AUSTRALIAN.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 995, 9 February 1883, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

(Received Feb. 8.) ' MELBOURNE, Feb. 8. Mr James Service addressed a meeting of electors at Castlemaine last evening. In the course of his speech he confirmed the statement made by Sir Bryan O’Loghien that the old party lines had ceased to exist, and that moderation was now the order of the day. He declared that the delay which had occurred in floating the four million loan was unpardonable, and denounced political patronage which he characterised as the npas tree of the Constitution. He upheld the Education Act, and averred that it had produced satisfactory results. He strongly urged the necessity of federation by the Australian Colonies, and advocated the reorganisation of the Volunteer force.

Mr Bent, Minister of Railways, in an address to the electors of Brighton, declared himself in favour of the management of the Railway Department by a Commission. ■

The Hon. J. J. Casey has announced that he will contest the election for the Sandridge constituency. (Received Feb. 9, 1.15 p.m.) This day. Arrived, Manaponri, yesterday. AH the city and provincial papers are filled with election addresses. In very few cases, however, have candidates declared their support to Government. SYDNEY, Feb. 8. In a budget speech last night the Hon. G. R. Dibbs, Colonial Treasurer, in referring to the railways of New South Wales, announced that Government are taking steps to extend the line from Redfern ; station to. Circular Quay, Sydney, and that further extension of the tramway system was also contemplated. He further announced that the railways during the past year had yielded 5-31 per cent, upon the capital invested in their construction, and this percentage was higher than any other railway system in the world.