AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5495, 6 November 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY.

(feu tararua at the bluff.) Melbourne, October 30.

The events*of the week have been of an exciting character. Iu the first place tho joint committees of both Houses have failed to come to any agreement on the Reform Bill, as generally anticipated, aud the question will now probably bo remitted to the Imperial Parliament. As an earnest of Berry’s intention to proceed to London, ho in his correspondence with assured them that when the loan was being floated he would be in Loudon to assist them with his advico. The Government anticipate closing the session by the end of next week ; but with the business before tho Assembly that appears somewhat doubtful. On the extra Parliamentary days tho Chief Secretary has nob been idle. On Friday he spoke at a political soiree at dunes, and on Monday night' presided at an annual meeting of the Reform League, and on both occasions tbe reform question was the great theme. He has promised not to let the matter rest until satisfactorily settled. On Sunday night last Melbourne was startled by intelligence from Mansfield that two constables had been shot dead, and that the sergeant of the police was missing. It appears two parties of police have been out in order to capture some bushrangers, headed by two brothers named Kelly. Whilst a party of four polico were camped in rather an inaccessible .wooded country, the bushrangers, four iu number, suddenly made their appearance and bailed up two of the constables,* one of whom on attempting to draw his revolver was shot dead. The other surrendered. Presently the sergeant aud the other man came in. One of the constables attempted to defend himself, and was shot dead also, Mclntyre, who was unarmed, and had previously surrendered, saw a chance and made his escape by jumping on horseback. Shots were fired after him. His horse was killed, but he escape b and reached Mansfield, a distance of twentyfive miles, on foot, after hiding away from his pursuers. Sergeant Kelly, who was left with the ruffians, has not since been beard of, although every search has been made, and It is firmly believed that he too has been shot. The affair has created the profoundest sensation, and armed parties of police have been sent out iu pursuit. The country is very wild, and the capture of tho desperate gang may be a work of difficulty aud danger. The bodies of Constables Scanlon and Lonergau have been brought into Mansfield for burial. In August, 1577, a box containing five thousand - sovereigns was stolen from the mail steamer Baroda. The police having got a clue to the robbery have arrested Martin Waberfc, formerly a carpenter on board the Baroda, who, since his discharge from the vessel has been living on a selection on Saugal River, South Gippsland. His place was searched, and a number of sovereigns were found most cleverly secreted away in a carpenter’s plane and other tools iu various paita of the log hut. He has since mada confession that another person is implicated. • The prisoner Stands remanded. There was a terrific thunderstorm, with very vivid lightning, on Monday. Messrs. Chcyne and Pelgars, overseers on W. J. Clark’s station, Bald Hill, about twenty miles from Melbourne, were struck by lightning and killed whilst superintending the working of a steam plough, Melbourne is getting full of visitors for tbe race meeting, aud tbe season for flower shows, agricultural exhibitions, and shows of blood stock of all kinds has commenced.

Intelligence has been received from New Caledonia that further massacres of tho most atrocious description have been committed by tho insurgent natives, and it is now evident that there ia no security outside tho military cordon.

South Australia, owing to wirat she considers tho broach of faith on the part of Victoria, intends to have a separate ocean mail service at a cost of £IO,OOO per annum. It is expected that tho South Australian Parliament will bo prorogued at tho end of this mouth. Business iu tho Victorian markets is improving as spring sets in. There is a better demand. The Pacific Ocean steamer City of Sydney is on her way hero with excursionists for tho races. She remains two days, and returns to Sydney iu time for the outward voyage.