AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1709, 12 August 1879, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Tia Bluff.] BLUFF, Augnstl2. The budget debate in the Assembly was commenced by Mr Service, who saw little in opposition to the new duties, but showed that the Government, since it had been in office, had fallen behind by three hundred and fifty thousand, and also that the Civil Service was more overmans ed now than at any other period of Victorian history. The new tariff is not meeting much favor out of doors, the farmers particularly opposing it, and it iB unlikely to pass. Two ministerial supporters have important notices on the paper affecting the policy of the Government. One of these is to refer the Reform B»il to a select committee, composed of members of both sides of the House the other is that in lieu of the duties proposed, the duties be increased on spirits and tobacco, and a stamp tax be imposed. The unemployed are far from being provided for, and no doubt much distress exists. The Ladies Benevolent Society has relieved not less thau 700 fancies, numbering over 10C0 individuals, during the last fortnight. The public subscriptions continue to come in pretty freely. On Saturday a charity football match realised £lO2 net, and a charity concert at the Town Hall £278.

The Bishop of Melbourne is a supporter of the canal scheme, so long before the public. On Friday night he spoke on the subjeot at a public meeting, and urged a rotation of crops in farming. He offered some very practical suggestions for improving the farming lands on selectors' holdings. It has been stated in Parliament that the pursuit of the Kellys has cost the colony £20,003 for additional protection. Amended statistics which have been issued by the Registrar-General's Department show that the yield of wheat was under estimated in the previous return. The new contract with the P. and Co. Company for a fortnightly service between Ceylon and Melbourne has been signed. The contract is for eight years, and commences in February next. Good progress is being made with the exhibition building, but doubts of its success are entertained if the new protectionist tariff comes into operation. Le Loup still occupies the pride of place in the Cup betting, but there is very little doing. At a meeting of the Victorian Racing Club yesterday, a motion was carried to wai a off the course all persons who have been declared defaulters at Tattersall's. The balance sheet showed that the receipts at the last spring meeting amounted to over £19,000, and that the nett profit was over £7OOO. A very great improvement had been made in the course. Since the tariff was introduced, business has been very dull. Thera is very little abatement in the average attendance at the places of amusement. All continue to be well attended.

The Rev. S. C. Kent has rasigned the charges of the Victoria Parade Congregational Church on personal grounds. The Catholics are fairly up in aid)*, and meetings are being held all over the colony, and resolutions are passed to support no candidate at tho elections who vti'l not pledge himself to support the Catholic cause in regard to the education grant. Much rain is still wanted in the country, tho weather having been too fine.

LATEST FROM THE CAPE. Ths following ruW3 from the Cape haß been received by the Garonne :—The following telegraphic .despatch from Loi J Chelmsford to the Secretary of State for War, dated July 10th, was received by General Clifford, and is publ'ihed by the Cape papers:—"Cetewayo not having complied with my demands by noon yesterday, July 3rd, and having fired heavily on the troops at water, I returned the 114 cattle he had sent in, and ordered a reconna'sance to be made by the mounted force under Colonel Butler. This was effectually made, and caused the Zulu army to advance and show itself. This morn'ng a force under my command, consisting of the 2nd division under Major G/ineral Newidgate, numbering 1870 Europeans and fifty-three Natives, and eight guns, and the flying column under Brigadier-General Wood, numbering 2192 Europeans, 573 Natives, and four guns and two Gatlin guns, passed t! « Umvolosi river at 6 a.m., ana marching in a hollow square, with 1 he ammunition, entrenchnag tools and camp and bearers' company in its centre, reached an excellent position between Nodwc:gio and Ulnndi about hpif-past eight a.m., which place had been observed by Colonel Butler the day before. Our fortified camp on the right bank of the Umvolosi river was left with a garrieon of about 900 Europeans, 250 Natives, aid one Gatling gun, under Colonel Bellair. Soon after half-past seven the Zulu army was seen leaving its bivouacs and advancing on every side. The engagement was shortly after commenced by the mounted men, and by nins o'clock the attack was fully developed. At half-past nine the enemy wavered, and the 17th lancers, followed by the remainder of the mounted men, attacked them, and a general rout ensued. The prisoners stated that Cetewayo was personally in command and had made the ai.aiagements himself, and that he had witnessed the fight from Liweazi kraal, and that twelve regiments took part in it. If so, 20.CCD men attacked u.. It is impossible to estimate with asy correctness the loss of the enemy, owing to the extent of country over which they attacked and retreated, but it could not have been less than 1800 killed. (By noon Ulundi was in flames j and during the day all the military kraals of the Zulu army in the Valley of Umvoloßi were destroyed." At 2 p.m. the return march to the camp of the colun n commenced. The behaviour of of the troops under my command was extremely satisfactory, their steadiness under a oomple'e belt of fire was remarkable, and the dash and enthusiasm of ths mounted branches was also all that could be wished. The fire

of the artillery wu very good. A portion of the Zulu force approaohed our fortified camp, and at one time threatened to attack if The Native contingent of the garrison were tent were sont out after the action and assisted in the pursuit. As I have fully accomplished the o ject for which I advanced, I consider I shall bo now acting best by carrying out S : r Garnet Woseley's imtmotions by remov?ig at once to -Entonf oiiti, and thence toward* Navomaguasa. I shall send back a portion of this force with the empty waggons for supplies, which are now nearly at Fort Marshall." A correspondent of the "Cape Argus," writing from the White Umvolosi on July 4fch, states that after reconnoitring yesterday with, the mounted men, the cavahy and infantry, with ten guns, crossed the Umvolosi and gave battle to a large number of Zulus, who from the surrounding heights had watched their advance, and when the column was well in the open ground about a mile and half from Ulundi, crotsed on all sides and made a most determined apaault. "We fought," says the cjrre»poHuei-t, "in square, with the gum at the coiners. The mounted; men drew on the attack, and then, retiring inside the square, the infantty poured their fire into the advancing enemy. The guns were splendidly served, and repeatedly broke the Zulu attack, the Martini-Henry doing thereat. Once the attack slackened, the Lancers charged thorn in grand style, and, followed by the irregular horse, put the flushing touch to the battle. They pursued the flying enemy everywhere, Wling numbers, until they sought refuge in inaccessible hills. The cavaliy of both columns then burnt Ulundi and all the kraals in the va ll ey, and at half-past four the whole column hai returned to our camp, after as successful a day as we have had in South Africa. Seven hundred men were left in camp to defend it, and Lord Chelmsford in person conducted the advance upon Ulundi and fought the battle. Our loss is inconsiderable, about fifteen killed and thiity wounded, but I cannot speak from official information. The enemy's force could not have been less than 20,000, and their loss was very heavy.