AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1716, 20 August 1879, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Via Bluff.] MELBOURNE, August 14. On Thursday night the Assembly sat until half-past four in the morning. The Government submitted the railway estimates, and a small number of members, who wanted information, erected a stone wall. The Government eventually carried all the votes. Some scenes occurred, when the galleries were cleared of strangers. In one Sir Bryan O'Loghlen challenged Mr Mclntyre, the member for Sandhurst, to come out and fight, but when he cooled down he apologised. The unemployed question has been brought before Parliament, and the present expressed opinion is that some relief should bo afforded, but not at full wages. Meanwhile a large number of the unemployed decline to work for 4s a day, and several cases of imposition have transpired, in which those possessed of ample means endeavored to defraud by passing themselves off as destitute persons. The number of unemployed is now very considerably diminished. Thirteen cows from the best herds in England arrived recently by the ship Old Kensington. They are intended for New~ Zealand,

From a statement made by Mr Berry in the Assembly it would appear that Mr Berry is to appropriate the Agent-Generalship and Sir B. O’Loghlen the Supreme Court Jndgeship. The Ministry wore accused of keeping the places warm, and Mr Berry then said—- “ I think both offices should go to members of the Ministry eventually. Ministers mean to settle the constitutional question, and when that is done they will be fairly entitled to the offices in question.” The amalgamation of the Commercial and European and Australian Banks is now complete. A saving of per cent, on working expanses will be effected. The first of the coffee taverns was opened in Bourke street, is well fitted np, and doing a good business. On Monday a meeting was called in the afternoon at the Athenaeum Hall in opposition to the Ministerial policy. The roughs came down and took almost forcible possession, and the meeting proved a fiasco. The proceedings were disgracefully rowdy, and some considerable damage was done to the Hall.

Good progress is being made with the International Exhibition buildings, and already the cost la beginning to excite alarm. Large promises of support hare been received. The works at the House of Parliament will take £171,000 more to complete. The entries for the Exhibition of the Australian Sheep Breeders Association show a good increase on those of last year. At the annual sale of draught stock bnt very few were sold, and the prices obtained were not up to the average. At the annual municipal elections, held all over the colony yesterday, a novel feature introduced was that a poll was taken as to the desirability or otherwise of increasing the number of licensed houses. The result was in nearly all cases against any measure. This is to a great extent carrying out the permissive principle.

The rain-fall shown for the present year is 6in less than the average of the last two years, and rain is very badly wanted, though the crops are reported to be doing well. The weather has been unusually cold this year. Commercial matters are dull, but some good business has been done, especially in teas and sugars.

Two football matches have been played by electric light, and proved very attractive. j4j many as 12,000 people were present at one match.

[Tia Auckland.] SYDNEY, August 14, The boldness of the Canadian challenge to send Hanlon to Australia to contest a boat race for the sum of £SOO, continues to be the favorite topic in public conversation, and from what hag transpired since the publication of the challenge it appears that there is every prospect of the match being amicably arranged with either Hanlon and Trickett, or Hanlon and Laycock. Hanlon is matched to scull Boss, the New Brunswick champion, on Toronto Bay, in September, and as he hasalready defeated that sculler twice there is reason to believe he will again be snccassful. After that contest Hanlon will be ready to start for Sydney. By telegraph from Bchuca particulars have been received of the arreat of a burglar and incipient bushranger. Several extensive robberies occurred in the locality, and the police followed the suspected party several miles along the river, and pounced on him in a small tent in which a loaded gun, revolver, and stock of ammunition and food were found. Most of the property was stolen. The thief is named Bobert Hamilton, and he is the son of respectable parents at Terricks. Bignold’s Borneo in Melbourne was a lamentable failure. The audience indulged in uncontrollable laughter in the pathetic scenes. Jack Baylass, an aboriginal, has been sentenced to death at Adelaide for blowing out the brains of another native.

The opening of the Exhibition is officially and formally fixed for the 7th of September. Preparations are extremely backward. Only New Zealand, Victoria, and Queensland exhibits are here yet. Grossman, late of Christchurch, and his partner Harding, sued the Hanseatic Insurance Company to recover the amount of a policy for fancy goods destroyed by fire at George street. Defendants pleaded alleged arson and fraud. Thera was a verdict for defendants on the plea of fraud, but not on that of arson. The claim was for £ISOO.