AUSTRALIAN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 233, 30 September 1881, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

Melboubnb, September 21. At the annual dinner of the Victorian Brewers' Club, on the 15th, Dr L. L. Smith, replying for the Ministry, said they had takea two resolves, one being not to run dowti their predecessors, and the other, as far as possible, to go in for practical, useful, and just legislation. They had the interest of the colony at heart, and if they did not come out with a startling policy, it wae not Want of ability, but because the colony had too tnach of burning questions. A test was made on the 10th inst. of meat preserved by a process patented by Messrs Lee, Wallace, and Knox. Mutton and beef which had been preserved for six months ■Were duly tested, and strangers said that they had no suspicion when partaking of it that it was other than fresh meat. The meat hag been tried ob board ship on Toyages to England and India with most satisfactory results. Attempts hare already been made on behalf of the Railway Department to arrive at a settlement with respect to the claims for compensation arising out of the late railway accident, and in several instances mutually satisfactory arrangements have been effected. It 13 anderstood that the total claims will amount to £35,000. Several of the injured passengers are not progressing so satisfactorily as was anticipated, and it will be several weeks before many of them are able to resume their ordinary avocations. Bank notes to the amount of £2500 were missed from the Bank of Victoria on the 14th inst. It appears that after receiving the notes the teller made up the accounts that afternoon, and the missing bundle with others was locked up by the assistant teller in an iron box, and hacded to the assistant manager. The following morning the large bundle of notes was missing. A thorough investigation has beeu made, but without success, and the robbery continues to engross the attention of the police and the Bank officials. Although a number of important discoveries have been made, no definite action has yet been taken. The way in which the robbery was effected cannot be ascertained ; but a number of £100 aotes of the Bank of Australasia, which are included in the missing money, have been traced to a certain officer in the Bank, who has failed to account for them. The police offered to arrest the officer, but the Bank declined to accept the responsibility. The Bank has since offered £300, to be increased to £500 on the detection of the offender. During the past month some rich specimens of quartz and gold were found at the head of Dry Gully. Another sample of ten ounces of flaxy gold was found on the beach workings in Waratah Bay. The discovery is considered important as drawing attention to the possibility of marine beds having been formed _ from the weariag down of the palasozoic formation being sufficiently auriferous to pay for working. One of the earliest measures to be introduced by the Government will be a Bill to check Chinese immigration. In the Divorce Conrt a divorce was granted in the case of Wilder v. Wilder. The wife left her husband sixteen years ago. He married again after the lapse of seven years. The first wife was then discovered residing in California. The British Commission for the Melbourne Exhibition has received a handsome letter of thanks from the Prince of Wales. The Exhibition Commissioners have decided to give the Secretary and Accountant three months' extra salary for their services. The Governor presented Lieutenant Houston with a gold watch, on behalf of the Government, for gallant conduct in saving Jasper at the torpedo explosion on one of the Cerberus' boats. At the inquest on the railway accident, Mr Gaul, the coroner, severely commented upon the evidence of Eldson, the General Manager of Victorian Railways, who, he declared, was the worst witness he had ever examined. General feeling is in favor of his remarks on the laxity of management on the Hobson's Bay line. Mr A. T. Clark, addressing his constituents at Williamatown on the 19th, said the Liberal party would give tbe Ministry a fair trial, but would insist upen the abolition of plural voting, the retention of the land tax, and throning cpen closed roads. They would alao oppose any attempt at interference with the education or fiscal policy of the country. Mr Langford, iv addressing his constituents at Collingwood, made a deliberate attack on the Governor, and charged him with bavins entertained a feeling against the late Government, founded on objections to their political principles. During the ensuing six months the English mail steamers will leave on alternate Wedueaday afternoons. Tbe Supreme Court has reserved judgment In the case of the Queen v. Biackwood. The defendant, Mr Job a Biackwood, U the executor of his brother, Mr James B'ackwbod, who died a few months ago iv Melbourne, leaving property in Victoiia, the adjacent colonies, and New Zealand. The probate duty on the Victorian property was paid, but the Crown also claim on the personal property in the other colonies, as Mr Biackwood wbb domiciled in Victoria. The New Zealand horses are doing good work, and are much admired. &DtLAiDE, September 21. Mr Pitcher, who lately returned to London, acting for certain English stockbrokers, is investing £100,000 in mines in the Northern Territory.