AUSTRALIAN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIIL, Issue 275, 27 November 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

[Per Rotorua, at Auckland,] Sydney, November 20th. Weiberg in his confession states that on Aug. 27th chief officer Ellison assisted in the robbery from the Avoca, and gave him 200 sovereigns having too much himself. He has not seen Ellison since. The shooting at Williamstown was superior to that at Wimbledon. Mr Bewtell, formerly Mayor of Adelaide, is dead. The sentence in the embracery cases is regarded as very severe. The Presbyterian Assembly has appointed a^ committee to promote religious education. The Revs. Young and Strong condemned the exclusion of the Bible from the schools. John Crowther, commission agent, has commenced an action for libel against the Argun. It is rumored that the Governor of Victoria declines to grant a dissolution. The Supreme Court has declared the Kelly gang outlaws under the Felons Act. Particulars of the strike of seamen show that when the steamer Victoria was about to leave the wharf for Cooktown, the men deserted in a body, apparently according to some prearranged plan, but left two or three Europeans below to prevent an accident. A Chinese crew was then put on board the Victoria, and the wharf laborers also struck. The men all belong to the Seamen's Union and ascribe the strike to a redaction of the pay from £7 to £G. Chinese are put on board the steamers trading between Sydney, Fiji, and New Caledonia, which the Union considers part of the international trade. A deputation from the Seamen's Unioa was with the directors of the Company for three hours, but without any result. The Chinese receive £4 less a month than the Europeans, and eat less food. The Company employs 160 Chinamen. The seamen held a meeting and resolved not to work on steamers where Chinamen were employed. At Newcastle the crew of the steamer Coonanbarra deserted in a body. The Union has issued a notice to the firemen, trimmers, sailors, stewards, cooks and others, During the year 1878, no less than 2,888 Chinamen arrived in New South Wales, At a meeting of the New South Wales Paris Exhibition Commissioners, letters were read from Mr Lambert at Paris, calling attention to the high class exhibits from NewSouth Wales which is credited with five exhibitors and one or two diplomas of honor. Queensland. The Queenslander expedition reached the junction of the Herbert and Ranken rivers where bodies were found, believed to be those of the brothers Prout who perished from thirst. Four Maoris have been killed and thirteen seriously wounded on the Northern line. The French frigate Ranee, with 600 troops, passed Cooktown. ; [Per Albion at the Bluff.] Melbourne, Nov. 20. The embassy to England has beea the prominent topic in political circles during the last week. It was fully debated in the Assembly, and gave rise to some of the noisiest scenes yet enacted within the walls of the House. A section of the Government supporters opposed the question, and took their atand on an amendment proposed by Mr Munro that no embassy should proceed to England until the opinion of the country had been taken. They also urged that every means had not been exhausted for the settlement of the question in the colony. Personalities were pretty freely indulged in, and talking against time in order to obtain delay was resorted to. As all this took place in Committee members had greater license, and took every opportunity afforded to them. The Chief Secretary declined to state the names of the ambassadors, but it was generally known that Mr Berry and Professor Pearson were two of them. Since Sir G. Duffy's refusal to be one, the vacancy has not been filled up, and Mr Berry, according to his own words, being unable to fix upon anybody who could add to the chance of success of the two remaining Commissioners, has decided not to select a third unless he can find anyone with very special qualifications. The division on Mr Munro's motion gave 47 to 34, leaving a majority of thirteen to the Government. In this division 83 out of a House of 86 members were accounted for. The Opposition hold that this majority is not sufficient to justify the Embassy, especially in view of the fact that the country as a whole is not in favor of it. The Government on the other hand urge that everything that could be done has been done, and that this is a last resort, which must be carried at all risks. Mr Berry expresses the belief that the sound judgment of the colony is liberally in favor of the course proposed by the Government, and that even supposing the Imperial Government to object, the embassy will be able to change the relations with Downing-street and make responsible government in the colony more welcome, and do away with the uncertainty with which the law is promulgated from Downing-street. The intentions of the Government were clearly expressed by the Chief Secretary, when in addressing a meeting at Sale he indicated that there would be two requests which the Imperial Government would be invited to consider, one asking that an enabling power might be granted to the Legislative Assembly to carry measures over the head of the Council; the other that the Governor of the colony might fee freed from the control now exercised over him by the Secretary of State in Downing-street. In the event of a refusal Mr Berry declared that the country would have to consider whether it was prepared to submit. For his part he would accept no refusal as decisive, and, if unsuccessful in England, would return and continue the agitation here. After considerable discussion last night and Bome stone-walling, the Estimates were further proceeded with, so as to permit Government to get out of Supply and prorogue aa speedily as possible. The Council has drawn up a long manifesto detailing the whole history of the deadlocks, which will be adopted probably to-day and sent Home by the next mail to the Secretary of State. Under the present arrangement the embassy proposes to leave by the December mail and be absent about six months. At the Presbyterian Assembly yesterdav a resolution in favor of Sabbath observance was adopted. The Rev Charles Strong expressed himself in favor of opening the library and museum on Sundays. His remarks caused some sensation, and the opinion is expressed that he ought to be called to the bar for uttering such sentiments. There is nothing further about the bushranging gang. The police have been out in all quarters, but have completely failed to discover any trace of the Kelly3. It is supposed they are still hiding amongst the ranges. The stakes paid over for the Spring Meeting of the V.R.C. amounted to £11,249, a large proportion of which went to Sydney, the Marliburnrong Plate and Melbourne Cup both being woo ty' Sydney owners.

Sydney, Nov. 20. The seamen, firemen, steward, and cooks on the A.S.N. Company's vessels have struck owing to the employment of Chinamen on board the vessels. The Company explained to* the Seaniens' Union that the employment of Chinamen is to be limited to vessels trading in tropical waters, and probably on this understanding an amicable settlement will be arrived at. In the meantime all the A.S. N. Company's vessels are left without crews. The Company have telegraphed to China for labor, meantime the vessels have to be laid up. The sum of £3000 has been voted for the widow of the late Dr Lang. >T , „ Adelaide, Nov. 20. Nearly all the Government business is finished, and Parliament will be prorogued shortly. The ostriches recently brought here for sale are to be taken to New Zealand. Wednesday. .Nearly all the shares in the new Teini perance Hotel have been taken up and the directors hope to set it afloat next week.