AUSTRALIAN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 223, 29 October 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

[Per Albion at the Bluff.] Melbourne, October 23. It is thought here that there is a strong probability that the Marquis of Normanby will be the new Governor of Victoria. It is considered njore than likely that Sir Hercules Robinson will go to the Cape of Good Hope, and Sir Bartle Frere be removed to Madras. It is understood that Lord Normanby would have much preferred Sydney, and that he was not particularly anxious for the appoiutmeDt to Victoria. Both Houses have appointed Committees of three to confer on the Reform Bill, but no one is very sanguine of any result being gained. All parties are seemingly agreed that some arrangements should be arrived at by which the question can be settled amongst ourselves instead of referring it Home. The education question is causing some little stir, owing principally to the exertions of the Roman Catholics to obtain ia separate grant for their schools. The Minister of Education, in passing the estimate in the House last week, said that the Catholic clergy were responsible for the whole of the agitation, as the Catholic laity were quite satisfied with the working of the present Act, and would have remained so if they had been left alone and not continuously stirred up to action by the clergy. The debate so far has been well sustained. The Government expect toclose the session shortly, and there are already signs of the approaching end. It seems as 'if the Govern meut intend a policy of the isolation of this colony so far as the mail service is concerned, and that tenders will be accepted for a direct service between Melbourne and ' England. The collections on Hospital Sunday and Saturday were about up to those of last year. In many of the churches there were large increases. Three of the defendants in the embracery case, for attempting to influence jurors, are sent for trial; the fourth defendant, Manu, is discharged, there being no evidence against him. A Company is in course of formation, with a capital of £20,000, for the establishment of Coffee Taverns in the Metropolis and suburbs. John S. Denny, Secretary of the North Victoria Building Society, 'has been absent ten days, and his whereabouts is not yet discovered ; his defalcations amount to £1,700, and he has apparently added the crime of forgery to that of embezzlement. Alexander Stevenson, of the firm of Stevenson and Elliott, coach builders, who was injured by the fire which destroyed his residence, died from the effects of the injuries received. The dispute between the contractor for the Eastern market and the bricklayers is not over. The Saturday half holiday remains unsettled, and the men remain on strike. Business is better. Very little is doing on the races. The Cup betting is dull. No alteration in prices