AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1959, 16 August 1869, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By the Harbor Steamship Company’s new steamer, the Maori, we have Melbourne dates to the 7th instant.- We make the following extracts ;

The Victorian Parliament has been troubled with another case of “ privilege.” Mr E. Cope has brought the question, under the following circumstances, before the House. He had been offered by a lawyer’s clerk, as a witness in the Insolvent Court, the sum of 10s, which he “ indignantly refused.” He was entitled to one guinea, and was offered 10s. Mr Cope considered tnat, as a member of Parliament, ho was entitled to be considered a gentleman, and, as a gentleman was entitled to a fee of one guinea for his attendance as a witness. Anjal the tender of ten shillings was equivalent to saying that he was no gentleman, and to say this to a member of the “ ’Ouse,” as Mr Cope calls it, was a breach of privilege. It is neeless to say the “’Ouse” was thrilled by the disclosure, —not a member present but seemed moved by it. Unhappily, the press treated the matter in a light unpleasant to Mr Cope, for the next night he moved the exclusion of the reporters, which was done. There has been found in a creek on Perry’s Station, in the neighbourhood of Armidale, a diamond weighing 7oz 18dwt. The stone, it is added, is on its way to Sydney under police escort. The heaviest diamond in the world, the Braganza, weighs 1,180 carats, or about l-.'oz, but doubts are thrown upon its being a diamond at all. The Orloff weighs 194J-carats, the Regent or Pitt diamond, 136f ; the Florentine Brilliant, 139 A ; and the Koh-i-noor, 10G 1-16 carats. Consequently New South Wales has given to the world the weightiest diamond, with one exception that has ever been discovered, amounting to something like 1,100 carats.

The proceedings in the Legislative Council, on Wednesday afternoon, were enlivened by a scone, of a character which is very unusual in that Chamber. Mr O’Shanassy took offence at a personal allusion made by Mr Murphy, when the House was in committee on the Local Government Bill, and replied with a degree of acerbity which subjected him to a running commentary from the hon, member during the remainder of his speech. The Chairman was appealed to without avail, and Mr O’Shanassy at length told the hon. member that he was beneath contempt, and that he did in the House what he dare not do out of it. On resuming his seat, Mr O’Shanassy, whose last remak elicited a railing cheer from Mr Murphy, moved up to the hon. member, and whispered in his ear, “ 111 punch your head, you b——.” Mr Murphy at once complained to the Committee that he had been threatened with personal violence, and the Chairman would have reported the matter to the President, had not the hon. mem. ber subsequently withdrawn the complaint, no doubt feeling that he had

given some provocation. During the discussion which followed this little episode, the belligerents, who sat next each other, wore anything but a friendly aspect, and Mr Fraser thought it necessary for a time to sit between them to prevent open hostilities. The Sydney Gas Company have reduced their price to 8s Gd per 1000 feet. The importation to this Colony of draught stock of a very high order still continues, and in addition to the three Clydesdale entires brought by the Clanranald last week, four more anived in the Lanarkshire, on Monday, from London. These last have been imported by Mr D. Nisbet, who is considered one of the best judges of draught stock in Victoria, and an inspection of the horses just con.e in the Lanarkshire will confirm this opinion. They comprise two two - year - olds, named Duncan Gray and Young Lord Clyde; one three-year old, the Marquis of Ailsa; and one four-year old, Young Sir Walter Scott. The progeniture of each is unexceptionable, and the animals, judging from their condition and symmetry, are certainly a credit to their ancestry. The accommodation for the horses on deck was erected under the inspection of Mr Nisbet, who has before now brought out Clydesdale entires in the same ship. Referring to the mail service, Mr Vei’don writes to say that he had very little to add to previous communications respecting a mail service via the Cape of Good Hojxe. The National Steamship Company have intimated their intention of making an experimental voyage. Mr W. B, Macalister, the general manager of the company, communicated the following day with Mr Verdon, asking for an interview on behalf of some of the directors. He adds—“ With reference to my letter of yesterday, I may further mention that the vessel we intend sending on an experimental voyage to Melbourne is the Queen steamship of 3,500 tons, which made the run from Bombay to Portsmouth, on Government service, in forty-five days, steaming time. The probable date of despatching her hence will be the sth September, and our dirtetors would be glad to know what number of Government emigrants would be shipped by the Queen sailing then.”

“ My dear,” said a rural wife to her husband on his return from town, “what was the sweetest thing you saw in bonnets in the city ?” “ The ladies’ faces, my love.”