident at Ballarat on Saturday resulted in the immediate death of two men and the shocking mutilation of a third. The cage fell with them a distance of 100 feet down the shaft.

Four prisoners escaped from the working gang at Maryborough, and succeeded in reaching timbered country. They have not yet been re-captured. Betting* on the Melbourne Cup is still very dull, the public not seeming inclined to speculate this year. On the strength of his winning the Wagga Gold Cup, Woodlands has come more into favor, but Melita is not yet supplanted. She is well-bred, and a magnificent filly to look at. She is in fine condition, and is being trained by the successful Wilson. At the Royal, Henry V. is drawing crowded houses. Mr. Creswick has apparently lost much of his attraction, and is not doing well. The weather has been pleasant, with a few cold day 3. The country is looking splendid.