AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2094, 8 December 1879, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[By Telegraph.]

[Per Arawata, at the Bluff.]

VICTORIA

Speaking at Lanccficld, Mr Berrysaid he declined to abandon any of the leading principles of the Reform Bill, as the “ Age ” insists he should. He stated that with regard to the plebiscite it was necessary to give effect to parliamentary representation, and the form recommended by the “ Age.” The Government have made strenuous and not altogether unsuccessful efforts to win back wavering supporters to their allegiance. There are various rumours respecting the means of placation.

A fierce debate took place in the Assembly over O’Loghleu’s action in giving public telegrams to the Ministerial press only. Mr O’Loghlcn attempted to justify his conduct and said he would continue it as long as the opposition journals were unpatriotic. The Opposition contended that such conduct amounted to naked bribery, and gross political corruption. Mr Berry asserted that Air McCulloch did the same, but this was denied. The estate of the Member for Yilliers and Heytesbury has been compulsorily sequestrated. Jones, secretary to the National Registration Society, and a pronounced Free Trader, stands for the vacancy. A motion for declaring it criminal for any ministry to use the powers of office in order to influence elections was negatived after a warm debate, in which the Government was freely accused of abusing its powers during the recent election contests.

The Government vigorously opposed Mr Gillies’ proposal to refer the Council’s Mining on Private Property Bill to a select committee. The Opposition taunted the Government with not being sincere in their desire to settle the alleged grievance with the Council. The Victorian branch of the British Medical Association, after visiting the new lunatic asylum, where nearly one thousand patients are confined, condemn the institution in sweeping terms. They reported that the internal arrangements would do little credit to a workhouse, the cubic space allotted to the dormitories is insufficient, the ventilation extremely defective, the recreation room is partly filled with beds, and the closet accomodation is totally inadequate. Two patients, owing to overcrowding were compelled to sleep in earth closets. It is alleged that the institution is a disgrace to the community and is certainly not a place where the insane are likely to recover. The medical officers pointed this out,but the Government have taken no action. NEW SOUTH WALES. McElhonc accused a member of the Assembly of offering to use his Parliamentary influence to get a contractor’s offer accepted without calling for tenders. Mr Buchanan intends to move that it is inconsistent to the spirit of the constitution that a liout.-govcriior should be a member of the Upper House. Counsel lias been assigned to the Gundagai bushrangers, excepting Captain Moonlight, who prefers defending himself. The prisoners look haggard and shew no trace of bravado.

Harley’s Bill to enable women to sue for divorce on the ground of adultery only has been read a second time in the Legislative Council. The new coffee palace in Sydney is a great financial success. Part of Chisholm’s property in George street, has been sold in one lot for £160,000. The receipts for the carriage of live stock on the southern line last year were over four hundred per cent, more than the previous year, owing to the Victorian stock tax diverting the live stock trafiic from Melbourne to Sydney.

Mr Parkes, by direction of Lord Loftus, -wrote to Constable Bowen, expressing admiration at tbe way in which the police behaved in the encounter with the bushrangers. It is probable the Government and the public will provide for Bowen’s widow and child. Mr Gordon, High Commissioner for Western Polynesia, has written respecting the Rev. G. Brown, that he considers there is no evidence adduced to enable him to recommend the institution of a criminal prosecution in connection with the New Britain massacre, but the Judicial Commission has taken the matter out of his hands. The war schooner Conflict has burnt a native village, together with crops, at Pentecost Island, as punishment for the murder of seamen belonging to the Agues McDonald schooner. QUEENSLAND. The wreck of the cutter Firefly has been discovered north of Frankland Island. There are no signs of the crew. Blacks were seen in the vicinity. It is intended to establish a coffee tavern in Brisbane. Nearly 3,500 tons of sugar were exported between July and November. The Sydney Refining Company have purchased the principal crops of white sugars from first hands. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. Great apprehension exists lest pleuropneumonia should be introduced by the mode in which cattle arc admitted from Queensland. Strong winds have driven the rod rust out of the crops. The crops in the northern districts are expected to yield twelve or fourteen bushels to the acre. TASMANIA. An extraordinary attempt at murder lias occurred in the Cambridge district. As a lad named Johnson was returning home on Sunday evening he was suddenly attacked by a man armed with a knife, who, knocking him down, knelt on his stomach and commenced to stab the lad, driving the knife through the thick collars of two coats repeatedly. Believing the boy dead he then decamped. Johnson was simply rendered unconscious, and he is not seriously injured. Christophorson, many years Chief

Engineer of water works in Victoria, and more recently director of water worksa“t Hobartown,_has been sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for Ijawning mathematical instruments beonging to that municipality. WESTERN AUSTRALIA. Edward Stone is appointed Attorney General. Locking, Acting - Chief Justice at Gibraltar, probably succeeds Burt.