AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2277, 20 July 1881, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

[By Telbgbaph.J I Per s i. Zealandia at Auckland.] MELBOURNE, July 14, The Board |of Health met on Tuesday to consider measures for the suppression of small pox if it should appear in Melbourne. It was decided that all vessels arriving from China should bo quarantined at Point Nepean, and detained until the bedding, clothing, and passengers were disinfected. All vessels from Now South Wales are stopped for inspection at the quarantine grounds. A contagious diseases hospital is to be at once provided in a suitable isolated place. The locality it is considered imprudent to disclose at present. The voluminous briefs in the Ferret case have been completed and handed to counsel for the defence as follows Mr Purves for Henderson, Mr Molesworth for Wallace, Mr Finok for Wright. It was decided by the Government that the charge of stealing the Ferret should be tried in Melbourne. Fifteen thousand shares in' the Southern Cross Petroleum Company of New Zealand were placed on the Melbourne market yesterday and applied for within two hours, being the balance of 33,000 previously allotted. In reply to a telegram as to whether action was taken at Albury to examine passengers from Sydney to Melbourne, Mr Andrews, at Albury, stated that all passengers were inspected before leaving by train, but no steps were taken by the New South Wales Government to provide tents or other means of isolation for any eases that might be detected. An extensive burglary has been perpetrated at Brighton, and property worth over £309 stolen from the shop of "Mr Oatllin, watchmaker. A woman named Wilson has been committed for trial for the infanticide of a child three weeks old, which was found in a carpet bag in the passage of an hotel. The child died shortly after its release from the bag. The woman was traced and apprehended in Tasmania, and brought over under arrest. A disturbance occurred at Colling wood through a mob attempting to enforce early closing. Several windows were smashed. In consequence of the small-pox outbreak in Sydney the officers and men of the police force have been officially recommended to revaocinate, and within the last few days a large number have done so. Amongst the passengers by the Venetia is Major-General Fielding, who proceeds to Queensland as representative of some London capitalists interested in the trans-continental line from Roma to the Gulf of OarpenSTDNEY, July 14. The steamer Ocean has returned from Melbourne with 200 Chinese for this port, and has been placed in quarantine, pending instructions from the Government. In the Legislative Council the second reading of the Chinese Restriction Bill was moved last night by the Premier. Many members objected to the Bill as sensational legislation. The report of the Military and Defence Commission recommends an increase in |the number of the permanent artillery to 440 men, officers included, without delay. When the whole scheme of defence is completed there will bo in the harbor twelve distinct batteries, namely, five at the South Head, two at the Middle Head three, at St. George’s Head, one at Bradley’s Head, and one at Still Point. In these forty-five guns are to be mounted. The commission urge strongly the inexpediency of curtailing the force by a single man. The majority recommend that as soon as these men become efficient artillery men they should be trained as infantry. They recommend tho formation of a reserve force, composed of those who have passed tho regular force, and such others who are equally fit approved artillery men as may present themselves for enrolment, to a number not exceeding 540. It was thought that a retaining fee of £6, and ten shillings each for twelve daylight dril’a, coupled with the prospect of employment on the railway or other departments, will attract men. Besides these two bodies, the Commission recommend the retention of the present artillerymen to the extent of three hundred officers and men, and under the designation of volunteers, militia, engineers, torpedo corps, and infantry, a number not exceeding fifteen hundred officers and men ; the whole to be embodied under the present organisation as volunteers and mili ia, and to receive tho same amount of pay as at present, and to bo subject to at least thirty daylight drills yearly, exclusive of continuous training. In addition to the paid forces, the formation is recommended of a purely volunteer force, not exceeding 1200, to be affiliated to the volunteer militia. On the formation of this reserve tho various corps nominally existing under the old organisation will be disbanded. The InspectorGeneral of Police informed the Commission that in case of emergency 300 mounted men under his control would be available. The Commission have reason to believe that a purely voluntary corps of mounted rifles, consisting of 100 officers and men could easily be formed, equipped, and maintained)without cost other than for instruction, arms, and ammunition. Members of the volunteer militia will be enrolled every year. Tho torpedo corps will be affiliated to the permanent artillery. The naval brigade is not at present on a satisfactory footing. It is believed to bo a fine body of men, but its proper place is afloat. Two gun boats in addition to well designed torpedo boats of groat speed ought to be procured in England. ADELAIDE, July 14.

Nearly the whole of Wednesday’s sitting of the Assembly was devoted to a motion by Mr Dixon that it is desirable that members of Parliament bo reimbursed their expenses in relation to their attendance at Parliament. The Chief Secretary announced that Government would make the question an open one. During the debate the example of Victoria was freely qu jtad as an argument. In the Assembly the Government stated that it was intended to introduce a Life Assurance Bill if the business of the session would permit it. The Chinese Immigration Bill was read a third time.