AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2241, 24 May 1880, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[By TjEL.KGUAI’II,] (Per s.s. Arawata at the Bluff.) Bluff, May 24. The Arawata arrived at 7 a.ra. Left Melbourne on the 19th, at 3 p.m. and experienced north winds and squally weather. Passengers—For the Bluff: Messrs McDonald, Dclbridge, Whaling, Guthrie, Mottram, Barnett, and 4 steerage. For Dunedin :Mr anti Mrs Thomnson, Miss Whitclaw, Messrs Freeman (2), Tobin, Smith, Whilcly, Taylor, Daly,Cargill,Sinclair, Houghton ‘ and 8 steerage. For Lyttelton Misses Palmer and Stock (2), Messrs Tomlin- ( son, and 1 steerage. For Wellington: Messrs Addenbroke (2), and 1 steerage.) For Auckland : Miss Freer and Mr and Mrs Macqname and 1 steerage. She, sails at 5 p.m. for Dunedin. The following summary is (up to May 19 : VICTORIA. 1 The Address in Reply was moved byMr Sliiels, and seconded by Mr Andrews. Sir John O’Shanassy criticised the Address severely, and declared the Minis- 1 try had acted unconstitutionally in delaying the assembling of Parliament. Ho blamed Mr Berry for running awaj*, and said he would vote against the Ministerial Reform Bill. Ho denied' that Consitutionalists were bound ‘to, Mr Service, and claimqd that one, half of the Government supporters owed, their election to the Catholic vote. He also condemned Ministers for not proposing a reduction of taxation. Mr : Service replying, said the Eeform Bill had been adopted after a full discussion, .which O’Shanassy was invited to at-. tend, and that he had declined, because his views on the Education Act were not shared. He declared that the l reform scheme of the Government was approved of by the country. In reference to tho delay in calling the House together, ho said the custom was quite different in the Colonies to what it was at Home, for here writs were issued under statute, and he saw no necessity therefore for the immediate meeting of Parliament. Tho Government required some time for the preparation of measures, and the}'- only . took the same time as Gladstone had done. The debate was finally adjourned until the 18th.

The vacancy in the Legislative Council, occasioned by the death of the Hon. Neil Black, is likely to be filled by Mr Hr Simpson, the former Member. Replying to a question in the Assembly Mr Service admitted the undesirability of the colony being swamped by an influx of Chinese labor, but said the question was of national importance, and could not be settled off-banded. The Government was now collecting information, and when it was published a statement would be made on the subject. A telegram was received from • Sir Andrew Clarke, on May 12, announcing that be was re-called to India, and requesting the appointment of another Agent-General. The latter will probably be Colonel Paisley, to whom the appoint-' ment has been offered. In consequence of tlio strike of colliers at Newcastle, Melbourne is verjf short of coals, and last -week several factories stopped working. Busines’s is seriously impeded for want of coal, but fair supplies are now on the way. NEW SOUTH WALES. In consequence of the wan t of coal the Redindo was unable to-sail, on May 15, and several passengers for Europe were obliged to proceed overland,. The great collieries have now struck and the mines are dosed. It is feared there is little chance of the associated miners returning to work for some time, and in consequence labourers arc employed filling small coal. Two thousand miners are altogether on strike. At Newcastle the miners have resolved to set aside nine shillings in the pound of their wages for the support of the men on strike. The account sales report of tlie Strathalien shipment was submitted to a committee on May 13. The result showed a slight loss, but the experiment is regarded as an entire success. The meeting resolved to take steps to present MclHwraith and McEachran with a testimonial for their services in connection with the frozen meat business. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. The Government is holding cabinet meetings to consider the estimates and for the formation of measures for the session, Burnett’s temperance crusades are very successful, and. his meetings are crowded. Over 1800 signed the pledge within the last three weeks. The Government intend placing £SOOO for the representation of the colony at the Melbourne Exhibition. WESTERN AUSTRALIA. A considerable take of line pearls has been made at King George’s Sound.