AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1856, 3 February 1880, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[By Tblegbaph.] [Via Bluff.] VIOTOEIA. The Victorian Opposition and party consider it useless to further criticise the debates on the acts of the Government. Consequently no obstacle will be put in the way of a prorogation on February 4th or sth, and an almost immediate dissolution. An angry spirit prevails in the House, but the leaders will probably restrain their supporters from initiating useless discussions. Both sides ate actively organising the elections. Almost every constituency will be keenly contested. The constitutionalists appear mere sanguine than the Government party.

During the discussion on the embassy vote, on January 22nd, the Attorney-General called attention to the presence of strangers. The Opposition resented the exclusion of the pree.a, and Mr Mclntyre member for Sandhurst, interjected a reply to Mr Ferguson, member for South Bourke, who had recently dyed his beard and whiskers, "We will give you a wig, man, to match your whiskers." The taunt inturiated Mr Ferguson, who strode to the table and endeavored to wrench off the wooden stand from the mace. Failing this, he seized a volume of " Hansard " with both hands, and struck a blow edgeways at Mr Mclntyre, who, seizing his wrists, caused the blow to fall upon Mr Bent, who had rushed forward to prevent the encoun- , ter. Mr Mclntyre overpowered Mr Ferguson who was seized by several member!. i ; He struggled very desparately, crying out " Let me at him." But he was ; held till he grew quiet. The Chairman of Committees reported to the Speaker the case as one of gross disorder, and the Speaker intimated that he insisted on exemplary punishment if officially informed of the details of the disturbance. Mr Mclntyre pleaded for the lenient treatment of Mr Ferguson, and the House agreed that the matter should not be reported to the Speaker, whereupon Mr Ferguson apologised. The outrage was keenly felt on both sides of the House, and the lenient treatment was resented by many citizens. The colony of Western Australia have not yet adopted the Victorian proposal that a uniform postage rate of 61 per half ounce letter should be adopted for all letters sant to England via Brindisi. Tasmania and New South Wales definitely declined the proposal, whilst New Zealand has given no ultimate reply. The Victorian Government have determined to initiate a new sixpenny postage system altogether irrespective of the stand taken by other colonies. Herniations fixing the rates of postage, which will begin simultaneously with the fortnightly mail contract, have been issued fixing on letters 6d, newspapers Id. In fact rates via Brindisi on letters and newspaper packets will be the same as hitherto charged by the Southampton route.

The G-ippsland bushranger has surrendered. He asserts that he is the son of the late Count de lalThenar, and that he only stuck up the Holy Plaice station out of pure bravado, and with no felonious intent. He wandered in the bush two days without food, and then accidentally met a clergyman, who, after two hours' persuasion, induced Thenar to promise to surrender before doing anything desperate. He accordingly gave up his arms to a woman who treated him kindly. Mr Childers telegraphs that it is advisable to address a formal request to the British Commission asking that the Prince of Wales should visit the Melbourne Exhibition. He said that there was no reason to abandon hope of a favorable reply. Victorian private exhibitors have only applied for 34,000 feet of space out of the 100,000 reserved for the colony. The new contract with the Associated Banks has been signed by the Government. Ihe Banks undertake to advance supplies up to £300,000 during the rest of tne year. The Treasurer hopes bofore the expiration of that time to float £400,000 inscribed stock de* bentures.

NEW SOUTH WALES. The Treasurer declines to state how he proposes to make up the loss of the excise duty. It is probable that the estimates will be reduced on the immigration vote or struck out almost entirely. £60.000 are required to meet the deficiency. The seeond reading of the Stamp" Duties Bill has been carried. The Council passed the Land Bill with little alteration, considering it not desirable to submit the Bill to an Assembly which had twice passed the Bill. Respecting the new Brindiai rate of postage, the Government do not object to the reduction, provided the other colonies pay for the loss. Sir H. Parkes has telegraphed to the Imperial authorities that he must enact an 8:1 rate via Brindiei. The match between the Australian Eleven and the fifteen of New South Wales resulted in the victory of the former by 74 runs. The eleven scored 269 in the first innings. Murdoch played splendidly for 99, Blackham made 40, McDonnell 36. In the second innings they scored 153, O. Bannerman contributing 52, Boyle 23, and Bonner 34. The colonial fifteen scored 213, D. Gregory contributing 53, Mansey, 35, Allen 27. They only made 134 in their second innings. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. The Lady Kinnaird, a barque of 660 tons li ft Port Pirie for the United Kingdom on Jan 19th, with a carpo of 8400 bags of wheat. The following night during a gale the vessel went on the rocks off Capo Burr. There was great difficulty in saving the crew. The shio is lying about half a mile from the »hore, the stern just, trader tbq water at high water.

The cargo is valued at £lO 500. The cargo? and hull are htiur.<d in English offices. Sir Thorns? Eider is raising young stock by Gang Forward to compete for the .Derby and other English races. The farmers of t!ie Norihom areas promise 2kTOO bags of wheat, bc.idso .noney, for the Irish relief. _ Arrived at Port Darwin the s e. Seine from Baujoswangi, with the duplicate cable.