AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 569, 24 July 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[press agency.] Auckland, July 23

The money received in the New South Wales Treasury for six months ending June, including balance brought forward, amounted to £7,752,740 ; paid out, £3,820,449. Mrs Scott-Siddons received from her Sydney admirers a testimonial accorapained by a massive gold chain and locket set with a spray of diamonds. Mr Berry introduced the Constitutional Reform Bill, and said the Government proposed to deal with the question by resolution and then obtain Imperial legislation ; but during the recess it was deemed expedient to proceed by Bill, as it was assumed that the House of Commons intended to confer on the colony responsible Government on the model of the British Constitution. If this had been carried out the dead-lock would not have occurred, ami the rights and privileges of the Assembly been invaded. The proposed Bills will he divided into two classes, money hills, taxes, imports, and other Rills. ' In respect to money bills, the functions of the Council to he limited to passing only, and i! not dealt with within on me nth, the Bill to lie taken to have been passed. In regard to other Bills of ordinary and general legislation, if passed by two consecutive sessions of Parliament, and rejected by the Council, the Rills would be taken as passed, unle-s a majority of the Council demands I a pull, so that the country should be made the final

arbitrators. He said that/the Government had little hopes of parsing the Bills, and foresee the necessity of appealing to the Imperial Parliament. Leave was given to introduce the Bills. In the Legislative Council on the same day, Dr Dobson gave notice of a motion to abolish the 56ih clause of the Conststution Act, giving the Assembly only power to initiate money bills, and the Council power to amend. Replying to a depudation, Sir Arthur Gorden said the Biitish Government did not recognise the right of Kakabon to give lands to private persons, and each case of purchased lands from the Company would be dealt with on its merits. Captain Steele andThomaa Howlands, carpenter, have been arrested on a charge of willfully casting away the ship Loot a. James D'luma, the victim in a stabbing case, died at Newcastle. Brisbane. Two small vessels are leaving for New Guinea. Owing to the failure of the Oeu River Gold-iields many diggers are going. Melbourne. Malcolm M'Leod has been arrested charged with the manslaughter of his wife. Victoria will not, for the present, join the international Postal union. Adelaide. The Reform Bill has been read a first time. / Flour, £lO 15s to £ll 12s 6d j wheat ss. SUEZ MAIL NEWS. [press agency.] London. June 7. The British Consul, while journeying in Crete, was shot at by some Turks, but escaped unhurt. A railway for the Sandwich Islands is being prepared by English contractors.

The Indian Government has resolved to limit the strength of the feudalory army to the number actually required for interval protection.

The Shah of Persia has commenced his European tour. After a week's stay at St. Petersburg!), he left on May 24th for Warsaw, whence he proposed to journey to Berlin, Vienna, and Paris. He will sitbsequentlv visit England incognito, and inspect the great industrial establishment. M. Sardon, the celebrated dramatist has been formally received as a member of the French Academy ; Alex. Dumas. President.

At Barcelona, there has been an extensive strike against the tax imposed by the Town Council, There has also been considerable Republic agitation in the province, requiring military interference.

On 23rd nit., the Pope gaVfe audience to 500 German piligrims. On the 26th inst., in the Vatican Gardens, ten portraits were taken of his Holiness by a Londan photographer. The physicians are anxious about his health. 1

Reduction of expenditure to the extent of £50,000, as proposed by committee of enquiry, is to 'be chiefly obtained by military retrenchment.