AUSTRALIAN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 53, 2 March 1880, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

[Per Arawata at the Bluff.] Melbourne. [The following reached us too late for publication yesterday] : — The election excitement is at its height. The nominations are considered highly favorable to the Opposition. There are 182 candidates, namely, 75 Opposition, 81 Minis terial, 24 Independent, one Corner, and 2 Doubtful. Messrs Murray, Smith, and J. G. Francis, two Opposition leaders, were allowed to walk over, and in eight other instances the Constitutional candidates must be returned as the Liberals only contest one seat. The Ministry in the same way gained four seats through no second candidate starting. The Reform League believe that they will obtain 54 seats. The Ministerial estimate is smaller, but they are still sauguine | of a majority. Enthusiastic Oppositionists believe their side will wiu 50 to 55 seats. The more moderate Opposition men hope to secure 46, which will give them a majority in the Assembly. Mr Williams, a candidate for Mandanong, states that Mr Berry told him there was no possibility of carrying the plebiscite as he had discovered that the Imperial Conservative Government were unanimously opposed to his scheme of reform, and on consulting the Liberals he found there was not a Liberal politician in England who would give his adhesion to the plebiscite. The trial of the late directors and manager of the Provincial and Suburban Bank is proceeding and tbe evidence discloses, disgraceful laxity on the part of the authorities. Mr Clarke, a pronounced Ministerialist, announces that should Mr Berry obtain a majority tbe Melbourne Harbor Trust will be swept aw.vy. The permanent building for the exhibition is nearly completed. A telegram from the London Committee informs the Commissioners that the total requirements of space for Great Britain, the United States, France, Germany, and other foreign countries will be 423,000 feet altogether. The Australian eleven have arrived at Melbourne. It is considered that they have strengthened themselves much by the inclusion of A. Bannerman and Jarvis, the best bat in Adelaide. Ifc bas been ascertained that the ship | Douglas, which left Melbourne on tbe 9th November last for London, bad not reached her destination on the SOth instant although j previously reported as having arrived. A London telegram dated 17th February, states that the Lankow steamer has been brought round from Plymouth with the assistance of a steam tug. She is now discharging in the docks, and, so far as can be ascertained, her cargo is not damaged. Stdney. Mr Parkes secured a triumphant majority on the principal clause of the Education Bill, viz., the termination of denominational schools in three years. He admitted tbat the Bill would not be so drastic bufc for the attacks made by an ecclesiastical prelate on the publio schools which were the schools of the States. The Catholics hope to be sufficiently organised before the next general election to recover their lost position. The Land Bill was re-committed iv the Legislative Council, and a new clause added providing that a squatter shall have official notice when any part of his run is free for selection, and that no impounding rights shall accrue for two months, unless within that time the selector has fenced in his land. The second batch of Exhibition awards is issued, and Great Britain has secured most of tho prizes for medicines and surgery, the colonies being very few and trivial. Elder and James, of New Zealand, are both mentioned as exhibiting cod liver oil, but no j award is made. New South Wales carried j off the chief prizes for ale and porter, Joseph | Marshall, of Sydney, being unanimously I recommended for a gold medal. For the best pale ale brewed in the colony, Victoria i was awarded five prizes. In this class, I Great Britain obtained six, Queensland four, Tasmania 7, and South Australia none. Advices from Noumea slate that a violent hurricane followed the. flood which destroyed telegraphic communication. The gendarmes

barracks were wrecked, and the artillery barracks were also damaged. The Governor has gone to the Southern Districts to ascertain the damage done by the cylone and to render assistance in urgent cases; The convicts .who seized the cutter Mondowie recently were sentenced to death and the others to serve five years io double chains. The Richmond river roae suddenly on the night of Feb. 22, and all the lower portion of the town was under water receiving much damage. Some peopl e were obliged to fly to the upper portion of the buildings and others to the court bouse and church. Boats were pulled through all the streets saviug property. No lives are known to be lost as yet, but the river rose 40 feet, causing much distress. Mr Buchanan in the Legislative Assembly referred to Mr McElstone as a dung heap in human shape, but was subsequently compelled to withdraw the expression. The population of the coloDy at the end of last year was 734,282, being an increase of 22,263 during the half year. (Per Australia, at Auckland ) Sydney, February 25. The Bishop of Sydney and members of the Church of England petitioned against the Public Instruction Bill, which passed its tbird reading by 46 to 9. The Mayors of suburban municipalities resolved to support the Tramway Bill. Melbourne. An open-air Liberal meeting was attended by 7000 persons. Mr Berry and Sir B. O'Loughlin were the only Ministers present. m "Ji »■" """"i in !■■■■■— iCT^CT-am—juat-^-isn-^m