AUSTRALIAN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 185, 4 September 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

(Per Albion at the Bluff.) Melboubne, August 28. The Reform Bill debate is over, but how long it will take to get it through Committee it is impossible to say, as a large number of amendments have been moved from both sidea of the House. The Government are anxious to close the session in October, hut there appears to be little chance of that, as, in addition to the Reform Bill, there are the Loan Bill, Railway Construction Budget, and Estimates, besides other measures of general legislation to be dealt with. Mr Berry is anxious to get the session over so that he may take a trip to England as the principal Commissioner in charge of the Reform Bill The election of Dr W. E. Hearn, Dean of the Faculty of Law, to the seat in the Legislative Council for the central province was a great triumph. The central province contains 10,000 voters, or one third of the whole voting power of the Council constituents, and tho large majority of 2272 secured by Dr Hearn was a strong expression of opinion of the Upper House c onstituency against the Government Reform Measure and the plebiscitum, as Dr Hearn was considered an extreme man, while his opponent Robert Byrne professed moderate views, and moreover secured the Catholic vote. The votes recorded were, for Hearn, 3995, for Byrne 1723. ' The Stevenson prosecution for conspiracy has resulted in the jury disagreeing, and the defendants have been bound over to appear when called on, but it is not likely that the Government will risk another prosecution as in the present instance the disagreement of the jury was only caused by two obstinate men who wished to convict Stevenson at any cost, while they were quite prepared to discharge the other defendants. The nnmbers were 10 to 2, the majority being for the acquittal. The Judge, in summing up the evidence, was very rough on Stevenson, ard somewhat severe on the practices of the merchants in general, but notwithstanding the unfavorableness of the Judge's charge and the strong desire of the Crown and the great Liberal party to secure a conviction the majority of the jury took a different view, and really the ca3e for the Crown was a very weak one, and absolutely proved nothing. There is great danger of the cable duplication negotiations falling through altogether The directors in London decline to accept all the conditions imposed and specially those in reference to the press combinations. If the combinations are not permitted unrestricted, the principal newspapers which now pay large sums annually to the Cable Company would not avail themselves of the proposed reductions, preferring rather to remain as at present, and to pay the full rates. In that case the Government would not grant the subsidy as no reciprocal benefi t would be obtained, except a duplicate cable, which just now is not an absolute necessity. Colonel Glover leaves tor England next month, goiug by way of Port Darwin, and perhaps something may be done on his arrival in England.

The Hon W. J, Clarke has been appointed President of the International Exhibition Commission to be held at Melbourne iv 1880. At the annual show of the Australian Sheep Breeders Association now being held, some magnificent sheep are being exhibited, said to be the finest ever seen in Australia. Twenty pure merinos from the flock of E. W. Pitt in South Australia, realised £1681. Out of the 14 Lincolns of Mr McLean of Auckland only one was sold and that at thirty guineas. We hare at last heard the last of the Potts infant, the woman Fitzgibbons haviug pleaded guilty to stealing the child. She has been sentenced to two years imprisonment, some portion to be spect in solitary confinement. The Pearce testimonial which amounted in all to £1000 has been presented, and Pearce, after having been well lionised, has departed. _ The Lands Commission has been enquiring into a charge of dommyism against A. C. Allan, assistant Surveyor-General, and found the charges against him proved. What the result may be is yet uncertain, but probably Allan will ask for the case to be heard by an impartial Board, as he can do under the Civil Service Act. The last few days the weather has been uncomfortably warm, as though summer had come upon us all at once. Business still continues very dull, but as the spring advances it is expected to be brisker. The betting on the Cup is dull, principally owing to the absence of the members of the ring, in Sydney. In another mouth when the horses commence training at Flemington. there will be more doing. Very little is doing iv amusements. The Ringarooma is announced to sail direct to Wellington on September 16th. The Assam, with the English mails will probably reach here on the 11th. The second reading of the Reform Bill was carried last night by a majority of 59 to 22. Mr Service moved an amendment affirming the desirability of Reform, and expressing the opinion that it be dealt with by a select committee. A collision on the Government railway terminus yesterday, resulted in damage to some trucks of the goods train. One passenger in another train was slightly brujsed. Heavy rain fell yesterday and last night.