AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5447, 11 September 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

PER HERO, AT AUCKLAND. (per press agency.) Auckland, Tuesday. The Hero arrive! to-day from Sydney, and brings the following Australian news:— Melbourne, September 4. Dr, Ryan, of Plevna renown, will be entertained at a dinner. Sir James McCulloch has requested the Government to remove his name from the list of Exhibition Commissioners.

In the Budget debate Mr. Prancis objected to the proposed loan in the present depressed state of the country. The Commissioner of Public Works asserted that the colony would be justified in borrowing forty millions if such a sum were necessary. He defended the dismissal of civil servants, and said the colony, was never more prosperous than now.

The Council agreed that a scheme with fortytwo members should be considered of dividing the colony into twelve provinces in committee. A Bill giving the Council power to deal with Money Bills was passed in committee. Probably only five millions of the proposed nine mU’iou loan will be borrowed immediately. In the Budget debate Mr. Service showed that notwithstanding the boasted retrenchment the expenditure had increased £227,000. Replying to a deputation of the late unemployed who waited on him to thank the Government the Commissioner of Works said many people closed their purses during the late crisis to shake th» Government, but failed. In view of the late triumphant passage of the Reform Bill he believed the Council would accept the defeat, and the loan would give an impetus to the colony by promoting public works. _The decreased gold- yield had been more than recouped by the advance in manufactures and agriculture. Au illuminated address to Lord Beaconsfield, bound in morocco, goes Home by the mail. A meeting of the New Guinea Colonists Association League resolved that further agitation is necessary to secure the annexation of New Guinea to Victoria. Hopes are entertained of better prospects when the bottom of the shafts is reached. The expedition is recovering health. . Sydney, September 4. Proposals to join Victoria in the subsidy of the Cape line of steamers have been talked of in Cabiuet, but no definite decision has been arrived at. The Rev. Mr. Spurgeon, sou of the celebrated Mr. Spurgeon, of Loudon, has been summoned to England owing to the illness of hia mother, and .cannot therefore visit New Zealand. Adelaide, September 4.

Now Caledonia advices report that about a hundred and fifty insurgents have been killed. The proposition for an income tax was negatived by a majority of three. The Rabbit Nuisance Bill has passed. The eight hours demonstration was successful. Two thousand took part in it. Brisbane, September 4.

The latest advices from Port Moresby, New Guinea, report that prospectors are out trying now country. The rivers are falling. The natives in revolt are still defeated. The friendly tribes are in a state of disquiet. Fears are entertained for the friendly chief IJgere, who has rendered good service He disappeared several days ago. The war will cost an immense amount of money. The frontier has been surrounded with blockhouses,