AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2313, 16 August 1880, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Bv TKLEaii.vrn.] (Per Arawata at the Bluff.) VICTORIAN POLITICS. MINISTERIAL RE-ELECTION S. POLICY OE THE LIBERALS. RETRENCHMENT IN HIGH PLACES. MINISTERS, GOVERNORS, (AND JUDGES’ SALARIES, REDUCED. RAILWAY EXTENSION, BUT NO RELIEF WORKS. NO NEW TAXES. TRIAL OF NED KELLY. THE TEMORA RUSH. EXODUS FROM NEWCASTLE. 0000 ON THE GROUND. VICTORIA. Mki.isouiixk, August 11. Mr Reid, a member of the the Legislative Council has accepted office in the Cabinet without portfolio. It is considered likely that another member of the Council will be admitted to the Cabinet, the Ministry wishing .to have two members of the Upper House. Blackett opposes Vale at Fitzroy; Thomson Moore opposes Williams at Mandurang; O’Neill, Crcswick, and Reeves, Geelong, also contest the scats of Ministers. Active canvassing is proceeding. Mr Berry, in a speech at Geelong yesternight, contended that the Liberals were really the governing power in the colony. Ho said the late Ministers hud reversed the legitimate appointments ol their predecessors. He did not intend to pursue the same policy, though he would not pass over acts ol injustice. He declared that Service had done nothing to reduce the deficit, but on the contrary, had increased the public burdens by spending £2OOO weekly on Relief Works. lie considered (he Liberals were sufficiently strong without the co-operation of the corner party to carry on the business of the country. Attention must first be devoted to the financial position, and a policy of retrenchment would be initiated, especially in view of the laud revenue rapidly and steadily declining. Ministers had already reduced their own salaries 20 per cent, and similar reductions were contemplated in the salaries of future Governors, Judges, and many of the highly paid civilians. He hinted at a repeal of the Act, adding

a fifth Judge. There was, he considered, nothing in the state of the finances to cause alarm or to render taxes necessary. The sum of £412,000, due hy selectors was certain to be paid. He' announced that Bills to abolish plural voting, and for payment of members would bo amongst the first to be submitted. Only brief mention was made of the reform question.- He thought it was doubtful if it would be brought forward during the present session. On his way to Becchworth, Hed Kelly sprang at Scrgt. Steele, and had to be held down. Afterwards he conversed freely with the officers and gave an account of the Glenrowan affair. He said he regretted that they did not rush the station when the train arrived, as he believed they would have killed the whole party. A preliminary enquiry was commenced on Friday, and continued daily since. Constable Mclntyre was the first to be examined, and he gave a full account of the murders of Lonigan,Scanlan, and Kenned} 1- . Several of those who were bailed up at Euroa have since given evidence, and proved conclusively that Kelly frequently admitted shooting the police with bis own hands. He was formally committed for trial on October 14 on the charge of shooting Lonigan. Other charges are proceeding.

The Covernment have cancelled the commission of enquiry into the FordBain business, because they approve neither of the personnel of the commission nor the form of the investigation, the scope of which Berry considers too extensive.

The Government have announced their intention of launching the balance o£ the loan shortly. Kail way construction forms a prominent part of the Liberal programme. Soudry left the hospital on Thursday. Mrs Greer is fast improving, and is expected to leave in two days. Soudry left yesterday for Europe.

An Argus report from Temora, New South Wales, estimates the population at nine thousand, only live hundred of whom arc diggers. The report warns persons against abandoning permanent occupations to go to the diggings. NEW SOUTH WALES. Work at the Newcastle mines is steady. The number of miners starting for Temora, shows no diminution. T 1 ic Wagga “Express” says that the prospects of Temora arc undoubtedly good, but by no means are they such as to justify the unprecedented rush now afield. The papers strongly warn people against going there without means. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. llootlihy has tendered his resignation but the Government has not yet accepted it. Pending an enquiry into the statistical department, the Auditor-General will be reduced or compelled to resign.