AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2289, 19 July 1880, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[13 v Tki.kouai’ji.] [Per llingarooma at Flu if.] VICTORIA. Mkluoukxk, July 14. During the past week public attention has been entirely absorbed in the electoral campaign, the interest in which lias daily increased, and has now culminated in general excitement. The candidates have made their final election speeches, and the result is now eagerly awaited. Doth sides appear confident of success. The Ministerialists calculate on Iti to 19 votes, and Mr Perry on the other hand in a speech a few days since said he expected a compact majority of fifty. The total number ofjeaudidates nominated is—Ministerial, 7<S : Opposition, <Sf ; independent ami doubtful, 4. Hr Service published an address thanking the Maklon electors. He said the country cannot have peace and prosperity till the reform question is settled, and he Imped next Wednesday would give the Covcrument a majority so as to insure its final settlement. .Replying to Perry’s statement denying the accuracy of the reported (felicit of £050,000, Service maintained its correctness, the figures having been supplied by the Permanent Under Treasurer some days ago.

Considerable excitement was caused in Melbourne on Monday by the receipt of intelligence of another bushranging alfray. The facts of the case are as follows:—Mr Hearn, a Justice of the Peace, and his family were returning from church on Sunday afternoon to Mdenhope, a journey of twenty miles, when he was stopped by a party of armed men, who demanded money. Hearn being without money was compelled to sign a cheque, the gang hoping to obtain payment on the following morning. The Hearns were then taken to a hut near the road, and

were there confined. One of the party managed to effect air escape, and gave the alarm to the police, who speedily appeared on the scone. The men threatened to shoot the Hearns if the police approached. The latter were reinforced, but the gang still defied the police to arrest them, and continued to x’esist for four hours. Ultimately the constables rushed the hut, and captured the men without a shot being fired. They have since been brought up before the court and remanded for eight days. It appears there has been along standing feud between the Hearns and the elder Reilly, the latter claiming £BOO on account of certain .land selections. Doubts arc also entertained of the sanity of the elder prisoner. The other prisoners are his two sons. The ‘‘Argus” published a lengthy statement in defence of the Service Ilcform Till which has since been issued in pamphlet form. The “Age” next day published its account of the Service Government. This the “Argus” characterises as a mendacious production, to which the “ Age ” replied again on July 12. Altogether a very acrimonious feeling has been displayed by the Tress generally throughout the colony. Edward Kelly continues to progress towards recovery. Ills demeanour is quiet. He was again formally remanded on July 12 for a week, but is not expected to appear in Court before a fortnight at the earliest. No one is allowed to sec him, although hundreds of applicants have applied. NEW SOUTH WALES. The late Mr Driver’s funeral, on July ‘.I, was largely attended. Nearly 250 vehicles followed the hearse. Sixty sailors are absent from the Raleigh and Woolvoriue without lea'-e, and arc being searched for by the police. Correspondence on the Chinese question was tabled on July 8, iaclu ling a Hong Kong telegram saying that Governor Hcnnessy bad stopped the deportation of criminals three years ago.

July y.

July 12,

Julv T_>