AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2467, 12 January 1871, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

There is every indication of a plethora of candidates at the next general election, and it is very difficult for the most acute politician to foresee what will be the complexion of the new Asseubly. There are not many questions coming to the front.' One of these will be public instruction. The Government has already put forth its measure. Its leading principle may be summed up in a Very few words : It ia secidm 1 education made coni* pulsory. The next question is imiiiigration } but this is likely to be kept iu the background, from an unwillingness on the part of the Government to arouse the opposition of the working-classes, who are mostly averse to assisted immigration. Our Colony is just in the midst of harvesting, whilst our neighbor on either side have nearly or quite concluded that annual task. It is impossible at present to estimate even widely our. average or aggregate yield. It Will be remembered that early in the season onr crops suffered severely from an excess of moisture. All our richest lands—tho alluvial Hats on the margins of watercourses—were flooded ou several occasions, and the crops completely destroyed. Thy area sown was thus greatly reduced, but asf adverse weather also prevented a large proportion of the land intended for cereals being ploughed in proper season, the total area must be greatly below that of the previous year. Of the results of the harvest little that is favor* able can be said. Crops of rare excellence will be garnered in some spots; but reports of damage by rust and caterpillar are too rife to warrant favorable anticipations with regard to the general remit, Soivjjh AqqJ traila will have a large surplus of tyheat for fexjoott,' but 5 7 ibtoria is hot likely to have abjf to spare.

The past month’s racing' comprises the meetings at Ballarat, Smythesdalc, and Talbot ; and there have been peculiarities connected with each that have rendered the running of several horses very mysterious. At Ballarat the now notorious Sutton 11.-.mli-cap furnished a sensation. Blondm, a horse formerly the property of Air Fisher, which was supposed to be quite .amiss, commg to life again at the last moment, and to the surprise of everyone but the few knowing ones, winning the race with ease the stable netting a nice round sum by the cleveily concocted couj>, . ofl .. The shooting season opened on the -l»tn. Quail are scarce, but ducks are very plentiful and great numbers have been brought to market. In Tasmania there has been some excitement over the trout fishing, one -au y of Gib weight having been taken in the Deiwent by a Victorian fisherman, ilie season for bream fishing in this Colony has been one of the best ever known, the Saltwater Bner is now swarming with bream. _ “HMes,” in tbe Australasian, writes “The hymeneal epidemic is raging fiercely. It spares neither age nor sex, and the doctors can’t stop it—even if they would. In fact, they are believed to be aiding and abetting. The mature and matronly widow of some 70 summers succumbs as readily and gracefully as sweet 17. The engagements of years and those of weeks appear to have fallen due coineidently in December, 1870, and—probably from the scarcity of wedding-rings and the clergy being overworked—the arrears will run into the New Year. They tell me that the courage of the young ladies of Melbourne is unquestionable, for, regardless of the contagiousness of the affection, a whole churchfull of them upon an occasion of especial interest last week fearlessly ran all risks, and openly defied the consequences, •The past week will he memorable in time to come for tho first contest on land and water between the Universities of Melbourne and Sydney. Melbourne won both events, the boat race very easily, but the cricket match was a very interesting and good match, having been won at last by two wickets. The first innings on each side was very close, Sydney scoring 109 and Mebourne 107. Sydney then got 127, which Melbourne contrived to get, owing chiefly to tho brilliant hitting of Goldsmith, and the good defence and hitting also of K A’Beckett, who scored 42, not out. This gentleman played in the second Inter olomal Match at Sydney, about 15 years ago, and to his steady play may Melbourne s victory he principally attributed ; although, had an eaiv chance at point which he gave early in bis innings been takeh, it was any odds almost on “the boot being on the other leg. Hewitt, the English pedestrian, has been runnin" at Creswick, where he won the chief event, the style in which he performed giving much satisfaction.