AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 640, 16 October 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[press agency.] Melbourne, October 9. • The Reforni Bill has been .disposed of so. far as the Assembly is concerned. Lately it was harried through Committee, and even marginal votes, were read. Since the second reading the Opposition have taken ho active partin the. discussion, and .some of the more ipdependent of the Government supporters finding that' they ; cannot coairy their amendments have left the Bill alone, well knowing that it fiaa no chance of ever passing in any form. The Council has passed the Exhibition Bill, but rejected the Legal Profession Amalgamation Bill without much ceremony. The Railway Construction Bill is to be introduced at the end of the session, but is not to be discussed. This is probably in view of an early appeal - to the Country. The loan is not to be floated in London before Febuary next, and the debentures will not be sent home till next month. The quarter’s revenue returns issued show the total revenue, for the quarter was £1,167,423 showing an increase over the corresponding quarter of last year of £69,219 upon the twelve months ending September 30, 1878, there was an increase as compared with the previous 12 months of £62,883. Although a surplus is shown in comparison with the corresponding quarter, the amount is made up with the item of £103,683 derived from the Land Tax, for which there was no corresponding item in the quarter sf last year. Customs on the other hand show a falling off of £36,000, all on articles of general consumption. The revenue falls short of the Estimate, and ..the • returns cannot he considered satisfactory. The question of religious education in schools is again attracting attention. The Bishop of Melbourne supports a separate grant to the Catholics* and Bible teaching in schools, not by the clergy but by the schoolmasters. Sir John O’bhanassy’s Bill dealing with the subject will probably come on for discussion in the Assembly next week. The Government will make it an open question, and probably the Roman Catholic members of the Ministry will support the Bill, as it emanates from the Archiepiscopal Palace. Laborers on the Oakl.eigh railway struck work, because the contractors offered some men 6s 6d and others 7s. Intimidation was made, and all men had to knock off’. The contractors intend to have a force of police on the ground to protect those men willing to work. Gerald Supple, after serving eight years in Pentridge, has been released. It is probable he will soon go to New Zealand, where he has relations. He is perfectly sane and expresses his sorrow j for the past. i A sad accident occurred at the Hunt Club meeting on Saturday to Mr Sul-

livan, a well-known amateur rider. He waa riding Stormbird in a Corinthian Flat Race, and the horse ran against a post. Mr Sullivan sustained a compound fracture of the arm and fracture of the leg.

Cup betting is still dull. Trump Card has been scratched, and it is doubtful if Le Loup will start unless he gets tit in time. Melita is still best favorite.