AUSTRALIAN.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1626, 7 May 1879, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

SYDNEY, May 6. The sentence of death on the Hatfield bushrangers has been commuted. They have received a lengthy term of imprisonment, three of them in irons. Arrangements for tho Australian cricket team are progressing. There is a good market for Now Zealand oats. MELBOURNE, May 6. Major Smith is bettor.

The National Bank declared a dividend of 12£ per centum. The profits were £56,724, for the half-year. Sailed —Albion.

[Yia Bluff.] Melbourne, April 30. There was very little stirring in politics last week.

Ministers proceeded to Laneefield, where Sir Bryan O’Loghlen made a speech more moderate in tone than usual. He said that the reform question would soon be settled, and in a way satisfactory to the Liberal party. Mr Berry in the meantime has telegraphed to his colleagues that he had a final interview with Earl Beaconsfield and bir Michael Hicks-Beaeh, and that he has been advised to submit the reform question to the constituencies, and until that had been done the Imperial Government would do nothing. Mr Berry returns home by the steamer leaving London early in May, and will reach here about June 20th, in time for the meeting of Parliament in July. Four deaths of well-known citizens occurred during the week, namely—Hon. G. W. Cole, R.N., member of the Legislative Council, aged 86 ; the Hon. George Harker, who was Treasurer in the O’Shannossy Ministry of 1859; Mr Monckton Synnott, wool broker ; and Mr H. W. Farrar, merchant. The last named was an old colonist.

By the death of Captain Cole, a vacancy is caused for the Central Province in the Council. Mr Lorimer will probably come forward as a candidate, ;but two or three other names are mentioned.

The Government has resolved to accept the tender of the P. and O. Company for a fortnightly service, and it is not likely that any contract will be made with the Orient ComOompany, as they have not sent in any formal tenders, and the condition that Melbourne shall be the first port of arrival and last of departure will probably not meet their views, as it would cause the loss of the Adelaide trade.

Mr Berry has telegraphed from London that the Imperial Government consented to reduce the postage rates from fourpence to twopence, by which a considerable saving will be made.

On Saturday night a report was received that E. Monk, of Wombat, near Mansefield, who afforded some assistance to the police after the murders near Mansefield, had been shot at, and his horse wounded. Monk says he was returning home, and at a lonely part of the road a man fired at him from behind a bush. Some little doubt has since been cast on this statement, but the matter will probably be fully investigated. Nothing has been heard of the Kellys. On Monday night two men named Lloyd, recently discharged from Beechworth, with other Kelly sympathisers, were drinking in a publichouse at Greta, and skylarking, trying who could hit hardest, when Thomas Lloyd hit John Lloyd a violent blow on the chest which caused his death. There was no malice. The City Corporation decided to expend £2500 in planting the streets of the city with shade trees during the winter. The country is in a fearful state for want of rain, and in many districts domestic wants cannot be supplied. On Tuesday _ evening there was a welcome rainfall, which was pretty general throughout the country, but insufficient to meet the urgent wants of farmers, whoso operations are at a stardstill.

Typhoid fever has been rather prevalent in town and suburbs. The annual meeting of the Chamber oc Commerce was held yesterday. Mr David Moore, the retiring president, delivered ai address. Ho referred to the chamber beirg unrepresented on the Exhibition Oommissioi, condemned the land tax, and advocated a system of immigration. Eeferring to the insatisfactory state of trade, he said it had bon much influenced by other than local causas.

There were many causes for regret and discouragement, but on the other hand many causes for hopefulness and confidence. Mr John Bunn is president for this year. Amussments, notwithstanding dull times, continue to bo well patronised, especially the Opera. Arthur Garner has telegraphed from London that he has got a good comedy company for the Opera House. There is likely to be trouble, as Aarons, of the Academy of Music, believes Garner is engaged to him. An injunction will probably be obtained. J, Wardill has been appointed paid secretary of the - Melbourne Cricket Club, vice Curtis Reid.

The carpenters’ strike in Sydney collapsed mainly through the firmness exhibited by the Premier.

The Exhibition Buildings in Sydney and Melbourne are making great progress. The Tasmanian budget recently submitted shows a deficit of £36,000 on the expenditure for the current year, besides the amount provided for interest on the main line of railway. This will be met by a property tax of 2J per cent. Negotiations will bo opened for the purchase of the main line of railway. At Adelaide, M Duperet, keeper of a wine shop, hag succeeded to a fortune of £300,000 by the death of a relative. The South Australian Parliament meets at the end of the month.

A large number of men are out of employment in Adelaide, owing to the prolonged drought. Last week, a deputation waited on the Minister of Works, who said the Government would find employment when urgent necessity arose. The Prince of Wales informed Mr Berry of his desire to visit Australia, but ho would be unable to be present at the opening of the Melbourne Exhibition. Ho has promised to send a portion of his collection of presents to the Exhibition,