AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 835, 17 December 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[per ringarooma, at the bluff.] Melbourne, Dec, 11. Parliament was prorogued on Friday last, with the usual formalities. The Governor's speech recapitulated the work of the session, and made the following reference to the reform question:— i4 I regret, however, that the grave and urgent question of constitutional reform has not been brought to a successful issue; hut I hope it will he brought about next session.

The Mining Department is to be mated with that of Lands.

One or two political meetings have been held during the week. At Prahran the meeting, by a small majority, declared in favor of the Government.

On Thursday a Parliamentary trip took place down the bay in the Nelson, -which has teen recently cut down and converted into a frigate at a cost of L 16,000. Satisfaction is felt at the acceptance by thg Marquis of Normanby of the Governorship of Victoria. Long and favorable notices of his career in the colonies of Queensland and New Zealand have appeared. At the dinner given to cricketers, the Governor, in the course of his speech, said:—"Gentlemen, I will ask permission to digress for a moment, and congratulate you on the appointment as my successor in the great office of Governor of Victoria, often called the "Blue Ribbon" of the Colonial service, of so able and distinguished a nobleman as Lord Normanby, with such large experience in the Imperial Parliament and in Colonial administration. It is a singular fact that Lord Normanby has followed me as Governor of Queensland, of New Zealand, and of Victoria. I earnestly hope that the whole of his administration here will be as pleasant and as prosperous as were my first five years in Victoria (applause), and that lie will escape any political tempest such as that of the last twelve months, A fatal case of snake bite has occurred near Alexandra, Victoria, to a boy who was taking potatoes out of a bag, when he was bitten on the finger. The usual remedies were applied, but to no purpose. Although only three weeks are to elapse before the Champion Race takes place, it is not spoken about. Probably not more than half a dozen horses will start, and the result should be with either Warlock, Rhodee, or Wellington—all three-year-olds, and carrying 7st 31bs. Very little is doing at the theatres, but preparations are being made for the Christmas pantomimes. In commeroial oireles, dullness in all branches of trade is complained of. The Kellys stuck up the Faithful's Creek Station about 2p.m. yesterday, and havebeen about the vicinity since. One of them dined at De Boass' Hotel to-day. They brought in a vehicle belonging to Graster, a hawser, for the purpose of removing the occupants of the bank.