AUSTRALIAN NOTES.

Evening Star, Issue 4150, 15 June 1876, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN NOTES.

Victoria. The Victorian Government are busily engaged in the preparation of measures to be submitted during the coming session, including an Electoral <■<eform Bill, an Amending Education Bill, and a sceme for retrenchment in the Civil Service. At a meeting at Penshurst, thei, Hon. J. Jones, Minister of

Railways, stated that the Government were determined to submit a proposal for lowering Customs duties, and otherwise removing the burden of taxation from the laboring to the wealthier classes. They would also submit a scheme for the extension of the system of light railways. They would bo unabla to accede to a large number of applications for railways, but would select the lines most likely to yield the largest amount of traffic. Ho avowed himself in favor of the gradual reduction of protective duties, or would be prepared to support a proposal to buy the protected industries out, as had been done m New Zealand.

It is proposed to lower the rates charged nnd r the present telegraph tariffs, and to establish a second line with Europe. It has transpired that when the case against Mr ’ eorge Stevenson was heard at the Police Court, out of the nine Magistrates on the Bench, four were for a conviction, and five for acquittal, the Bench being divided as follows: For a conviction: Messrs Call, P.M., M. L. King, Plummer, and Marks. Against: Messrs b'oy, Finlay, Cohen, G. Nicholson, and Clark. An application on behalf of Mr Stevenson, for a return of the goods seized, has been refused, on the ground that the application should have been made within a month of the seizure.

A second crashing of auriferous quartz from the Oriental claim at Stawell, at a depth of 1,060 ft, yielded at the rate of soz 7dwts per ton. The quantity crushed was twentyfour tons. The lode was it creasing in thickness.

. . SvDN'EV. A Chinese giant, 7ft 11 in in height, has arriAed from Hong Kong by the Singapore. A lively discussion took place in the Assembly on the evening of the 31st May on the volunteer estimates. The Government stated its intention to deal with the question of the defence of the Colony next session, but did not indicate whether by re-organisa-tion of the Volunteer force, enlargment of the permanent force, or establishing a militia.

The French Consul has stated that in the event of a second cable being laid via San Francisco, New Caledonia will guarantee the minimum of interest.

Brisbane. Mr Macalister, the Premier, has resigned, and the Governor has sent for Mr George Thom to form a Ministry. A man named Page has died at Maryborough through drinking a bottle of brandy at one draught.

Adelaide. The Government have given a favorable reply to a deputation of manufacturers, asking that orders for Government plant and material may be offered in t e Colony. Mr Ralph Otto, recently from the South American diamond fields, thinks that diamonds are likely to be found in South Australia.

The last census shows the population of the city to be 31,573 persons, being an increase during the last five years of over 4,000.

in the case of Downer v. King for libel the defendant was discharged on the ground of an implied written understanding that, if he gave up the names of the writers of the arti cles in the ‘Advertiser,’ he would not bo prosecuted.

Six ship-loads of immigrants are now on the way to Adelaide.

. * Poet Daewin. A yield of I.OOOoz of gold is expected from the Bismarck Extended Claim. _ Launceston*. The smelting furnace at the British aud Tasmanian Charcoal Iron Company s works at Weak Tamar is now in full operation. The first cast on Monday, 29th May, yielded sixteen tons of very fine metal.

MISCELLANEOUS

It is proposed to op u in New South Wales during the present year 137 miles of railway lines. A man unknown was found on the Ashfield railway line, Now outh Wales, the other day, with his neok broken. He is Supposed to have been ran over by the midnight train. James Trevarrow was sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment and three floggings of fifty lashes each, by Judge Fellows, at the Criminal Court, for attempting to commit a capital assault on a little girl under twelve years.

• A paragraph in a country paper lately stated that a brother of Jenny Lind, tho Swedish nightingale, U co-.k at an hotel in Avenel, Victoria. At the same hotel, as boots, is a man who was a short time aco wo.th L 50,000 6

Mr W. J. Clarke, of Sunbury, is the only landed proprietor in Victoria who has pro vided a private cricket-ground, and invited metropolitan clubs to play upon it. The postal card System, which has been *o successful in New South Wales and Victoria, is about to be (introduced into South Australia.

• An t-ish orator info med his audience that ‘ all having been said that dffuM be said; he gtftf scy the rest. ’’. .. tap EaflDo&id when he dodg’ed tho dictionary »t him.