AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1908, 6 April 1880, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Yia Bluff.] [By Tklkqeaph.] VICTORIA. The Government is busy preparing the work of the session. The Reform Bill is nearly dratted. The Lands Department is plotting the boundaries proposed for the new provinces. Returns are being prepared for showing the number of votes at the various stages from the ratepayers’roll upwards. The Government has reinstated Mr Higinbotham as Engineer-in-Ohiof of the Railways. They offered to allow Mr Watson to retain the present salary of £I2OO a year if he would go back to his old position, but he declined. MrFarrel, the parliamentary librarian, who surrendered his seat at Castlemaine two years ago to enable Professor Pearson to be returned to the Assembly, has also received notice that his services will bo dispensed with shortly. Mr Gordon, the late engineer in chief of the water supply is certain to be reinstated. Mr Benjamin Berry, son of the late premier, who, though only a supernumerary in the Works Department, was, just prior tothe Government leaving office, gazetted as fourth class civil servant, without having passed the examination required by law, will probably be put back to his old position. The Audit Commissioners are reporting his appointment as illegal. Mr Williams, member for Mandurang, has been selected to move in favor of the payment of members on the re-assembling of the House. Mr Williams is acting in a friendly spirit towards the Government, who will give him the requisite facilities for taking the sense of the Legislature. He will propose the old rate of payment, namely, £3OO per annum, and also that the remuneration shall date from the day of election. Some dissatisfaction is threatened amongst the Catholic supporters of the Government, The Government have reserved the land at Sandridge required by the Harbor Trust for the canal cutting recommended by Sir John Ooode.

The Exhibition Commissioners profoES their inability to explain the dissatisfaction felt in London respecting their action. The Victorian Agent General has been pressing that a Commission should be nominated in Great Britain to visit Victoria, and apparently he finds the ground cut from under his feet by a letter from the Great Britain committee in Melbourne, offering to do the work for British exhibitors. NEW SOUTH WALES, Mr Parkes informed the Assembly that the Government was not disposed to proceed with business in consequence of the notion of the Upper House in again amending the Stamps Bill, and he gave notice that he would move, on March 31st, for leave to bring in a Bill to declare the powers of the Legislative Council in respect to Taxation and Appropriation Bills. The Assembly discussed the Council’s now clause in the Lands Bill providing for the exemption of the cattle of pastoral tenants from impounding by selectors for two months after purchase. The clause was rejected by 30 votes to 8. Commodore Wilson, on hearing of the Chandernagoro expedition to New Ireland, ordered the Conflict schooner to pay a special visit to New Ireland for observation. The Conflict, after visiting New Ireland, will return to Cooktown to telegraph the result'of the visit to the Commodore, The Volunteer encampment at Paddington and Middle Head was a great success, notwithstanding the rain; about 1600 men wore under canvas. The Associated Colliery Masters have agreed to a conference with the miners about April 10th, to discuss the present state of affairs in the coal trade.

The Chinese small-pox patient on board the steamer Brisbane is convalescent. The vessel remains her full time in quarantine. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. Agricultural statistics show the total area cropped to be 1,458,090 acres, with a yield of 14,250.964 bushels, or an average of 9 bushels 47 lbs. This leaves about 300,000 tons for export, instead of 360,000 tons as previously expected. It is reported that a Bill will be introduced next Session to abolish the immunity from arrest enjoyed by members of Parliament. A deputation from the Young Men’s Christian Association interviewed the chief secretary, and urged the prohibition of Church Parades of Volunteers, as interfering with the sanctity of the sabbath. Mr. Morgan declined to interfere as the attendance of Volunteers was purely optional. The “ Register ” strongly urges the establishment of an art gallery in Adelaide, and suggests that the Government should vote £IO3O a year for it. The Postmaster-General urges that the following revision of the English mail time table arrangements should be made : —The P. and O. mail steamer should leave Bombay on Fridays j that the homeward mails should leave Melbourne on Thursdays, instead of Fridays, and Adelaide on Saturdays, instead of on Sundays ; that they should be delivered in London on Wednesdays, leaving time to reply by the outgoing mail leaving on Fridays. TASMANIA. Governor Weld leaves Tasmania for Sydney by the Tasman on April sth, proceeding to Singapore by the Torres Straits steamer, Lieutenant-Colonel St. Hill, until recently private secretary for Governor Weld and commandant of the Tasmanian volunteers, has got into trouble. According to the newspaper report, ho opened an account at the bank at Hobart Town, into which he paid sums for the maintenance of the Governor’s establishment, as well as private money of his own. The Bank reported to the Governor that his account was overdrawn to the extent of £I4OO. The Governor made good the deficiency, and suspended, and afterwards dismissed St. Hill from the private secretaryship. Subsequently Governor Weld suspended St. Hill from the commandantship of the volunteers, and reported the matter to the Horse Guards. St, Hill’s dismissal as commandant has since been gazetted. QUEENSLAND. The Government offer a reward of £IOOO for tho discovery of a cure for rust in wheat, subject to the condition that the cure be proved successful during three consecutive seasons in Queensland. 750 men took part in the Easter Volunteer Encampment.