AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1739, 16 September 1879, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[By Telegbaph.] (Via Bluff.) Very little o£ consequence has transp s -cd during the week. The weather has been beautifully fine and mild, while rain has been very much wanted all over the country, the rainfall for the year be ; ng still more than six inches below the average. In New South Wales the rainfall has been almost continuous the last fortnight, with heavy floods. Pol-tical events are without much interest. The reform debate drags its slow length along, and it will yet be a considerable time before it reaches the upper chamber. The tariff discussion has also apparently lost much of its interest. T ast Wednesday night the Assembly sat all through the night, and until half-past ten in the morning, a few members being determined not to allow the Govemment to pass the items through rapidly. There were no scenes, but plenty of talk, and in the end the Opposition carried their point, inasmuch as the items were not passed. Mr Berry addressed his constituents at Geelong on Monday night, but failed to enlighten them greatly. He stated his intention of keeping the issue of the Reform Bill before the country, and of speaking from every platform. Some members of the Assembly are getting alarmed at the approaching stoppage of payment of members, which expires with the present Parliament. A caucus was held yesterday, when it was suggested that a Bill be sent up to the Council either to enfore the system permanently or to continue it for a year from the date of the dissolution of the present Assembly. Eventually a committee was appointed to confer with the G-overnment. The ship Amyone, which was scuttled after being on fire, was successfully raised. Captain Irvine, of the Claude Hamilton, has been punished for the recent collision by the suspension of his certificate for two months. Mr Blackwood spoke very highly of Captain Irvine as one of the most trusted officers in the Union Company’s service. The decision of the Board has been a good deal canvassed.

The salmon hatching expelinaent at Brcildoun is proving very successful. The Boardman mystery has been explained. The deceased was found in a right-of-way, robbed, and with his coat put on the wrong way. Now it has transpired from the confession of one of the persons implicated that Boardman died suddenly in the prisoner’s house. They were so frightened that they took the body out, and put it where it was found with the coat as described.

The “Age” commented tho other day on the action now pending between the “ Daily Telegraph” and G-rahnm Berry, and accused the Judges of political bias. An application was made to cite for contempt, but the Court refused it.

Sergeant Sleigh, determined to be early in the field, has entered the lists as candidate for Fitzroy as an independent member. Nearly five hundred laborers have recently been discharged from the railway works, owing to the estimates for this particular expenditure not having passed the House. A faw amount of business has been done, but uncertainty regarding the tariff is causing slackness. Wheat is selling up to Gj 3d.

There is little or no betting on the Melbourne Oup, particularly in the absence of the bookmakers.