AUSTRALIAN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 282, 9 December 1879, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

[Per Arawata at the Bluff.] Melbourne, December 3. There has been very little of interest during the week. Mr Berry has commenced a stumping tour through the country in support of the Reform Bill. He i<s in favor of a plebiscite, which he regards only as a necessary evil. Although his Bill is not unanimously approved by the Liberal party as a whole, he declines to alter it in any one particular, and for this he has incurred the displeasure of the Ministerial journals. When the estimates were before the Assembly, an amendment was carried against increasing the salary of the Cbief Cierk in the Chief Secretary's oflice, and this wa3 regarded by the Opposition as an indication against all increases, but the Ministry decline to accept thi3. No doubt, however, the point will be pressed. The action of Sir Bryan O'Longhlin in giving public telegrams to the Ministerial press only was brought before the House, and Ministers openly avowed the practice, and attempted todefend it, but it was strongly reprobated by the House. Mr Hryer, the member for Villiers. having been adjudged insolvent, his seat is declared vacant. The new Exhibition buildings are dis appointing in appearance. A branch of the British Medical Association has been visiting the Lunatic Asylum, and report states that the Kew Asylum is a disgrace to the community. It is expected that new stamp duties will come into operation next week.