AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 550, 5 February 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(I'Kll AKAWATA, AT TJIE ImUFF.) MIiJ.B'>UU'SE, Undated. The crisis continues, ami is likely to have a prolonged existence, certainly until <i reply is received from the Imperial authorities, which is not expected before the end of February. In the meanwhile, Ministers are persisting in their headlong course in the matter of dismissals. A further hatch of oilicers were dispensed with last Friday, including all the principal oiiicers of tiio Iviucatiuu U epartmeiit, from tin: Secretary down to the supernumerary clerks. Tile Government have re-appointed thivo County Court Judges ami three Magistrates. Sir Brian .I'Loughlin has resigned his position as Land Tax Commissioner, and is now in tie held against Mr. Francis. A tremendous umiiesr is. xpi et 'd next Monday. Both sides are working hard. Much inlen s is excited. There is little doubt that the intention is to make Mr. O'Loughliu Attorney-General, mid Mr. French will become ' paid Commissioner. Numerous meetings have been held in various pans of tho"cnii!itry, but generally those opnosed to the Ministerial side were howled .'"town. Exampl.s of this occurred al Sandhurst, ween two Opposition members of the Assembly who atrempted to speak were howled down. When the Assembly meets next week a petition to t.e Qua n will be adopted, and it is stated Uiat a Supply Bill will be submitted U> jhe Council, in order to carry on iii! tie- Imperial reply is received. Tee Governor lias been informed by several legal getniemen that his proceedings are illegal. The i : < eling against the Governor is getting stronger among a certain class.

Kext to the crisis, the drought claims attention. Matters are getting very serious, and the want of water is being severely felt in many parts of the country. Prices 'of nearly all provisions are advanced, and combined with the circumstance of there being nothing doing owing to the crisis, the future prospects are somewhat gloomy. The Ringarooma leaves with the mails on Thursday.