AUSTRALIAN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 111, 11 May 1874, Page 2

A US TRA LI A N.

Melbourne, May 4. Attorney-General Stephens having accepted a judgeship baß been sworn in, and taken his seat en the Bench vice Mr Justice Williams retired.. Mr Kerford, the Solicitor-General, takes the Attorney-Generalship. . Mr Frazer, the Minister of Public Works and Government representative in the Council, has retired, and been succeeded by Mr R. S. Anderson. The offices of Postmaster-General and Solicitor- General will not be filled up. Mr Mackay, the Minister of Mines, takes charge of the Education Department. These changes weaken tbe Ministry except in the substitution of Mr Anderson for Mr Frazer. Writs have been issued to fill the Ministerial vacancies. Opposition is unlikely except in St. Kilda, where Mr Webb, Equity barrister, and probably Mr Williams will be opposed. For the vacancy in the Central Province Mr Sargood, an ex warehouseman, and Mr A. K. Smith are nominated. Parliament is to meet on the 19th May. The Yeddab, with the Strait's mail, arrived at Brisba c last week with later news to tho 6th March. The Cambridgeshire, long overdue from London, arrived last night, dismasted, lhe disaster occurred during a heavy gale on April 2nd No lives were lost. Yesterday evening, before the Free Discussion Socirty,^Mr Macpherson, the president of the Canterbury Working Men's Association, delivered a lee ure on the delusion of the New Zealand immigration scheme. The week's social events are generally without interest. Dr Tracey remains in a precarious state. Sydney, May 4. An unprecedentedly henvy rain ha 9 been falling constantly since midnight, and there is no 6ign of clearing. Two armed men stopped the Northern mail and plundered, the passengers of their monegr and valuables, but did not touch the mail. They told the passengers they might inform the Tamworth police. Adelaide, May 4. There has been a large robbery at the ■ General Postoffice of bankers' parcels containing £1700. Parliament is opened and measures are promised to amend the Land Act as regard j a reduction of the upset price. ;,,. Education, Distillation, roads, and the > -question ot a telegraph to Western Australia, ',} .were referred to.