THE VICTOEIAN COALFIELDS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8557, 27 July 1889, Page 2

THE VICTOEIAN COALFIELDS.

Melbourne, July 2G. {Received July 26, «t 1.30 p.m.) The Government have been taken completely by surprise at Sir J. Hector replying that he has nothing further to report on the Victorian coalfields. They assert that they were given distinctly to understand that the first report was merely a preliminary one. NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION. The Victorian Commissioners are encouraging manufacturers and others to send in applications for space at the Dunedin Exhibition. A POLITICAL CRISIS. ' Stdnhy, July 2(1. (Received July 26, at 11.45 a.m.) A constitutional crisis lias arisen owing to the Council amending the Payment of Members Bill in tho direction of making it apply only to succeeding Parliaments and not to the present, It is declared that the Council had no right to amend a money bill, and Sir H. Parkes moved that the bill be set aside to permit the passing of another bill asserting the rights of the Assembly. A hot debate followed, in the course of the Council came in for severe criticism, and Mr Dibbs said the Opposition would assist Government to the utmost. The motion was carried, and Sir Henry Parkes then gave notice of motion to suspend the Standing Orders in order to pass the bill through all its stages in one day. He also announced that he would introduce a bill next week to reform the Council cm the. basis of popular election, (Heoeived July 27, at 1 a.m.) The President of the Legislative Council has drawn up a memorandum in connection with the amendment made to the Payment of Members Bill, in which he decides that the amendment will not violate the Constitution, as it will not lead to the appropriation of public revenue on the imposition of taxation. NEW ZEALAND CREDIT. (Kocelyed July 28, at 1.30 p.m.) Referring to the New Zealand conversion loan the Sydney Morning Herald, doubts whether it is wise of New Zealand to renew the debt at 3£ per cent., because the effect will be to increase the capital amount of the debt, whioh is already very large. Tho Herald thinks the credit of the oolony not yet sufficiently good to justify a hope that the loan will go off except at considerable discount, THE WHEAT CHOP. Fully one-third less area of wheat than last year has been sown in the Albury district. . THE COLONIST MURDER, (Deceived July 26, at JQ.45 p m) . Evidence as to the sanity bf the man Weaver, who shot Captain Greenless, of the schooner Colonist, at Havanna Harbour, is being taken before a special commission, and will be forwarded to Fiji, where the man is in custody. ■ •

' THE GLEBE DISASTER. j At the inquest into the accident at the • Glebe pit the jury found that it was due to the weakness of the pillars supporting the ; roof. The jury added a rider censuring j Sharp, the overman, for not calling the men i out when falls from the roof were first! reported. ! INCREASED REPEESENTATION. j Brisbane, July 26. j (Received July 28, at 1.30 p.m.) I Parliament has agreed to an increase of representation on the basis arrived at by the . Federal Council. I