AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 634, 15 May 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

o I O'EK AJ.HAMUUA, AT THE !!LL"IF.) j r-.. r !:r.i;or;:xi;. Jlay '.). Political matters remain quiet. 31 r. Berry. ;if a m>'etiii'_r of the Reform League, stated t!iat rite liefonii Bill will Ije the only measure introduced next session. A uissolntion appears' iiK-vicable. hut tvill only lake place alter the Bill lias Kissed the AsdCiiib!'-.

Mr. Francis, who is ,- c--ndidato for the Warrnnmbool seat, will be opposed by 3lr. ZSe'inaii. of the I'efonn League. On I'l'iu.-y .night a complimentary ban<j«et was idveii to Mr. Fra.neis, when he stated that he had come forward for West Melbourne as a living protest against the act of the AJujistry on the Bcll January,

The Cable Conference is sitting to-day. All the colonies except West Australia are represented. New Zealand sends no delegates, but forwards a written view. The Agent-Generalship becomes vacant i next year. It is unlikely Mr. Michie I will be re-appointed. Sir Bryan O'Loughlrin is mentioned as the prospective Agent-General, as well as Sir Gavan Dully. The defence of the Heads is being actively proceeded with under the superintendence of Colonel Scratchley. A movement is on foot, initiated amongst the Reform League Club, for the annexation of New Guinea to Victoria, and rise formation of an association for colonisation. The scheme is regarded as chimerical. Some tolerably good observations of the transit of Mercury were taken on Tuesday. The Presbyterian Assembly yesterday almost unanimously supported the singj ing of anthems in the Collins-street I Scotch Church. A few failures have occurred, the prin--1 cipal one being Messrs. Brodie, Condor. 1 and Co.. drapers, with liabilities L 35.000, j and a deficiency of L 1.1,000. I A fair amount of business is doing in ! the markets. j Sydney, May 0. j The Council having rejected theElecj tonal Pill, (.bo Government intend proroguing shortly for a brief recess, and then introducing a more comprehensive measure. The opening of the museum and library on Sundays has proved highly satisfactory, being very largely attended. The Government have agreed to the establishment of a Hansard. The Privileges of Parliament Bill, which has been introduced, will contain a provision for dealing with unruly members. Adelaidh, May 0. Parliament meets on the loth. Frank Carroll, who was proved to have been convicted both in Melbourne and Syney, resigned his seat for Light.