AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2175, 14 February 1881, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

[Br Tblbokaph.]

fPer s.b. Albion, at the Bluff.J MELBOURNE, February 8. A dearth of general news continues. Ministers are engaged in departmental work, and politics are completely in abeyance until the meeting of Parliament next week. The election for East Melbourne is taking place to-day. The contest lies between Walsh, Constitutionalist, and Levi, a Liberal. Mr Ooppin and Mr Gaunson have retired owing to Mr Berry having indicated that he considered Levi a better candidate. News has been received at Government House of the death of Captain Bussell, R.N., brother of the Marchioness of Normanby. Mr Berry, speaking last night at a tea meeting, said he would persevere with the Reform Bill until it passed, and that Mr Patterson determined to proceed immediately with the construction of the line from Wodonga to the bank of the Murray at a cost of £30,000 out of tho funds of the last loan.

During the past week two more old colonists have died, James Blackwood, of Dalgety and Blackwood, and his brother, Richard Blackwood, who died suddenly aboard the Frotos, and Thomas Napier, one of the pioneers in colonising Port Phillip. Blackwood’s funeral was numerously attended. A hundred and thirty carriages followed the hearse.

A splendid rainfall is reported from the interior, doing immense good. Mr 8. Gardiner, of Bundoora Park, shipped ten yearlings, by the Albion, including Lurline’s colt Coquette, half brother to Progress. Seashell, Ace of Hearts, Boyal Heait, and Topsy, stated as all yearlings and in fine condition. Oomptoir de Escompte de Paris has opened a branch in Melbourne to facilitate transactions of direct business between Australasia and the Continent. SYDNEY. The medical advisers of the Bishop of Sydney have decided he must visit the German baths, and accordingly he leaves for Europe by the March steamer. The Collaroy still holds together, but is becoming more deeply embedded in tho sand. The Marine Board held an enquiry and decided the stranding was due to the wrongful act of the mate and master, who failed to take proper precautions, and, consequently, they were called upon to show cause why their certificates should not be suspended. Frequent reports from Temora of the discovery of nuggets of gold, and several good returns are also reported.