AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2919, 3 August 1882, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[B* TSJWGBAPH.J (Per s.B. Hero at the Bluff.) Mblboubkb, July 27. Hallway matters have occupied the principal attention of the Assembly daring the week, the Hallways Bill causing a considerable discussion. The expenditure on additional rolling stock gave rise to an animated debate. The Government are anxious to obtain 25 locomotives from England, and a similar number from America, bat the Pro* teotionists urge that they can be manufactured in the colony, although at an additional cost of £32j000. The merits of colonial as against English loco* motives wore hotly contested. At a dinner recently given at Hawthorne, the Minister for Justice intimated that another want of confidence motion was pending against the Government on the land question, and that if the Government were defeated Mr Berry would return to office, not Mr Francis. He also hinted at the probability of a dissolution. The Chief Secretary has received an intimation from London that the . time selected for floating the loan was the beginning of the new year, wbiob was considered most favorable. The Government boa asked the Secretary for the Colonies for the services of a Lient-Colonel and two Captains of Infantry for a period of five years. A regulation has appeared that after 31st of October next no explosives other than gunpowder will be imported into the colony. The Garonne sailed on the 25th, and took a consignment of meat well packed in calico. The carcases were of considerable weight. The net profit of the last Melbourne Cap meeting was £8646. Carroll, formerly a member of the Assembly, who was sentenced to 14 years for forgery, has been released at the expiration of 7 years. At the recent examination of Wright, of the insolvent firm of Wright, Payne and Co., he stated the annual turn over of the firm was £IOO,OOO. He admitted be was so ignorant of book-keeping that on looking at the ledger be did not know what the folios meant.

The unusual sight of a snowstorm in Melbourne was witnessed yesterday. It was the first ever known here.

The cargo of frozen meat by the Lusitania, now at Suez, has been offered to the War Office for the troops in Egypt. During the past few days the rainfall has considerably increased. Sydney.

The labor market is unusually healthy for all sorts of employment. Plasterers receive as much as 14a a day. The bulk of the miners at Newcastle have received an increase of wages. They express gratification at the manner in which their request was received by the managers.

Bread at Bourke is selling at 3s a loaf.

Adelaide. Ostrich forming is making good progress. Archibald Forbes received a most enthusiastic reception here.