AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5428, 20 August 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

(PEK ARAWATA AT THE BLUFF.) Melbsdene, August 14. Tho Reform Bill debate continues, and, from the number of speakers yet to come, it is likely to continue until the end of next week. Most of the best debaters in the House have already spoken, and the question has, therefore, lost much of its interest. The Council is still engaged on its Constitution Reform Bill, which has been nearly passed through the House. This evening the Treasurer makes his Budget speech. It is understood that no fresh taxation is to be proposed, and that things are to remain as they are. The Treasurer will, it is expected, be able to show a slight surplus to be carried forward to next year. It was originally intended that the delegates who are to go Home with the Reform Bill should also float the loan, but this idea has finally been abandoned, and tho loan will he floated by the banks in the usual way in October. Mr. Morgan, Chief Secretary of South Australia, and Mr. Bui’ns, Postmaster-General of New South Wales, who are now in Melbourne with the object of finally settling the cable question, will also have under their consideration the various postal matters requiring adjustment. Mr. Berry has some idea that postal subsidies are not necessary, and that the colony should trust to any of the steamers for its mails. This might be found to work rather awkwardly, and is scarcely likely to be tried. Mining is decidedly improving, as is evidenced in many ways. One of the most important facts is the discovery of a gold-bearing reef 1340 feet deep in the Prince Patrick raiue, and which is said to yield three ounces to the ton. The Mayor of Melbourne gives a fancy ball in the Town Hall on September 19. Tho steamer Somersetshire arrived last night. Amongst her passengers are Dr. Ryan, who gained so much fame at Plevna ; also Slade, the Spiritualist slate-writing medium. A good deal of building is now going on in our city. No less than five large and spacious structures are in course of erection in Colliusstreet. A long contract exceeding £50,000 has been taken for fifty miles of railway between Geelong and Queenscliffe, and tenders will soon be accepted for the Goulburn Valley line and the Oakley line. The weather during the week has been very unsettled, with heavy rain, which was much wanted. Business continues dull, and recent failures hero and in Sydney have not tended to improve the state of trade. Changes have been made in some places of amusement. J. L. Hall leaves the Academy of Music at the end of this week and proceeds to Sydney. Bayliss has been superseded in the management of the Princess's Theatre, where “ Uncle Tom” is still running. At a sale of draught stock yesterday after the horse show, some purchases were made on New Zealand account. Farmers' Fancy, for which the second highest price was given, was bought for the New Zealand Land Company at 530 guineas. Mr. MoKellar secured Prince Bismarck [at 490 guineas and Tremaine at 300 guineas. Torrens bought Young Clyde for 365 guineas. These are all good purchases. A twenty-one months’ old colt, by Rautiu Robin, was purchased by Mr. John Hislop, of Hawke's Bay, for £IOOO. This is the highest price ever obtained in Australia for a colt of his age. The Assembly last night decided to abolish the wattle bark duty. This has been the cause of some complaint as a useless impost. Advices from New Guinea state that great destitution and misery exist, and that no gold has been found. The natives generally are found to be very friendly, and willing to afford assistance ; but many of the whites have been guilty of disgraceful acts towards native women. The captain of H.M.S. Sappho has investigated several cases. He says that New Guinea is quite unfit for habitation by white men, and that it is impossible that gold digging can be carried on there. Several of the party have returned to Cooktown ill. Numbers still on the island arc suffering from sickness.