AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2347, 24 September 1880, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

VICTORIA. The office of prison inspector is to bo abolished, the Government lia'diig decided that it is unnecessary. Mr G. 0. Duncan, inspector-general of penal establishments, who was to retire on his superanuation allowance on October next, is to continue in the service until the end of the present year. The Government has resolved upon reducing the salaries of civil servants as follows :—Salaries up to £2OO a year to he untouched ; salaries up to £7OO a year, deducting the unit of £2OO, to be reduced 10 per cent; salaries above £7OO a year to be reduced 15 per cent with-

out any deduction. As regards the higher rate of reduction a few cases of exceptional merit will be exempted from its operation. It is understood that son' ms reductions are to ha made in the dep irtmants of the Chief Secretary, the Treasurer, the Lands, and the Customs. Liberal arrangements hare been made for passenger trallic between Sydney and Melbourne during the K xliibition. Return tickets, available until the end of January next, are to be issued 111 Sydney on and after Sept. 23 at £0 os each. The state school at Flemington is closed, in consequence of the head teacher (Mr llcydon) himself and some ,50 or 1)0 of his pupils being prostrated by the measles. NKW SOUTH WALKS. Quito a sensation was created in Sydney, a few days ago by a jockey named Bancroft, who stated that some two 3'cars ago Mr Joseph Thompson, the well-known bookmaker, had given him £SO to pull a horse named Laertes at Bathurst. The joe’ayy in question told a very circumstantial tale, and stated that the money was paidlo him after the race on the stairs of Mr D. May no’s Hotel. The bookmaker indignantly denied the accusation, and stated that he was prepared to^ make a declaration to the effect that there was not a word of truth in the tale of Bancroft, whose conduct in waiting for two years to divulge the secret does not bear a very creditable aspect. However, the accused has moved for an investigation of the case, and, whether it is proved or not, tho racing clubs of Australia should lake such steps as will prevent Bancroft from pulling a horse again. Mr Proctor’s lecture, “ The Birth vnd Growth of the Universe,” was given on Sept. lt», at the Tlieal.ro Royal, the Masonic Hall not being found large enough for the purpose. The house was crowded, and Mr Proctor was most enthusiastically received. Mr Proctor, in opening his lecture said he had taken the opinion of eminent counsel on the question of the recently proposed Sunday lecture, and ho also understood that the Attorney-General had told the Premier he was in tho wrong, lie would not, however, insist upon his legal right in the face of the fact that such a course would prove ruinous to Messrs Lazar and Garner, of the theatre, by’ the loss of the licence. Ho regretted the manner in which the attack bad beer, made, and alluded to the parties who had secretly set tho Premier in motion, and the latter’s want of official courtesy. His speech wvs wannl} - applauded. The liabilities of the Sydney Corporation on September 1 amounted to £|JI4,OOO. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. At Riverton a woman named Louisa Clarke was confined of a male child. Subsequently a neighbor found her house on lire. She rescued two children alive, an I again returned, and found Mrs Clarke lying on the Hour in an insensible condition. The charred remains of a new born infant wore also brought out. A warrant lias been issued for the apprehension of Mrs Clarke for wilful murder as soon as she recovers. No inquest is to he held. Great indignation is expressed in the district, ami a meeting has been held at Riverton to raise funds for her defence. A resolution was adopted requesting the Attorney-General to cause an inquest to be held.

On September loth Mr W. J. Hollowa}* the actor, violently assaulted Mr Davis, reporter of the “ Advertiser,” in the saloon of the Theatre Royal. The reason alleged is a reference to Mr Holloway in a criticism in Saturday's

“ Advertiser” which contained the insinuation that there were persons in the house engaged to applaud Mr Hollo way. The assault was committed without warning. It is probable that proceedings will be taken against Holloway. Pleuro-pneumonia lias broken out among a herd of cattle imported from New South Wales, now near Wellington. QUEENSLAND. It is rumored that the members of the Opposition have sent a telegram to the ‘‘ Times,” stating that the3 r do not consider the honor of the colony involved in the acceptance of the mail contract by the Government, and intimating tbeir determination to obstruct the voting of the subsidy. The Vote for the Agent-General's salary has been postponed. It is suggested that tbo cilice should be abolished, and the work entrusted to a business firm in London. Reports of deep sinking at the Palmer goldfield continue good, and ;soz. per load lias been obtained. The ground is limited, but more extensive discoveries are expected to be made. A European prospector near Bverstown is believed to have been murdered by the blacks. Great complaints are made as to the insnllicieney of police protection in the Cook district. A boat capsized in the South Passage, Moreton Bay, on Saturday, when a telegraph operator and his son were both drowned. The deceased leaves a wife and tb ree children.