AUSTRALIAN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 658, 9 June 1882, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

[pick reuter’s agency.] Cleared from the Charges. Melbourne, Yesterday.

A select committee of the Legislative Assembly, which was appointed at the request of the Minister for Railways to enquire into charges which have been preferred against him with reference to the Mordialloc and Brighton lines, and the circumstances under which Wm. W, Elston, late Engineer-in-Chief, resigned his appointment, has concluded its sitting. The report, which was laid before the Assembly to-day, completely exonerates Mr Wm. Bent from all charges.

The Irish Address. Melbourne, To-day. Tbe matter of the address to the Irish people, signed by Messrs Longmore, Duffy, Brophy, O’Callaghan, and Toohey, was again under discussion in the Legislative Assembly, last night, when an animated debate took place on a motion, introduced by Mr Francis, expressing disapproval of the address but accepting the assurance of the signers of their loyalty to the Queen, and avowing same on behalf of the whole I louse. After a lengthy discussion and proposal of an amendment by Mr Berry that an address should be sent to Mr Gladstone, approving of his Irish policy, Mr Francis’ motion was carried by 37 to 24 votes.

The s.s. Ranelagh. Sydney, Yesterday.

The A. S. N. Company’s steamer Ranelagh, which went ashore at King’s Reef, near Cardwell, early last monthis reported as having arrived at Cleve, land Bay, on the Queensland coast, and is now coaling. Flourishing.

The report of the New South Wales railway lines shows that the profits for the last year amounted to 5.33 per cent, on capital expended.