AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1919, 19 April 1880, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

["By Tblbgbafh.] [Via Bluff.] VICTORIA. MELBOURNE, April 13. A long meeting of the Cabinet was held during the week to consider matters of policy and administration. lb is understood that the Reform Bill was fully aiscußsed and agreed on, and it was resolved to insert a notice in tho " Gazette " that any returning officers, Registrars or Deputy-Registrars, belonging to political associations must discontinue their membership of the same, or otherwise they would be liable to immediate dismissal from the Government appoinments. Notices to this effect have since appeared. It is expected that tho appointment to the Agent- Generalship of Victoria will be shortly filled. Messrs Childers, Murray . Smith, Casey, and O'Shannessy aro spoken of, but nothing definite is decided on. Messrs Gaunson and Cooper are candidates for the Chairmanship of Committees in the Assembly. It was announced at a meeting of the Exhibition Commission on the 7th that the United States had applied for 35,000 additional feet, making 70,000 feet in all. France had applied for 10,000 feet, and British implement makers for 20,000 feet. The financial statement shows that the total estimated cost of the exhibition is three hundred and twenty thousand pounds. Tho receipts are estimated at seventy thousand, leaving the Government to provide a total of £250,000. Of this sum, £150,000 have already been expended, and the balance of £IOO,OOO is now required. The Government, consequently, have decided to place that amount on the estimates for next year. At a meeting at Brunswick for establishing a branch Reform Protection League on the 6th, Messrs Barry and Longmore spoke. The former attributed the late defeat to a want of organisation and to plural voting. He urged the necessity of reforms iu both matters. He said he believed that he had not lost the confidence of the people. The Judicature Commission, appointed by the new Government, held its first meeting last week. The Harbor Commissioners have decided to employ another hundred men at Fisherman Bend. It is intended to employ altogether the 250,000 loan from the Banks for the present purposes. Pending the necessary authority, tho Banks havo afforded every facility. The Victorian Racing Club at a meeting considered the advisability of abolishing the New Tear's Day meeting. It was unanimously agreed to retain it, and it was also resolved, after discusion, to apply to Parliament for an Act to legalise the totalisator on the club's racecouises. The interprovincial boatrace took place on the Lower Yarra on Saturday. Cons derable interest wbb manifested. The Victorians led throughout, and won with great ease. The Sydney crew showed considerable signa of fatigue.

NEW SOUTH WALES. SYDNEY, April 13. Sir Alfred Stephens' Bill for limiting the power of the Council in taxation and money bills was lengthily debated, and the eighth attempt to Bhclve the measure was defeated. The debate was finally adjourned. Mr Chapman, of Daintree and Chapman, has been appointed prothonotary, vice Mr Slattery. It is stated that the latter has taken eminent legal opinions, which unanimously agree that he was wrongfully dismissed. The Rotorua narrowly escaped a collision with the ship Blackadder in Sydney Harbor. The Botorua was compelled to cut the warp, and damaged the tug's bridge. Sampson, who was principal witness in Shepherd v Dibbs, has been committed for trial for perjury. The A.A. Company's old pit resumed work on the 9th. An amicable arrangement was come to between the manager and his men. In the conference between the Asseciation of Masters and the miners, the latter agreed to recommence work at 3a 9d per ton for a fortnight, the price of coal being 10s per ton. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. The Emerald Jockey Club hare accepted the offer of Mr Suville to withdraw his action on their removing his disqualification and paying legal expenses. The " Register" urges the proceeding with the Trans-Continental Railway. It proposes to defray the cost out cf the new loan. WEST AUSTRALIA. PERTH, Sir Harry Ord left for Europe. The press generally eulogises his administration. The new Governor, Sir W. Robinson, arrived by the Assam.