AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1785, 10 November 1879, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Via Bluff.] There has been nothing but racing heard or talked about during the week. Melbourne has been filled with visitors from other colonies and the country, and the attendance at Flemington has even exceeded former years. The arrangements on tho course aroimproved, and nothing now can be more complete. Fortunately we had fine weather for both Derby and Cup days. Both races have been in the nature of surprise. Suwarrow’s victory in the Derby was as good for the bookmakers as Darriwell’s winning the Cup, for neither were heavily backed. Caspian and Nellie carried the bulk of -the Derby money, while Seoundus, Savanaka, Riverton, Suwarrow. Sweetmeat and Wellington were the principal Cup favorites. Sweetmeat ran second in the fastest time yet recorded in Australia, viz., Smin. 30Jsoc., and Suwarrow third, so that public confidence was not far misplaced, but Savanaka was nowhere. Suwarrow led from the start, and was in front for a mile and three-quarters, when he was overhauled by Darriwell and Sweatmeat. It was a very pretty field, and had -the time boon a couple of seconds slower, a number of horses would have been in the race. Of course there was a good of cheering at a Victorian horse winning, but the bookmakers get the best of the money. It is stated that the attendance yesterday was little short of one hundred thousand. The ladies dresses were not so extensive as usual, but they were in good taste, and otherwise there was nothing to show that this is not a most prosperous colony. On Monday three persons were arrested for gambling, in forming totaiisator companies. On one of the premises the sum of £IOOO was seized. The ease comes on on Monday. There has been an unusual amount of gambling by sweeps, &a., on these races, and one person alone has handled nearly £20,000. A plant collector from the Botanical Gardens will proceed in the Wolverine on a cruise to the South Sea Islands. J. 8. Batters, late lessee of the Victoria Club, is insolvent, with debts of over £SOOO. A testimonial of £250 was presented to Matthew Barrett oh the occasion of his farewell. His missionary labors in the suburbs have been attended with a vast amount of benefit. The sale of Sir Samuel Wilson’s Eroildoun sbesp realised £7757. There are rumors of changes in the Cabinet, but, so far, they are not traced to a solid foundation. It is believed, however, that the dissolution of the Parliament is not far distant. The proceedings in the Assembly lately have been characterised by great disorder and personal feeling. In fact, as one member recently remarked, the Assembly is becoming rapidly demoralised. Some rain has fallen during the week, and the crops are said to be looking splendid in all parts of the country. There is a good deal of business doing in the import markets, particularly in sugars, teas and cornsacks. The Academy of Music has been re-opened, and Miss Dargon is playing an engagement there. The Opera Company play a season of twelve nights before proceeding to New Zealand. Signora Link will leave the company at the close of the Melbourne engagement.