AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 3410, 1 September 1885, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(By Telegraph.) (Per steamer at the Bluff.) Mklbopbnk, Auguik 25. The Licensing Bill is making good progress through the Legislative Assembly, though many alterations will probably be made before it is passed. Further communicationa are now passing between the Premier and the Government of I Western Australia, relative to the defence of King George's Sound. Some time ago, the Colonial Secretary of Western Australia wrote to Mr Service urging that the defenceof Albany should be taken jointly by all the colonies. Mr Service replied to the proposal, asking at the same time whether the Home authorities had been communicated with. The Home Government subsequently issued circulars to all the colonies urging the taking of united action for the defence of Albany, and offering to supply armaments free of cost. Mr Service is now corresponding with Western Australia with a view of bringing tho matter under tho consideration of the Federal Council. Considerable sensation has been caused by revelations made before the Lunacy Commission m rcferenco to tho management of the Ararat Asylum. Serious allegations havo been made by a former warder for drunkenness of the warders m chargo. Dr Brierly, late of Beechworth Asylum, gave evidence that since the advent of the Salvation Array there had been a largo increase of cases of religious mania caused by excitement. George Augustus Sala will be a passenger for New Zealand by the Tarawera on September Ist He will be accompanied by 8,. 3. Smytbe, the well-known manager. Mr Murray Smith has telegraphed to tho Premier that the Australian delegates to the Telegraphic Conference at Berlin have had an interview with tho representatives of the various Telegraph Companies relative to the proposed reduction of cable rates. He anticipates there will be no opposition to a reduction m the rates for public telegrams, but matters regarding Press rates ore unsettled. Much would depend on South Australia. The sixpenny telegram has resulted m a great success. During the months of June and July an increase has been reported of nearly thirty-eight per centum m the numbor of messages. Mr Service has received from Mr Griffith a draft of the Federal Accepting Bill, which lias been prepared by him. The Postmaster-General has been for tome time endeavoring to secure a reduction m the cable rates to New Zealand. The New Zealand Government are willing to agree to it, provided the Victorian Government contribute to the cable subsidy. The Victorian Government have expressed their willingness to do this, provided New Zealand will do likewise m regard to the Tasmanian cable. A proclamation m the Gazette announces that Now Caledonia and Fiji are infected, and that vessels from thoee ports are liable to quarantine. In reference to the decline of telegraphic business between Victoria and Now Zealand, it may be stated that the number of messages transmitted from Victoria to Now Zealand m 1882 was 6986, which decreased m 1883 to 6208, and laat year to 6932. During tho same period tho number of telegrams from New Zealand to Victoria decreased 1123.