LATER AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1273, 22 April 1876, Page 15

LATER AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Per Albion, at the BhiJ.)

Melbourne, April 10th, , Parliament was prorogued to tho 9th of May. TUo Governor, in his speech, promised that measures would be taken for retrenchment during the brief recess. The revenue returns had shown beyond the estimate, being an increase of £116,000 on the corresponding quarter, and £375,000 on the whole yoar. Over a million was derived from the lands ia rental and sales. A. Loan bill for three millions has been passed, including a sum of £1,300,000 for railway construction, and over half a million for school buildings. Tho Assembly negatived the proposal to expend £300 on the picture of Wilson Gray, the Premier thinking that others had been quite as muoh disinterested as Wilson Gray and obtained no recognition of their services*

The first of the salmon ova at Ercildoun has been hatched, and was doing well. The discharged employe of L. Stevenson and Sons informed the Customs that the firm had been in the habit of pursuing systematic frauds in connection with the Customs entries. A strict search was instigated by the department, and all seemed to be going on well till Friday last, when the firm declined to allow the Customs access to certain private documents. Upon this refusal the Custom officers were placed in charge of the store. Stevenson's people secured a giutf of men and forcibly ejected the officers from tho building. Later in the afternoon the Custom officers again took possession, but ,not without much trouble and some bloodshed. The large store in Flinders Lane was literally besieged by the officers, led by the Collector, who received a nasty wound on the head. The attacking party got in at the rear, and now remain in possession. The affair has caused great excitement, and will lead to further proceedings. The Melbourne Cup this year will be a splendid prize to the winner. Tho Club have brought the added money up to 500 so vs., and ia addition Mr Jan, Black wood, the Chairaau o! the V.R.Q,, gjyea $ goj4

The arrangement made by the Adelaide Government with Bishop Berginon, of the Greek Church, for the introduction of 400,000 statute adults inio the Northern Territory ia considered a good stroke of policy. The immigrants, who are to be of the Greek faith, are to have grants of land at a small rental with tho fee simple at the cud cf ten years. The Bishop himself is to receive 600 acres of land and £1000.