LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 421, 31 January 1878, Page 2

LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Per Tanirna, at the Bluff.] [press agency.] Bluff, January 30. The Tararua left Melbourne on January 23rd, Hobart Town on the 26th, and arrived at the Bluff at noon to-day. She brings 90 saloon and 39 steerage for all ports. She leaves for Dunedin at 4 p.m. Passengers for Grey mouth—Mr Russell and 3 steerage. Melbourne, January 23. The political outlook is still very dark and clouded. The Government has apparently stayed its hands in the matter of dismissals, as five departments remain untouched, and the Government, as if doubtful of past proceedings, are making arrangements to carry on the business of the Law Courts, The -Governor, it is stated, disclaims any sympathy w»th the unconstitutional proceedings of the Government, and states that he signed papers at the Executive on the good faith of the AttorneyGeneral that what was being done Was within law. In the meantime the Governor is becoming very unpopular amongst certain -clas-es. At a dinner on the Murray lately, several tefused to honor the toast of his health. At a country church, the prayer for the Governor in the litany tnel? with no response from the coiigragadon, and generally amongst the better classes the Governor is regarded as one of the causes of the present state of alfnirs. The clergy of all denominations have taken the matter up, and pollfical sermons are delivered from pulpits, while heads of all Protestant denominations, headed by -tjie Bishop, of -Melbourne, addressed a memorial to Mr Berry, who, at his meeting, treated the matter as a joke. Mr Berry held an immense meeting

at Geelong on Monday night. Trains full of-partisans were sent from Melbourne and Ballarat. There was the greatest enthusiasm. In his speech Mr Berry said he had submitted a minute to the Governor, in which he maintained that under the existing law, payment could be made on votes of the Assembly without an Appropriation Bill, and that the Governor had referred the matter Home. Before acting on advice, pending the re* ceipt of a reply, the Government were carrying on as economically as possible, by reductions in the Public Service. It was the intention of the Government to submit a new constitution to the people, and in such a way that it could be adopted, whether the Council liked it or not. He thought that even the Imperial Government could be prevailed upon to enact a constitution if the choice of the people was deliberately recorded in favor of that coarse. These were the leading points of Mr Berry’s speech, but in all his remarks he never referred to the dismissial of County Court Judges. It is not improbable that before long there will bo a dissolution. The action of the Government in reducing the Civil Service is popular with the working classes, who, at present, have ho cause to feel a crisis. Mr Francis, in West Melbourne, yesternight, was unable to obtain a hearing. A party of roughs took possesion of the hall previous to the meeting, and kept up yelling and hooting j then the gas was' turned off, and Mr’ Francis went to an adjoining hotel and delivered his speech. The drought still continues,; and there are very disastrous accounts from various parts of the country of the absence of water and feed. Nearly all the members of the Council are absent. Twenty members of the Assembly now refuse to take payment, believing it to be illegal, and that the session is practically at an end. The Ministers of Works and Customs in recent speeches held ont all sorts of threats as to what the Govennent is prepared to do in the event of a crisis, but none of them are referred-to by Mr Berry, ■ The gold yield for the last year is estimated at 792,8390 z, showing a falling off of 144,42i0z. Buisness is dull and unsettled from the effects of the political situation. Four theatres are still open, but only doing fairly. The pantomime is still running. Cooper and Bailey’s circus has gone up-country*