AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2218, 5 April 1881, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[By Telegraph.]

[Per b.s. Aaruwata, at the Bluff.]

MELBOURNE, March 20,

The electors of North Melbourne have requested Mr James Munro to become a candidate for the constituency. The census of Victoria and New South Wales will bo taken on Sunday, the 3rd. A meeting of ministers of all denominations is called for this afternoon to consider the exclusion of clergymen from Parliament. The Hereford has keen carefully examined in dock, and it is found that her bottom is seriously damaged. Ten thousand pounds will be required to make her seaworthy. A London telegram announces the death of Sir Charles Reed, chairman of tho London School Board.

It is generally believed that the political crisis is now ended, and that the Council will directly or indirectly acquiesce in tho introduction of tho Government Reform Bill, thns reversing tho President’s ruling. The estimates will be proceeded with to-day, everything being done to wind up tho business as soon as possible. MrjCollard Smith, Minister for Education, is afpassenger by the Arawata to day. SYDNEY, March 29.

It is stated that proceedings will shortly bo instituted in the Police Courts against those persons considered liable for the construction of the Town Hall foundation. The Wolverine sails next week for the New Zealand coast. The Cormorant goes to tho (Solomons, and the Miranda to Fiji and Samoa, whither the German men-of-war Habrecht and Herthu arc proceeding, probably with a view of annexation.

The captain of the Orient gave a luncheon aboard, the menu consisting exclusively of the London delicacies of the season, all of which were subjected to refrigeration daring the voyage.

I Murdoch, the cricketer, has been made kankI rapt. It is stated he did not receive any of the profits of the cricketing; tour. Latest news from Mount Brown diggings speaks of the great scarcity of water prevailing. The report of the Department of Mines states t”at it is downright madness for people to man there, owing to the absence of water. . The Sydney agent of the London Missionary Society received a telegram confirming the news of the massacre at Thursday Island, and states that at Hula four teachers were killed, two of the wives, also four children and two Natives. The reason assigned is a desire for notoriety, and the fact that other massacres have been unpunished Four Natives escaped by swimming. The teachers from other stations have been removed to Port Moresby. , , __ ADELAIDE, March 29. News has been received of the successful floating of a company in London, capital a quarter of a million, to work mines in the North. It is stated that the Eev. C. H. Spnrgeon intends to visit Australia in a few months. BRISBANE, March 29 Mr Palmer has received a telegram to the effect that all the evidence in the steel rails case so far clearly favors Mr Mcllwraith. Plentiful rains have fallen in many parts or the colony. At Townsville has been the heaviest flood for ten years. The trains to Eeidsville were stopped owing to the dangerous approach to the bridges.

1 Via Bussell. J SYDNEY, March 31. tn the Assembly, Mr Melville’s motion for closing the public library and museum on Sundays was negatived by 44 to 22. Ciir Henry Parses stated that Government hoped to prorogue on April sth. From the numbers of census papers required there is every reason to believe that the population of the colony, as foreshadowed some time ago by the Premier, will be found nearly equal to that of Victoria.

WILC<-> NNIA. March 31. There is no fresh news from Mount Bow6n. TEMORA, March 31. In consequence of recent rains there is now sufficient water in tho dams to wash fifteen hundred loads, exclusive of deep and bad water in the shafts.

MELBOURNE, March 31. The executive committee of the Exhibition have decided to confine the issue of medals to awards in tho first class.

In the Assembly on Tuesday the Land Tax Bill occupied tho evening. Mr Graham Berry made an impassioned speech, and said the tax was proposed as a taxation for the monopoly of those who upheld large estates. The people would not be cooped up or blinded by any sophistry. In public opinion this question was not dead but sleeping. He inveighed against the owners of large estates, and spoke of some of them as having been obtained by fraud. In reply to a deputation, Mr Berry stated it was the intention of Government to advocate a fresh loan shortly. A caucus of the Council was held on Tuesday, when it was agreed to negative Mr Read’s motion to disagree with the ruling of the president, but notice will bo given to waive technical objections, and proceed with the Bill oa its merits. This was done on Wednesday. BRISBANE, March 31.

Further particulars regarding the men who landed near Keppal Bay on Monday show they had plenty of provisions and money. The Italians stated they wanted to return to New Caledonia via Melbourne, where they desire to see the Italian Consul-General. It seems probable the Italians were employed to effect Frenchmen’s escape. The Transcontinental survey party left Aramao on Wednesday, and expect to reach the Gulf by the end of April.