AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5279, 25 February 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

, Hokitika, Sunday, On Thursday night the Victorian Assembly by a large majority passed the address to the Queen on the crisis. Mr. Berry who spoke at close of the debate, said that the present depression in business was a foul conspiracy on the part of capitalists, aud neither he nor his supporters would hear anything of compromise. There is every reason to believe that the question will be fought out to the bitter end. At the opening of the Juvenile Industrial Exhibition ut Ballarat, the Governor made an extraordinary speech, in which he reviewed the present state of affairs from a Veryhu’morous point of view. He repeated what he sai lat Portland.that he intended to adhere to his instructions aud act impartially. A new Conservative Association has been formed for seeing to the proper registration of electors. A thousand pounds was subscribed in two hours. Government has withheld land sales, and will not make any more dismissals till the Imperial reply is received. In the meantime a large number of dismissed officers are receiving their compensations. , Business continues very dull, and complaints - , are everywhere rife. A number of large houses and employers of labor have reduced the number of their hands. The weather continues warm, but pleasant. Owing to the unsettled state of Eu opean affairs, steps are being taken to strengthen our defensive position at the entrance of the Heads. Herbert’s large picture of “ Moses delivering the Tables of the Law,” intended for the National Gallery, has arrived. - The Assembly stands adjourned to the sth March. The autumn race meeting commences on the 2nd March. First King and Newminster are the most , backed for the Australian Cup, "and Waterford and Tom Kirk for the Newmarket Handicap. ' . Dorsay Ogden, the American actor, made a successful debut at the Princess Theatre in the play of “ Three Men of Sandy Bar.” The application for a writ of ha beets, which would test the validity of the recent dismissal of the County Court Judges, was refused on the ground that this was not a proper method of proceeding. A writ of quo wo rranto will now be applied for.