AUSTRALIAN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 48, 25 February 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

[Per Albion.] Melbourne, February 21. The Victorian Assembly, by a large majority, passed au address to the Queen on the crisis. Mr Berry spoke at the close of the debate, and said the present depression in business was a foul conspiracy on the part of the capitalists, and neither he nor his supporters would hear anything of compromise. He had every reason to believe that the question would be fought out to the bitter end. At the opening of the Juvenile Industrial Exhibition at Ballarat, the Governor made a speech, in which he reviewed the present state of affairs from a humorous point of view. He repeated what he said at Portland, that he intended to adhere to his instructions, and to act impartially. A new Conservative Association has been formed for seeing to the droper registration of electors, and £1000 were subscribed in two hours. The Government have withheld the land sales. They will not make any more dismissals till the Imperial reply has been received. In the meantime a large number of dismissed officers are receiving their compensation. Business is very dull, and complaints are everywhere Jrife. A number of large houses and employers of labor have reduced the number of their hands. An application for a writ of habeas corpus, which would test the validity of the recent dismissal of the County Court Judges, was refused on the ground that it was not a proper method of proceeding. A writ of quo warranto will now be applied for. Owing to the unsettled state of European affairs steps are being taken to strengthen the position at the entrance to the Heads. The fifth autumn race meeting commences on the 2nd of March. First King and Newminster are most backed for the Australian Cup, and Waterford and Tom Kirk for the Newmarket Handicap.