LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

West Coast Times, Issue 3581, 24 September 1880, Page 2

LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(via. bluff.)

[ if. C. TIMES' SPECIAL WIRE\I

Melbouone; September 16.

In the Council the Payment of Membei's Bill was read a first time on Tuesday. The second reading is fixed for next week.

The Assembly will issm bonds for half a million at 5 per centum. At the second reading on Tuesday, Mr Herry attributed the necessity or the presen- raeaure, partly to the locking up the trust find under the Inscribed Stock Act, but chiefly because the revenue of the country has been £600,000 short the last two years. On ttie Ist Aujjust last it was £634,000 behind, which was made up by usiag £321,003 of the trust finds and borrowing £312,000 from the banks. . The overdraft will amount to £300,000 ; the losal b()die3 ' require £155,000 arid £-230,000 must be sent,to England, miking nearly £700,000. Mr Service maintained that thi9 added to the borrowed trust fund makes a million to the bad, and protested afainst the bill being passed before the budget statement was made. Mr Berry hinted at very little new taxation to, be proposed and hoped the years.expenditure would be kept within \he revenue.

.. The Premier proposed to make the budget speech on. the 23th and following days a?d then adjourn the House for three weeki for the exhibition. , A bi.l to reduce the salaries of the Governor and Ministe :s i 3 now printe 1. It provides the salary of future governors at £8000 ; Chief Secetary or Premier, £1800 ; Attorney General, £1400; seven other responsible Ministers, £1200 each; total £11,000. It further provides when an office is vacant the salary is not to be drawn.

In the Assembly yesterday, a lively and animated' debate took plies inconsequence of the Argus having recently drawn attention to the appointments of Fiachman, Johnston ministerialist nominees on the Electors Qualification Committee, in an article in which it was said there was never a job they were not ready to cover up The speakers denounced the article as a scandalous breach of privilege. Mr Berry said the article was a gros* libel, and if the House concurred he would deal with the mutter, from any other than poliical point of view. He appealed to both sides of the House to support him. He would not take action unless desired, but left himseifin foe hands of the II mse to decide whether to take Bteps, which would serve as a warning for all time. Mr Service while defending the Argus, stated the papers on both sides were to blame, but severely condemned the lying assertions of the Ago newspaper, which it not wilful, showed culpable ucgligeace. Finally the question dropped alter occupying many hours.

Itisexpect'd the discussion regardiug the plucing of the Speaker's ruling re Lord Norinanhjr's remark oa the Assembly proceeding to business before the opening speech will be posponed.

The Age states that the Government propose to take decided ac ion regarding Mr Service's dismissa s. It says no ui-nece-isafy reappointment will be made but where injustice has been done the same will be remed cd. The case of Parrel, parliamentary librarian, will bo considered on an early date.

•The Totalizator Bill was read a second time by 30 to 27. There is a general di=p isition to limit the operation of the bill to three years, ia order that it mty have a trial

A d-jputation of unemp'oyed waited on Mr Berry yesferday and mot with a very cold reception, lie toll the men they mast not come to the Government but go to the Assembly. He finally declared the Government bad done a'l within its power tint it could not do more aad would refuse to receive any further deputation. Public feeling supports Mr Berry. The general belief ia that many men are preying oa the Gaverarneut wno could find work to do.

Mr Elsden, the new Engiaeer-in-Chiif, and General Manager of the Victorian Railways, receives a sahry of £12OJ. The accountant bra ich is amalgamated, with the Chief Engineer's, thua di pausing with the services of a number of officers. It is intended shortly to amalgamate Hobson's Bay and Spencer St. stations staffs.

The Duke of Manchester is now visiting the Marquis of Normanby at the Government House, where probably he will remain till after the opening of the Exhibition. The Earl and Countess of Eliesmere, son-in-law and daughter of the Marquis of Normanby will arrive in Melbourne in November to visit the Extrb tioa.

The Vicorian Crisketers' Asscciation telegraphed to Murdoch on Saturday the following; — "Association sends hearty congratulations to you and team for splendid up hill fight."

Prospectus issued <*f Victorian Electric Company for supplying electric, machines, motive power ot lighting. Capital £25,000 in shares of one pound each.

The Melbourne Hospital Committee decided that Dr James was quite jus ified in performing the operation on Greer as he considered the case was one of emergency. M- s Greer left Melbourne yesterday per Bangalore. She was the only lady passenger. Return tickets overland, Sydney to Melbourne, from 23rd September to Ist January 5 guineas.

The Cuzco will take Sorata's place in the Orient Line. No interruption will oacur in the regular sailings.

The flod in the Yarra when at its highest was above the highest f or many years. The botanical gardens were injured besides great damage to private property. The flood is now nearly subsided although much ground is still under water. The fljods also erased much damage to the railway at Geelong. The Colac, Queenscliffe,- traffic was completely stopped, while in Melbourne itself omnibusses were unable to travel at South Yarra, Toorac, St. Kildu, Emerald Hill, and Sandridge. .}'.- Lord Loftus, from Sydney, will arrive in Melbourne next week, and will remain until after the opening of the Exhibition. He will probably be accompanied by several .ministers.

Sir Hercules Robin' on, oa Sunday, wag met by a guard of ths permanent force. Several hundred people welcomed him, and he lunched with Ministers at the Executive Chambers yesterday, where he was cordially received.

The Government have notified its intention of withdrawing a further sum of £200,000 from the banka' special deposits. • There will remain £75,000 at credit. Sweetmeat, returning from the races oa Saturday, shied at an omnibus and cut his foot severely, It is now doubtful if he has any chance of winning the Melbourne Cup. At Arundale the dry weather ia severely

felt, and lambs are ..being killed, to save their mothers. A shower fell on Thursday night, but was too brief to bS any good. Tbe^e has, been a. ( plentiful rainfall at various ports, and the drought is coraple'ely broken up.