AUSTRALIAN NEWS. (Per 8.8. Tararua, at the Bluff.) Bluff, March 24th.

Otago Witness, Issue 1480, 27 March 1880, Page 13

AUSTRALIAN NEWS. (Per 8.8. Tararua, at the Bluff.) Bluff, March 24th.

VICTORIA.

The action of the Government in not meeting Parliament until May 11th is condemned as unconstitutional by the anti-Ministerial Press. It is contended on the other hand that it is useless to meet before measures are prepared. It is probable that the payment of mombers question will be the first difficulty to be solved. It is at present difficult to determine in what form or to what extent payment will be continued. Efforts were made to oppose several Ministers, but the attempts failed, all being re-olected unopposed excepting Mr Cuthbert, who is certain to be returned, The Government authorised Major Sargood, an old Volunteer officer, intimately acquainted with the Victorian defences, to give evidence beCoie the Imperial Royal Commission on National Defences. The Land Tax Courts are to be reorganised, and it is probable the business will be transferred to the County Court Judges. A Royal Commission, comprising the Chief Justice, other judges, and eminent barristers, lias been appointed to frame a new Judicature Bill similar to the English measure. It has been resolved to establish a company in Melbourne to export every description of food suitable for human consumption which requires to be frozen prior to its transit. The Chief Harbourmaster advises the Government that there is no necessity for the Australian Colonies to search the Crozets for the survivors of the Knowsley Hall, as the Comus has been ordered there. If a provision depot were established it is probable that sealers would carry off the provisions. The islands might be visited periodically by men-of-war from the Cape station. Mr John Gavan Duffy, Minister of Lands, states that the Government measures will be conceived in such a spirit of moderation and conciliation that if the Council rejects them it will render the House obnoxious to the whole community. There is little doubt but that Alexander Young, the Liberal member for Grenville, will bo unseated, as he was a Government contractor at the date of the election. The seat will then go to a Conservative. The foundation-stone of the new Anglican Cathedral, Melbourne, was laid on April 13th. America requires 70,000 feet of space at the Exhibition. If this is granted, it will be necessary to erect a fresh building. The Minister of Education is energetically endeavouring to include gutter children under the Act. Mr David Syme, proprietor of the Age, has commenced a libel action against the Melbourne Punch, damages being laid at £5000.

NEW SOUTH WALES.

The Metropolitan Water and Sewage Bill has nearly passed through the Assembly on its second reading. The Education Bill has passed the Council. The associated colliery masters at Newcastle resolved on April 12th to reduce tho price of coal, and also to reduce miners' wages 3s Gd per ton. It is impossible to tell at present what the outcome of the measure will be, the miners not having spoken. The following is the captain's story about the Chandernagore expedition. Thejve«sel was fitted out at the expense of the Marquis Do Ra3~s in France. It was originally intended that the expedition should sail from Havre, but the French Government objected; ultimately 82 immigrants embarked from Dutch territory, sailing on September 14th. They took an enormous amount of machinery for distillery purposes and sugar refinery, and an incubating machine; also stores sufficient for 12 montliF. The person in charge was an American named M'Lauglilin. The expedition split up into two parties. One, 17 in number, landed on tho island of Gauglin, 240 milles from New Ireland. While lying at Lild Liki Bay, Ne-.v Ireland, a succession of storms arose, and having lc-t all her anchors, the ship was forced to come to Sydney. In addition to the Chandernagore, two steaineis are coming out, one called the Port Breton, 1250 tons, which sailed from Barcelona on 20th January, with 750 Spaniards ; and a small htcamer of about 350 tons, called the Gerrill, follows shortly afterwards, also from Bprcelona, Triekett telegraphed Hanlan to meet him in England in July. If the reply is satisfactory, Triekett will leave Sydney by the next Suez mail.

QUEENSLAND. The steamer Agnes was totally wrecked on the Marschie bar. She grounded while crowing the bar, and was driven on the beach. She is insured in the New Zealand, South British, and Transatlantic offices— in tho latter chiefly.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

There is some prospect of the Government proposing to undertake the construction of the railway from Palmerston to the reefs in tho Northern Territory. The chief Warden of the territory urges them to call tenders for a transcontinental line, paying' by means of land grants. It is probable that the Colonial postal rates will be reduced.

Tho Esv. Father O'Malley-, 8. J., on a recenft Sunday mude an appeal to tho congregation of Sfc. Joseph's to add to the funds for the erection of the cathedral. He said he took the opportunity of doing ko in the absence if the Bishop, who, out of delicacy, was loth to approach tho subject. He hoped that any arrangements which might be made would be taken part; in by the congregation, »ud that !}bey would contribute generously,