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Otago Witness, Issue 1489, 29 May 1880, Page 12

Mail News.

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

VICTORIA. The Addresri -in - Eeply to tho Speech wai move.l by Mr SLi-iltf, S'onded by Mr Andrews. Sir John O'Shanassy criticibeel the Addms severely, and declared t,sie> Mioi-try had aoleii uucoßstil,uti»n ivlly in delaying the asiembiing of P*rlifiuumfc. He blamed Mr Berry foe running away, and said he would voto against the Ministerial measure of Eeform. He denied that tho Conwfcitutioualißti were bound to Mr Service. He claimed that one half of the Governnaent elections wore decided by Catholics, yoc they wera merely represented in the Cabinet. He condemned Ministers for not proponing a reduction of taxation. Mr Service, in replying, said tho Reform Bill was adopted after full discussion at a eonl'ereuca which Sir John O'Skanassy was invited to attend, but declined bpcause his views on education were not shared in. He (the speaker) declared that the llaform scheme was also approved of by the country ; and iv reference to the delay iv calling tho House together, he said the custom in tho Colonies was quite different from that at Home. More writs wero issued Übder a statute, and he saw no necessity, thpiefor", for the meeting of Parliament. The Government required some time for the preparation of its measures, and he only took the same time as Mr Gladstone The debate was ■finally adjourned until the 18th. The vacancy iv the Council by the death, of Air N<-il Black ia likely to be filled by Mr i3>m*ou, a former member 11 >pl.i U'g to a question ia tho Assembly, Mr RtMvicn' admitted that itwna undesirable the Colony should be swamped by svit ir,flnx (if ( hiiA-he Übor, but 8 url the question was of ivtfional nnportauco, and coulii not be settled ((I .ai.d. The Government were now colk-ci-ing iut(<raiation on the subjoct. A telegram was lveuvcd from Sir Andrew Clark on the 12rh, announcing his recall t-» India,, and requesting the appointment of (mother Agent-general, who would probably be Colonel Parley, to whom the appointment was ( ff en d.