AUSTRALIAN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 20, 5 September 1877, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

(Per Takarua.) Melbourne, August 29. The Couucii has been engaged during the week in taking evidence cm the Hail way Construction JJill, _ The Assembly passed the land tax resolutions without division, and they have been embodied in a Bill. Some progress has been made with the Mining 011 Private Property Bill. Dr Macartney has been re-elected for South Gippslaud by a majority of 9-1 over Mr Mason. Protests are raised against the proposed impost of niuepence per head on sheep as calculated, among other things, to ruin the meat preserving interest. There have been no more cases of small pox, among the passengers {per Macduff, but they are still in quarantine' At the sale of stud sheep the highest overage for merinos was £94 Ms. The highest, price paid was 270 guineas, but owing to the drought the condition of the shoep was not so good this yeiir. A fall oL" earth at the All Nations mine, Hallumt, killed two men, and injured a third. '1 he weather is very dry, only a little rain having fallen, and that nws'tiy' near the coast. The continued drought is yavy disastrous. Lohengren continues a great success, at the Opera ilousa. The Mayor's fancy dress ball last night was a brilliant nllair. There were 1000 visitors present. The Governor was present.