AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1991, 12 July 1880, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[By Tbleqbaph.] [Yia Bluff.] VICTORIA. MELBOURNE, July 6. The excitement in connection with the destruction of the Kelly gang has now subsided, although it is still largely occupying the attention of the public to the exclusion of the general elections, which take place next week. The conduct of the police, both at Sebastopol and Qlenrowan has been the subject of much adverse criticism. The general consensus of opinion is that firing the hotel was an unnecessary act, as Hart and Dan Kelly had been evi dently dead some time before. Many also think that the police should not have fired a shot whilst so many persons were imprisoned in the hotel. It is expected that a thorough investigation will be held into the action of the police generally. The “Argus "considers that younger and more active men are required for the out-districts, and men less careful of their own safety. It is also remarked that the press of other colonies almost unanimously censure the burning of the hotel. The Greta district has now quieted down, although a strong force of police are kept in readiness in the event of further trouble. It has since transpired that Sherrett had quarrelled with the gang over their treatment of him in connection with a mob of stolen cattle, the Kellys refusing him a share of the proceeds. The police maintain that Cherry, the platelayer, was deliberately shot by Ned Kelly for refusing to hold back a window blind of the hotel to enable him to take aim. The doctor attending him expects that Ned Kelly will recover from his wounds. Haro is also doing well, although it is expected that he will lose the use of his hand. The coroner’s inquest found that Byrne had been shot by the police in the execution of their duty. In conversation with a constable, Kelly admitted shooting Pilzpatriok. All the gang bore the appearance of having fed and lived well.

Mr Service addressing his constituents at Maldon on the Ist delared that the defeat of the Bill was due to the treachery of those who promised to support it. He considered it would be cowardly to abandon : it. He ridiculed the idea that the Bill destroyed manhood suffrage, and pointed out that whereas Mr Berry, who had before considered a reduction to twenty pounds too sweeping, now urges that it is not low enough. Referring to the manifesto of the latter he declared that it took him the same time to formulate the Bill as Jonah remained in the belly of the whale. The object of the Government scheme was to prevent the mischief of deadlocks, whereas the Opposition manifesto left these totally unprovided for. The revenue for the quarter is £1,104,000, an increase of £32,000 over the revenue for the same period of last year. The revenue for the year is £4,554,000, an increase of £28,000 over last year. The Hobson’s Bay railway has yielded £160,000, stamps £83,000. The exise and inland revenue show a decrease of £38,000, and the territorial revenue a decrease of £30,000. One thousand to 15,000 persons applied for clerical employment in connection with the Exhibition. There were 300 vacancies. Advices by the mail show that shares in the Frozen Meat Company are not taken to the extent anticipated, and that the company received only slight support from old colonists. The. subscription list closed on the 24th |of May. Mr Proctor, the astronomer, delivered his last lecture on “ Life in other Worlds” on Friday. There have been large audiences at every lecture. The new Peninsula steamer Ravenna made the voyage from Clyde to the Thames in fifty hours, a less time than the Rotomahana did it in. Other large vessels are building. A nominated Board is making inquiry into the Ford and Bain affair. Several prominent citizens sat on the Board.