INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1465, 13 December 1879, Page 10

INTERCOLONIAL.

(Reuter's Special.) Melbourne, December 4th. Arrived : S.s. iiingarooma. December 9th. Mr Berry stated in. the Assembly that the Ministry had recommended the Governor to dissolve Parliament, and that the Marquis of Normanby had accepted the recommendation unconditionally, and will grant a dissolution before Christmas. A large majority of the Upper tiouse are adverse to counsel's opinion that the Government Reform Bill should not besent to the Legislative Council. The Daily Telegraph was nonsuited, the Court of Appeal deciding that a corporation were unable to sue for slander. Sydney, December 9th. No prizes were awarded to New Zealand exhibits at the Cattle Show. Maclean's bull Duke of Newcastle was commended. The trial of the bushrangers has beenadjourned uutil to-morrow. (Special to ±*ress Association.) Sydney, December 4th. Members of the Church of England are taking steps to petition Parliament against the withdrawal of Scato aid from Church schools. Arrived : Rotorua. Sailed : City of New York. December sth. The second reading of the Education Bill was carried in the Assembly by a majority of 40. Four hundred and ten entries have been received for the wool show at the International Exhibition, including 12 from New Zealand. December &th. The trial of the bushrangers is proceeding. The Exhibition Stock Show will be held to-morrow. Sailed : Rotomahana, s.b., on Saturday for New Zealand. Melbourne, December 4th. Godeffroy and Son, of Hamburg and Samoa, contractors for the conveyance of immigrants to Adelaide, have failed - r liabilities, £500,000. Mr Graham Berry hopes to obtain 47 votes on the Reform Bill. It is stated that Mr Munro's re-elec-tion has had a demoralising effect on the Government supporters. His amendment on the Reform Bill, proposing the substitution of a provision resembling the Legislative Council's Bill, is likely to be largely supported. December sth. A lengthy discussion took place in the Assembly on the third reading of the Reform BilL Mr Munrp moved an amendment, which was lost by a majority of four. The House divided on the third reading at 3 o'clock this morning, with 43 in favour and 38 against. The bill was therefore lost in consequence of there not being an absolute majority of the House. December Bth. The Government have consulted 10 counsel to ascertain whether the statutory majority was obtained on Thursday. Messrs Michie, Webb, and Williams have expressed an opinion adverse to the Government. The opinion of the others is unknown. (Special to Press Association.) Melbourne, December sth. In consequence of the vacancy in the Legislative Assembly, caused by the bankruptcy of Dwyer, the Government consider a statutory majority obtainable. The question will be decided on Tuesday next. Mr Berry failed to obtain the necessary statutory majority for the Reform Bill, which is therefore lost. Three Oppositionists were not able to vote. There was a free fight ia the Assembly, the Government having captured a member who had promised to vote with the Opposition. A China telegram states that the season has ended. Colonial shipments of tea are one and three-quarter million pounds short of last season. Thirty per cent, advanced freights from England are advised. The Government are consulting 10 leading barristers as to whether 43 constitute an absolute majority of the House. It is understood Mr Higinbotham has expressed a favourable opinion. Mr Grant Forster, who has been deputed to visit New Zealand by five hundred Lincolnshire farmers, all possessing capital and desirous of emigrating, is a passenger by the Norfolk. The Rev. Mr Berry, whose lectures induced the above, is also a passenger. The legal point on the Reform Bill is referred to the Queen's Counsellors, with Mr Higinbotham as Bar leader. December Bth. It is stated that the Government, as ' the outcome of the recent division, intend to substitute a moderate Reform Bill. The four barristers consulted are known to have expressed opinions. adverse to the Government. The general opinion of the Bar is against the point taken by the Ministry. A cable message states that there has been a substantial rise in iron. Sydney, December Bth. Two sweethearts were drowned in the harbour through the upsetting of a boat. Two men, who were saved, supported the girls for half an hour, in sight of the passengers on the Manly ateamer. Her boat was lowered, but was leaky, and was swamped.

I The bushrangers display great levity at the trial. Brisbane, December sth. A destructive tire occurred here, by which a hotel and six shops were completely destroyed. Adelaide, December otik. Freight is advancing. The harvest everywhere is beyond anticipation, the North yielding 13 bushels to> the acre. The following cable messages, which we take from the Melbourne Argus, have already appeared in our columns in & mutilated form :—: — Nkw York, November 24th. The panic which took place on tke 22acE inst., in consequence of the " bull " operations, which caused a collapse in railway and other securities, has now ended, and the stock markets generally are recovering from the extensive fall caused by the panic. London, November 29th. ■ Mr Gladstone addressed a large meetiug of Liberals at Edinburgh last night, when he made a speech denouncing the financial policy of the Tory party in general, and that of the present Government; in particular, declaring that it was not only reckless but actually dishonest Speaking of the settlement arrived afc by the Treaty of Berlin, Mr Gladstone insisted on the autonomy and emancipation of the Balkans, and warned Europe against allowing Austria to extend and exercise her influence on Turkish territory, where he declared the supremacy o£ the Turks should be maintained! Beklin, November 29fcb. The state of siege declared after the attempt made on the life of the Emperor has been prolonged for one year. Constantinople, November 27th. Advices have been received that the Arnauts, inhabiting the frontier districts between Albania and Montenegro, have cruelly murdered Ghazi Ahmed Mukhtar, the commander-in-chief of the Turkish army in Asia during the late war, at uiinje, a siaiU town co the east of Podgoritza. Ahmed Mukhtar, acting under the Instructions o£ the Porte, had ordered the surrender of the place to Montenegro, in. accordance with the stipulation of the Treaty ..oi Berlin. Thia incensed th» Arnatus, who rose in consequence and murdered the Ghazi.