AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5404, 23 July 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

(per araivAta at bluff.) Melbourne, July 17. Little of importance has transpired during the week.

The address m reply to the Governor’s speech has been adopted in both Houses with* out amendment or discussion. A Supply Bill for £900,000, the largest sum yet included in any temporary Supply Bill, passed both Houses yesterday. The Government will introduce a Constitutional Be form BUI to-cfay ; it is said that they were originally in favor of a nominee Upper House, but it became amenable to news* paper influence, and thus framed the measure as it now appears. . , It has been no secret that the relation amongst Ministers is by no means of- a most cordial character, and during last week there were current" rumors of two resignations, but a peace has been patched up. * The Minister of Lauds has been severely taken to task for the blundering displayed in the administration of his department.

The Minister of Railways was most severely castigated by his own supporters on Thursday night. last, and even his colleagues ; his chief read him a lecture on the floor of the House, to which Mn Woods made no reply. The Commissioner of Customs is not at one with his colleagues on the subject of the purchase of the Hobson’s Bay Railway, so that altogether it is not a very happy family. The war cry of the Reform Bill will, it is expected, rally the scattered forces of the Ministers,’ and once more bring them well in hand. Sir Arthur Gordon is here, en route to England. He leaves to-morrow per Cuzco as High Commissioner for Polynesia. He yesterday warned a deputation from the New Guinea Colonization Association of the danger they were incurring in proceeding to New Guinea without adequate protection, and pointed out that the proper course was to obtain a charter from the British Government. Ho told them that every care would he taken for the protection of British interests and the prevention of lawless acts.

Mr. Walker’s New Zealand horses engaged in the Cup arrived per Albion to-day all safe*. The Stevenson case is once more coming into Court. An information for conspiracy has been laid against Stevenson. Some of his emplayos.aud a weigher in tbe Customs are also implicated in reference to the removal of certain cases from the Customs shed. The matter comes on for hearing on the 15th August. ■ The question of closing the cemeteries in proximity to the metropolis is being again agitated, and the formation of a general necropolis on some line of railway advocated. Preparations are being made for the International Exhibition building in Carlton Gardens. ' Sir Brian O’Loghlen, Sir C. Gavan Duffy, and Mr. Berry are generally named as the Commissioners to proceed to England to urge the passing of a Reform Bill.' The weather continues cold, with very little rain. New teas are selling up to full rates. Sugar has advanced 15s. to £l. ■ New Zealand oats, ss. 2d. : “ Our Girls” at the Academy of Music, and “Uncle Tom's Cabin” at the Princess, are still running. The former has entered on its seventh week, and the latter on its sixth week. Sydney, July 17. A collision occurred between two trains at Lithow, but fortunately no one was hurt, as no passengers were in either train. A Chinaman has been murdered by a countryman at Wallerwang. The two lived in a hut together. The accused, has been committed for trial. 4 .Subscriptions are being raised to aid the sufferers by the New Caledonian outrage. ■ Considerable satisfaction is felt at the extension of Sir Hercules Robinson’s teim of office. The Adelaide Estimates show the expenditure for the year to be £1,235,000. The Assembly has passed a resolution for the abolition of the Council of Education.

Jonathan ' Brest, for wife murder, was hanged on Tuesday. The Hobarton Parliament opened on Tuesday. The speech was congratulatory on the prosperous state of the colony. The population is largely increasing, and every branch of the revenue shows an increase. Bills .are promised to make the Attorney-General’s office a non-political one, and to create an office of Minister of Justice and Education.