AUSTRALIAN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 318, 13 April 1881, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

[per rbutbr’s agency.] Further Awards. Melbourne, April 12. The Exhibition jury have recommended Messrs Swallow and Ariel for the Emperor of Germany’s prize. The following awards have been announced: —Messrs Schwartz and Co., Christchurch and Wanganui, one fourth and three fifth orders of merit; and James Smith, Nelson, fourth and fifth order of merit, for wines ; Joseph Soler, Wanganui, fifth order of merit, for wines. Couldn’t Agree.

The Conference of the committees of the Legislative Council and the Assembly broke up to day without coming to any agreement, such being found impossible. Melbourne, To-day. Before the breaking up of the Conference of the Committees of the two Houses on the Reform Bill, yesterday, an acrimonious debate took place. Mr Berry insisted upon maintaining the Assembly’s terms, and Sir Charles Sladen said the Council’s ultimatum had only bgen come to after a long deliberation, and any departure from

the same was not likely to take plaqe, npw. He denied that the.‘Councilwould have accepted Mr Service’s Reform Bijl. In the Assembly last night, Mr Berry made a statement concerning the Reform Conference. He said that after three sittings it had failed to bring about an.:understanding between the two Houses. The proceedings would be printed, and would show that the Assembly had been justified in the course it had followed. He added that it was still open to the Council to give the Reform Bill further consideration during the ensuing fortnight’s adjournment. Mr Murray Smith said he was satisfied in maintaining that liberal concessions should be made to the Council.

Naval Demonstration. Sydney, April 12. A grand naval review of the Auslratralian Squadron, under the command of Commodore Wilson, took place at Port Jackson to-day. The forces engaged included ten warships, carrying fifty guns, and 1,500 men, including 300 men of the New South Wales Naval Brigade. The review was followed by a sham fight, in which H.M.S. Wolverine, Emerald, Miranda, and Cormorant made a combined attack upon a point south of Farm Cove, known as Lady Macquarfie’s Chair, which was defended by a force of 400 men, with eleven pieces of artillery and three Gatling guns, under the protection of earthworks, which had been thrown up. The defenders of Lady Macquarrie’s Chair were supported by her Majesty’s ship Alert and the schooners Alacrity, Beagle, Conflict, Reward, and Sandfly. Large crowds assembled to witness the manoeuvres. The demonstration was a complete success, and passed off with great eclat. Dovm Again. Sydney, To-day.

The Wallsend Company, Newcastle, have reduced its price to seven shillings per ton for best coal. Silver. Samples of Boorok silver ore have have been assayed in London with satisfactory results. The news has caused some excitement in this colony. The Transcontinental Railway. Brisbane, To-day. Mr MTlwraith, Premier, telegraphs from London that he believes that he will be able to come to terms regarding the transcontinental railway within a week on a basis of Lio,ooo for Western, and Li 2,000 for Gulf Land per mile. Proved by his Foes.

Mr-MTlwraith reports, regarding the Steel Rails Committee, that he has called no witnesses, as he is satisfied his case has been proved by his adversaries. He sails next week on his return voyage to Queensland.