AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2033, 30 August 1880, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Br TbxiHQbaph.] [Ter s.s. Rotomahana at the Bluff.] VICTORIA. MELBOURNE, August 24. Ministers are now busy with the estimates. Heady reductions are probable in all directions. The “ Age ” states that Government, on the meeting of Parliament, will be prepared to submit several important measures, including a Railway Bill, a Bill to Abolish Plural Voting, a Bill for Payment of Members. The Railway Bill will be pushed rapidly through all its stagea. A Constitutional Reform Bill will be introduced at an early date. Mr Hioken, the defeated candidate for Sandridge, has petitioned against Dr. Madden’s return, on the grounds of bribery, undue influence, and intimidation by Dr. Madden and his agents. Petitions are also lodged against the elections of Messrs Gillies and Eraser, on behalf of Mr Crowle, who was disqualified, owing to the fact of an insufficient time having elapsed after his resignation of his appointment as returning officer, before ho became a candidate. Mr Crowle holds the returning officer had no right to disqualify him, and that the question should have been referred to the Elections’ Qualification Committee.

Mr Vale, Attorney-General, who was seriously indisposed for some days, is now convalescent, and able to resume his official duties.

In consequence of the indisposition of Judge Nolan, Mr F. L. Smith has been appointed interim County Court Judge, and has commenced his duties.

Sir Hercules Robinson is expected at Sydney on the twelfth, and at Melbourne on the sixteenth of September. The Oommitsioner of Customs is reinstating Captain Payne. It is hoped that the temporary suspension will be the means of preventing a recur-once of the neglect. All lights along the coast have been found to be in perfect order. The rumor current that the police had a clue to Kelly’s planted money is entirely unconfirmed.

Mrs Greer is still in the Hospital, but is progressing favorably. It has been stated in the papers that Soudry applied to the Hospital committee on Tuesday for leave to visit Mrs Greer. A motion was unanimously :aised refusing the request. Soudry has published a letter denying that he endeavored to obtain the interview. Ketten shortly ro-appeara at Melbourne. After visiting Adelaide, be proceeds on a tour to New Zealand, having signed an agreement with Mr Bennett at Sydney. NEW SOUTH WALES. SYDNEY, August 24. A new tax of threepence per ton on coal levied at Newcastle on Friday caused some excitement. A meeting of merchants and agents of colliery proprietors resolved to wait on the Treasurer on the subject. Measles, scarlatina, and hooping cough are prevalent in Sydney. The reports from the Southern district state that cattle are already dying of scarcity of water.

Several buah fires are reported, and, owing to the high winds, serious damage is feared. Some considerable nuggets have been found at Temora. One party obtained 106‘ozj,, and another two nuggets weighing 23ozs. The captain of the schooner Queen, from Solomon Islands, reports that the Natives of Eddystone Island informed him that the captain, mote, and four Native sailors, of the schooner Esperanza, were massacred by the Natives after a dispute about trade last June. The islanders then burnt and plundered the schooner. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. ADELAIDE, August 24. Mr Townsend, Deputy Speaker, sues the Bank of South Australia for £IO,OOO damages, for refusing a chequeJ In the Budget debate, Mr Glyde censured the Government for not endeavoring to reduce the expenditure. He considers the revenue over-estimated, and ho also condemns the omission o£ taxation proposals. QUEENSLAND. BRISBANE, August 24. The continuous dry weather is affecting the

■ crops adversely. Some fears of a drought are entertained. The want of young grass in the Darling district is much felt. Mr Griffith, in the Assembly, has declared that the Premier’s estimated revenue is a hundred and fifty thousand pounds in excess, and the expenditure is placed too low by seventy-four thousand. The case of the Now Zealand Insurance Company against the North British is proceeding, and is expected to last eeveral days.