Australian.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2064, 16 August 1875, Page 2

Australian.

MELBOURNE,

August 7. On Monday last it became generally rumoured that the Governor was unwilling to grant the Kerferd Ministry a dissolution, and that no alternative remained to them but that of resigning, and on the following day the Premier read to the Assembly a minute addressed by the Ministry to the Governor, asking, for a dissolution on several grounds, viz., that the House was not at unity with itself, that there was ho chance of carrying the financial proposals, and lastly expressing an opinion that the country favored the remission of duties, and would return a majority in favor of the Ministry. To this Governor Stawell replied that the voice of the country had been so far in favor of the retention and not the remission of duties, and that "we think there is not sufficient evidence of the Ministry obtaining a majority in the country, therefore the Kerferd Mm istry have resigned, and the Governor has sent for Mr Graham Berry, who at once undertook the formation of a Ministry, but experienced great difficulty owing to his inability to obtain law officers, and tho Governor declined to accept them without an Attorney-Gene-ral." Up to a late hour last night the void had not been filled. Several legal gentlemen were appealed to in vain. The following is a list of the new Ministry:— Mr Berry, Premier and Treasurer ; Mr Longmore, Lands; Mr Grant, Minister of Justice; Mr Patterson, Public Works, Labour, and Customs House Minister; Mr Monro, Minister of Education; Mr Wood, Minister of Railways; Mr W. C. Smith, Minister of Mines. It is essentially a revolutionist Ministry, and is composed of the weakest material in the House. How long it will stand remains to be seen, but it lacks the confidence of the public out of doors. The political fever has bees strong during the week, and now all the work of the session will , be lost.

The B.M.S. Mikado arrived at California on the 3rd inst., five days before contract time. Sho is awaiting the mail. Dr Thornton, Bishop of Ballarat, has arrived, and thanksgiving services were held yesterday. The O'Connell Centenary was celebrated by a banquet on Thursday night in the town hall. * There were 500 present. Sir J. O'Shanassy was chairman. There was an immense concert ot Irish national music last night, and there is a procession with sports to-day. A telegram was sent to Dublin stating the success. Arrangements are in progress a visit of another English elevei in the season of 1876-7.

The Exhibition entries closed with 950, covering 37,500 feet of space.

A foul and cold-blooded murder has been committed at Mount Gambier of a young girl not twenty years of age by a imin named Page, with whom she keg.t cdmpany ; • He strangled her one Sunday night during church hours, and buried her. body in a paddock two feet deep. ;Page has bjeen committed for trial on the charge. ■''"'; ' , t -'x ■J. M. Ashtoh , connected with meat preserving, has called a meeting of his creditors ;'liabilities about £15,000. "Asb> ton i« reported to be missing. Tho weather continues very unsettled. There has been more rain this year than on any previous one.