AUSTRALIAN NEWS. VICTORIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1486, 8 May 1880, Page 11

AUSTRALIAN NEWS. VICTORIA.

The olauseu of the Reform Bill have been finally adopted by the Cabinet, who are only waiting the completion of certain minor details. A deputation of the unemployed waited on the Hon. J. Service and Mr Bent on the 23rd ult , when the men behaved in a highly offensive manner, and demanded to be provided with suitable and remunerative employment, not with stonabreaking, whioh they declared wa3 disgraceful to speak of; they could get stonebreaking without Government aid, by going to prison. Much more to the came effect was said. The interview lasted threo hours. Finally Mr Service, who showed great dignity tiroughout, seat for a hundred railway- paas«s to enable the men to ga to the place where stonebreaking wan required, but only a dozen applied ; and at the end of two days only 19 cjnsented to work at stonebreaking.

The Commissioner of Public Works declined to pay a claim of L 464, being the balance of an account for improving the ventilation of tbe Legislative Chamber. Work was done to the extent of nearly L 2500, by order of Mr John Woods, a member of the late Government, to a large extent without authority of Mr Patterson, who refused to pass the acjounts The Argus, commenting on the new freezing company, expresses surprise th*vt a larger amount has not been already subscribed. Diphtheria ia prevalent, in the vicinity of Belfast, and has also appeared at Sandhurst. Reports have been received that it has appeared in other districts. The Boards of Health are taking strenuous measures to prevent the disease spreading. Measles has also appeared in the suburbs of Melbourne. The Chief Secretary unveiled, on the 21st of April, the monument at Mauefield in memory of Sergeant Kennedy and Constables Lonagan and Scanlan, murdered by the Kelly gang last October 12 months.

The Argua discredits the reports that the Rev. Charles Clarke, lecturer, has joined the Romish Church. The Government Gazette notifies that the Act requiring Civil servants who componnd with their creditors, or become bankrupt, to resign -will be rigidly enforced beuc-jforth. A deputation waited on the Premier, asking Government co-operation in sending a competitive team of Victorian ploughmen to England. The Hon. J. Service approvr dof the idea. If the movement were heartily supported, the Government might countenance the affair, but owing to the position of the Colony's finances, he could not promise assistance in money.

The Chief Secretary has intimated that the Indian Government will purchase neatly a thousand horses for army purposes next year. The hundred yards swimming match for the championship of Australia and LIOO was drfcid«d at St. Kilda on Saturday. M'lndoe beat Kitz easily. A further deputation of the " unemploysd " waited on the Hon. J. Service yesterday urging that the Government BhoHld adopt tbe Northwestern canal scheme, with a view to find work for the unemployed. Mr Service gave little hope of compliance, no competent engineer believing the scheme practicable. One of the deputation declared a revolution necessary in order to remedy the land monopoly. Mr Service intimated that owing to the financial condition of the Colony the Ministry will refuse all applications for promotion in the Civil Service next year. The Government are found to rank as creditors to the extent of L4OOO ia the estate of the Provincial and Suburban Bank, the Railway Department having accepted a deposit receipt from the Bank on account of a contractor for the Oakleigh line. The accounts of the Juvenile Exhibition show a deficit of L4OO. The prizes are about to be distributed.