AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2266, 22 June 1880, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

i X x .)]S

[Bv Tki.kgka.ph.]

[Per Ilotomahana at the Bluff

Bum-’, June 22

The s.s. Ilotomahana with the Suez mail on board, 30 saloon and 31 steerage passengers, and 700 tons cargo, left Sandridgc at 11.30 a.in., on June 10. reached Hobartown on the 17th, at midnight, and arrived here at 1 a.m., to-day. VICTORIA. Public attention coniinucs to centre in the lleform Bill. The debate continues but it is expected to be concluded this week. Mr Service, in a speech, last week, intimated tnat the only possible course open to the Government in the event of their failure to obtain a statutory majority was to appcalto the country. Ai umcrons meetings have been held throughout the colony. Several Ministers have already visited or are about to visit the districts. There is some uncertainty as to the progress of the Payment of Members Bill. It was arranged that the discussion on (he Bill should he resumed on June 1(>, the Government facilitating its passage, and Mr Williams consenting to limit the operation of the measure to the present Parliament, and (lie first Session of the next. It is now stated that an understanding has arisen regarding the resumption of the debate, Mr .Service declining to allow the lleform Bill to be delayed. Possibly a special sitting will be arranged. Important amendments arc expected to be made. In Committee of Enquiry, Parliament, on the 10th, elicited a statement from Mr Gillies that within the year over .TtiOOO had been paid by the authority of Ford, of the railway department, to one linn, without calling for tenders, and that the goods could be obtained at an average of bO per cent, below the prices paid. The statement created a sensation. Ford has since caused an explanation' to he published which is not considered al t ogo th e r sa t i sfac t o ry.

NEW ROUT 11 WALES. (•»rout satisfaction is felt at the termination of the Newcastle strike. It is expected that all the miners will be at work shortly. A large number of vessels arc waiting for cargoes, and a better trade is expected than has been experienced for some time past. MV Parkos, at a .Municipal dinner, intimated that the general election would take place before the end of next year.

Parliament is expected to close in about a fortnight. The man who was arrested on suspicion of being' Joseph Byrne, the bushranger, proved to be J osepli Tuck, of \ ictoria. It is stated that ids resemblance to Byrne is very remarkable. A large number of Trickett’s friends assembled at his hotel on Saturday night to wish him success. Air Punch who was present, said he expected to visit England shortly when he intended to endeavor to arrange a match between Trickctt and Laycock against two English scullers.

QUEENSLAND. Justice Lutwych died rather suddenly ou June 12. Ho had just received a mouth’s leave ou accoout of ill health.

"Wkllixgtox, Juno 21

The-g barque Malay, which arrived Itoday from Newcastle, brings the folowIng items of news ; Svpxkv, Juno 11.

It is generally considered that the present Parliament will be brought to a close within a fortnight. David John Newhill, of Lithgow, now undergoing two years for forgery, was brought up yesterday on a charge of forging J udg'e 'Wyndeycr’s signature in an action for divorce, and was further committed for trial.

Three children were burnt to death to-day at Nichol’s Hotel, Woolloomooloo. The Attorney-General, in answer to Mr Buchanan, stated that Judge Meymott, against whom some curious allegations were .made recently, had not been suspended pending investigation of his conduct, but had been told that it was lesirahlc he should take leave of absence ponding the decision being irrivcd at. Judge Meymott had accordingly applied for leave of absence, and would perform no judicial functions.