AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2398, 23 November 1880, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[By Tklegkai’h.] (Per Tararua at the Bluff.) POLITICAL TROUBLES IN VICTORIA. THE TARARUA GOLD ROBBERY. A KELLY FAMILY EXHIBITION. FLOATING OF THE SORATA. . VICTORIA. Mkujouisxk, Nov. 17. Replying to Mr Longmore Mr Vale said the Government did not intend to re-opening the question of the Exhibition opening, but Mr Longmore notified that he would discuss the subject again at an early date.

Mr Murray-Smith lias undertaken to conduct the Council Ileform Bill in the Assembly. Mr Berry promised to name an early date for its second reading. In the Legislative Council on Wednesday, Mr Dobson moved the second reading of the Betting Prevention Bill. With his consent Mr Lorimer moved that the Bill be referred to a Select Committee for enquiry. The measure received fair support. Dr Hearn, however, entirely opposed the principle involved, and said that no committee’s report would change his opinion. The motion was agreed to. The railway debate was resumed in the Assembly on Wednesday. Mr Gillies maintained that the available funds were over-estimated by £281,000, and the cost of the lines under-estimated. Mr Wood defended Mr Patterson’s estimates. Mr Murray Smith urged that the Government should state at once the order in which the lines are to be constructed, in order to prevent their being used hereafter to secure an unfair political influence. On the motion of L. L. Smith a special Committee has been appointed to consider the best means of eradicating phylloxera. It is expected the evidence of foreigners now in Melbourne will be taken on the subject. The Tararua arrived on Saturday night. On opening the bullion-room, it was discovered that a box of gold valued at £SOOO, was missing. It was consigned to the Bank of New Zealand. There is no trace of the robbers up to the present. The door of the room was locked at Dunedin, and the key was in possession of the purser until the arrival of the steamer in Melbourne, where everything was found intact except that one out of eleven boxes of gold was missing. Later telegrams say that there is every reason to suppose the gold was placed on board in New Zealand, but it is unknown whether it has been landed at the Bluff or at Hobartown. The “ Ararat Advertiser ” says much indignation is expressed there at Gaunson’s conduct re Kelly, which it consider a disgrace to the constituency he represents in Parliament. A petition has been extensively signed at Ballarat praying for tbe removal of Gaunson from the Chairmanship of Committees. On tl»e evening before the day on which Kelly was hanged, Kate Kelly and another brother exhibited themselves at the Apollo Hall. Many hundreds

were admitted. On the following day I the police interfered, threatening the withdrawal of the license if the exhibition was persisted in. The Emerald sailed for Auckland on AA r ednesday and the Nautilus on the following day. The AVolverine leaves on Nov. 18, and , the Cormorant on the 20th, the latter for Hobart Town. Certain officers who were engaged in the pursuit of the Kellys ask for an enquiry into their case, but Berry is not inclined to comply. The Howard Board has not yet met. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. The attempt to float the Sorata proved a complete success on Saturday last. On that day it was decided to make a strong effort to get her afloat; every donkey-engine was set in motion, and every man at his post, when the attempt was rewarded by the vessel fairly floating. A sail was then passed under her, nearly stopping the ingress of water, * and she started at half-past four, and at nine, one pump was found to be able to keep the water under. The Sorata is at present at the Semaphore Jetty for temporary repairs ; thence she will be taken either to Sydney or to Alel bourne. Great praise is given to the officers and men. The cricketing team arrived from England by the Khedive on Sunday and were entertained on Monday by the Mayor. The team remains in Adelaide until the return; of the-South Australian team, now in Alelbournc.