AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5236, 4 January 1878, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

(PER TAU.UICA AT BLUFF.) Melbourne, December 24. Sir S. Wilson's salmon experiment has so far proved very successful, and the young salmon have been deposited in their new home . with a very small percentage of loss. A man named Smith accidentally shot his wifa dead at Yarraville while examining a loaded pistol. . ~ Pour theatres are now open in Melbourne, and Bailey and Cooper’s circus opens on Thursday. Owing to the news from Home the Cerberus has been properly equipped and placed on a war footing. .. _ , , , , The Indian Famine Belief Fund has closed with a total of over £26,000. The International Exhibition project has . been finally abandoned. _ The principal event in politics has been the rejection by the Council of the Appropriation Bill. It was thought the majority would not have exceeded two or three, but the rejection was unanimous. There was no one to call for a division. The Council stood very firm. Their rights and privileges had been assailed by the inclusion of the payment of members vote in the Estimates, and they declined to discuss the merits of the question, but simply voted against the Bill as containing an objectionable item, purposely placed in°the Appropriation Bill in order to bounce that Chamber into passing it. Nothing as yet is known as to the intentions of the Government ; probably no steps will be taken until after the Christmas holidays. There was a great deal of tall talk about stopping the mails and trains, dispensing with the police, and letting the prisoners loose ; but all that is bunkum, and it is believed that matters will go on pretty much as at present, and before long there will be a dissolution. Though the Assembly has adjourned to the sth February, the Council has only adjourned till the Bth January, in the event of any emergency arising in the meantime. By the action of the Assembly adjourning before the Council, numbers of important Bills have lapsed, including the Bill for the Eradication of Diseases in Vines and the Toll Bill. All tolls, therefore now cease at the end of the year. All hopes of a conference between the Houses on the Bailway Bills is at an end. The committee of both Houses are showing no inclination towards a compromise..