AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2260, 15 June 1880, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

SECOND EDITION

[By Telegraph.]

(Per Wakatipu at Wellington.)

NEW SOUTH WALES,

Sydney, -Tunc 0

A ballot has been taken of the miners at Newcastle relative to refusing or accepting the new sliding scale. Though the returns arc incomplete it is believed the votes are nearly equally divided. The police arc still endeavoring to discover the whereabouts of the t'ank robbers. They have scoured the vicinity unavaiiingly. The Government arc apparently determined to provide for the deficiency caused by the holding in obcyanco of the Stamps Duties Bill by pressing auction land sales. The upset has been lowered from 25s to 20s per acre. The police yesternight arrested at Tnmiit a man on suspicion of being Joseph Byrne, the Victorian bushranger. A local blacksmith who knew Byrne, when the latter was a groom bringing horses to be shod, pointed him out. He lias been remanded for further identification.

VICTOiHA. The Government will introduce a Bill to abolish pensions. A deputation of fell mongers called attention to (be depression in their trade owing to the stock tax. Mr Service said he could make no statement in anticipation of the budget, although be thought the tax a bad one. A report on the Chinese quasi ion shows (hat the Chineses arc deereasing, (heir number being now estimated at 12,000. Selectors in (he Malice country are in a deplorable slate of want, and have bad to abandon their holdings, and select elsewhere. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. The debate on the second reading of the Electoral Bill is proceeding. H provides for an increase of the members of the Assembly from forly-six to fifty-two, and splits up the large northern districts, into four electorates.

A man named .Partington drifted out to sea in an open boat, from Port Vincent, on dune 7th. A cutter was despatched in search, bat returned unsuccessful.