AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5452, 17 September 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

(l»BU CLAUD HAMILTON AT THK BLUFF. J • 1 Melbourne, ept. 11. In the Assembly last week some progress was made with the Estimates, and the proposal to give the position of clerk assistant in the Assembly to an ex-member, who resigned his place as whip to the Government iu order to find Professor Pearson a seat for Oastlemaine, caused some discussion and criticism. Mr, David Gaunson has gone over tp the Opposition, and yesterday he complained of an article in the Aye reflecting upon him, and moved that it was a scandalous libel and a breach of the privileges of the House. The Government did not support the motion, which was withdrawn.

The Government do not appear likely to float their loan so easily as they imagined. The state of the London market is such just now as to make the floating of a loan a rather hazardous proceeding, and this has been confirmed by tlie bauka here. The second reading of the Loan Bill was to have been moved last night, but the Exhibition Bill-was partly dealt with instead. The Parliamentary proceedings of last week have not possessed much interest.

It is rumored that Government intends to ask for a dissolution if possible before Governor Bowen leaves. ,

The Government intend calling for tenders for a new mail service via Galle, and also direct to Aden and Suez. This latter will give the Orient line an opportunity of competing with the P. and O. Company, and they are augmenting their fleet. The treatment of the Admiralty survey by the Government iu discontinuing the local allowances has led to the Admiralty withdrawing their officers and removing them to Tasmania. It is said that the Governor has not altogether escaped scatheless. It is known that Captain Stanley, the Admiralty Surveyor, wrote a spirited despatch after the memorable Black Wednesday proceedings, and that the Governor got him to modify it. The Exhibition Commissioners have got to work. The composition of the commission does not give umnixed satisfaction. The small steamer Napier, employed in bringing up goods from the wreck of the Loch Ard, has been wrecked at Port Campbell No Uvea were lost.

Very welcome rain lias fallen iu this and the neighboring colonies, doing much good. The weather has been very sultry. There has been no betting on the Melbourne Cup for some time, but now the Raudwick meeting is over attention will be paid to the Melbourne meeting. Business continues very dull* The wool season is fast setting in. Some of the early clips have arrived. Just now there is much competition amongst all the colonies for the carriage .and shipment of the river-borne wool. Georg'e Reguold opens in “ Henry the Fifth” at the Theatre Royal on Saturday. Creswick has returned, and is playing at the Opera House, The “Octoroon," with a negro baud, U being performed at the Academy of Music aud Princess Theatre.

The new loan is to be for five millions, at 44 per cent.