AUSTRALIAN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 292, 17 December 1879, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

(Per Ringarooma.) : Melbourne, December 1!. . Parliament was prorogued on Friday last with the usual formalities. tTbe Governor's speech recapitulated the work of the session, and made the following reference to the Reform question:— "l regret, howeger, that the grave and urgent question of constitutional reform has not been brought to a successful issue, bat I hope that next session you may be enabled to surmount satisfactorily the difficulties surrounding thia important problem," and, in relation to the Embassy, " My advisers will take steps to carry into effect your expressed wishes for opening up a personal communication between them and the members of the Imperial Government on the subject of the existing defects in the Victorian Constitution Act. Mr Berry is now preparing for his European trip, and will take his departure by the next mail. Previous to the departure there will be a rearrangement of the Ministerial offices. Sir Bryan O'Loughlen will perform the functions of Chief Secretary, and Major Smith those of Treasurer, while probably the Mining Department will be amalgamated with the Lands.; One or two political meetings have been held during the week, and at Prahran a meeting, by a small majority, declared in favor of the Government. I On Thursday a Parliamentary trip took place down the Bay in the Nelson, which has been recently cut down and converted into a frigate at a cost of £ iofioo. Satisfaction is felt at the acceptance by the Marquis of Normanby of the Governorship of Victoria, and long and favorable notices of his career in the colonies of New Zealand and Queensland have appeared. . At the dinner given to the cricketers, the Governor in the course of his speech said :■ — " Gentlemen, I will ask permission to digress for a moment and congratulate you on the appointment as my successor in the great

——————^— —^ — officeof Governor of Vjatoria, ,of ten cafled thfjf Blue »ibboa^Sbf^CQi#ifeServ|§, of so able and disffibu&led a^fioKmaa?Js Lojd Noraiftnby, #§o hphad sueMrge &. perjence in the Imperial ParlianieS| andin Colonial administration. ' It J* Msingirtar faefcthat Lord Norinanby has fowled me as Governor successively of Queensland, of New Zealand, and of Victoria. I earnestly hope that the whole of his administration here will be as pleasant aud prosperous as were my first five years in Victoria, (applause,) and that he will escape any political tempest' such' as ihat of the last fcweivi : months'?' ... <>_£•+. -ii A fatal case of snake bile becurred near Alexandra, in Victoria. A boy was taking potatoes out of a bag when he was bitten on the finger. The usual remedies were applied but to no purpose. Although only three weeks to the Champion race v is not spoken about, and probably not more than half a doiten will start, and the result should either be with Warlock Rhoda, or Wellington. All are three-year-old3 carrying 7st. 31bs. There is very little doing at the theatres, out preparations are being made for the unnstniss pantomimes; In commercial circles dullness in all Sv, c*e * of trade is 6till complained of. The Kellys stuck up the Faithful Creek station about 2 p.m. yesterday, and have been about the vicinity since. One of them dmed at De Boas's Hotel.