AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 494, 8 April 1881, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

(By Telegraph) Special to The Mail. Sydney, April 7. Parliament baa been prorogued by proclamation, and without any formal ceremony. News has been received from Noumea that the Marquis De Ray's immigrants who arrived there by the steamer India from Newcaslle,are in a destitute condition. They have shipped for Sydney and are expected to arrive here in a few days. Melbourne, April 7. In the Legislative Assembly last night a mess°ge was received from the.Council, asking that a committee be appointed to consider theßeform Bill. Mr Berry stated that he agreed to the suggestion, and proposed himself, Messrs Longmqre, Mirams* Pearson, 'lucker, Vale, and Grant, (he Leader of the Oppositions, os members of committee. Sir John O'Shanassy. energetically protested against the selection, but upon a ballot being taken it was confirmed. Mr Berry, in the course of debate, staled he could only make.a small concession to the Council: The'titter's committee will consist of Sir Charles Bladen, and Messrs Cuthhert, Hearne, Ueid, Fitzgerald, Balfour, and Macbain. Tho Joint Committee are not expected to succeed in bringing about an understanding on the reform question. From the Lyttelton Times. Melbourne, April 6. Tiie frozen fish received from England by the Lusitania havo arrived in excollencondition. , The following further Exhibition awards have been made to New Zealand exhibitors : —For white pepper, first order of merit—Gregg & Co., Dunedin ; David Strang. Invercargill; and Trent Bros., Christchurch. The same exhibitors take second orders of merit for other exhibits in the same class, and Trent, Bros., of Christchurch, take an additional third order of merit. In the Legislative Council, this evening, a Select Committee was' appointed 16 enquire into and report upon the Bill for the reforms of the Constitution now before the House. ■'-' : His Excellency tbe Marquis of Normanby is recovering from an attack of fever and ague, and to-day is much better.