AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2421, 20 December 1880, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[By Telegraph.] (Per Rotomahana at the Bluff.) VICTORIA. Melbourne, Dec. 14. In the Assembly on Thursday, Dr L. L. Smith unexpectedly tabled a want of confidence motion on the vague ground that the Ministry was unsatisfactory. Berry asked Service if the motion had his concurrence. Service said as he had heard nothing aborft the motion lie could express no opinion and required time to consult his friends, whereupon Berry moved the adjournment of the House. Longmore and Mirams said, the whole Corner party were not consulted, and they would not support the motion. Nimmo and others protested against the waste of time by a bogus motion. This, however, has since been regarded as of greater significance than at first. It is believed that Smith is acting with the full concurrence of O’Loghlen, O’Shanassy, and others. Sir Bryan O’Loghlen on Thursday, after intimating his want of confidence, both in the ability and power of government to carry out a liberal policy, crossed the floor and took his seat in the Opposition corner. A Cabinet meeting was held next day to consider the situation, and an Opposition caucus was also held on the same day, but was adjourned until to-day, when the members will decide upon the action in connection with Smith’s motion. The result is entirely a matter of speculation at the present moment.

About 0000 persons visited the Sorata on Sunday. A charge of sixpence realised £G3, which is to distributed among the Melbourne charities. No official surrey has yet been made, but tenders for repairs will shortly be called, and Sydney and Melbourne lirms are expected to compete. An action was brought yesterday in the City Court against Asche,proprietor of a hotel in Melbourne to recover £Bd. being an amount due on a Cup sweep. The defendant pleaded the illegality of the transaction. Judge Cope held that the action could not be maintained and nonsuited the plaintiff with costs. Circulars have been issued by the Secretary of the Exhibition proposing that it be opened two nights weekly and that during the month of April exhibitors be allowed to sell and deliver goods in the Exhibition. Neither of proposals meets with much favor, those formerly against night opening still maintaining the same view, and most of the Commissioners objecting to the building being converted into a huge shop. The “ Argus ” likewise condemns the attempts to reopen a question which has already been settled by a large majority of the Commissioners.

NEW SOUTH WALES. Henry Wilkinson was charged with the murder of Martin Menz last Tuesday, and was remanded for trial at Albury. The prisoner suggested an alibi, and threw suspicion on the son of Martin Menz named Henry Menz. The daughter, Mary Pumpa is still alive, but in a precarious condition. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. The “ South Australian Register” gives the result of a trial shipment of oranges to England per Garonne. Of 043 oranges shipped 580 arrived in good condition, and were declared delicious. The fruit was delivered in London at an actual cost of a penny one-third per orange, at a time when they are usually quite unattainable. U QUEENSLAND. The Premier shortly starts for England on business connected with the trans-continental railway. Moorhead will probably be the new PostmasterGeneral. Swanwick, barrister and member of

the Assembly, horsewhipped Byrne, editor of “ Punch,” on Saturday, on account of an allusion to Swanwick’s wife in the paper.