AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 782, 14 October 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(per s.s. arawata, at the bluff.)

Melbourne, October S.

The Reform Bill has been disposed of so far as the Assembly is concerned. Latterly it was hurried through Committee. Ever. the marginal notes were read. Since the second reading the Opposition have taken no active part in discussion, and some of the more independent of the Government supporters, finding that they cannot carry their amendment, have left" the Bill alone, well knowing that it has no chance of passing in any form.

The Council has passed the Exhibition Bill, but repealed the Legal Profession Amalgamation Bill without much ceremony. The Railway Construction Bill is to be introduced at the end of the session, but not to be discussed. This is probably in view of an early appeal to the country, The loan is not to be floated in London before February next, and the debentures will not bejsent Home till-next month.

I The quarter's revenue returns, just issued, ' shew that the total revenue for the quarter ■was L 1,064,423, showing-sn increase over the corresponding quarter of last year of L 69.219. upon the 12 months ending Sept. 20th, 1878, there was an increase", as compared with the previous 12 months, of L 63,583. Although a surplus is shown in comparison with the corresponding quarter, the amount is made up with the item of L 103.653 derived from the land tax, for which there was not a corresponding item in the quarter of last year. The Customs returns, on the other hand, show a falling off of L 36,000 on all articles of general consumption. The revenue falls short of the estimate, and the returns cannot he considered satisfactory. The question of religious education in schools is again attracting the attention of tne Bishop of Melbourne, who supports a seperate grant to the Catholics, and Bible teaching in schools, not by the clergy but by the schoolmaster. Sir John O'Shannassy's Bill dealing with the subject will probably come on for discussion in the Assembly next week. The Government make it an open question, and probably the Roman Catholic members of the Ministry will support the Bill, as it em3cate3 from the Archiepiscooal palace.

Laborers on the Oakleigh railway have 3truck work because the contractor offered some men 6s, 6d. and others 7s. Intimation was made, and all the men had to knock off. The contractors intend to have a force of police on the ground to protect those men willing to work.

Gerald Supple, after serving eight years in Bentridge, has been released. It is probable that he will soon go to New Zealand, where lie has relations. He is perfectly sane, and expresses hfs soitow for the past. A sad accident occurred at the Hunt Club meeting on Saturday to Mr. Sullivan, a well known amateur rider. He was riding Stormbird in the Corinthian flat race, and the horse ran against a post. Sullivan sustained a compound fracture of one of his arms and a fracture of one .of his legs. The Cup betting is still dull. Trump Card has been scratched, and it is doubtful if Le Loup will stai*t, unless he is got fit in time. Mileta is still first favorite. Business continues dull. The weather is very pleasant.