AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2924, 9 August 1882, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[By Telegraph.] (Per B.s. Botorua at the Bluff.) Melbourne, August 1. Bailway expenditure and construction has taken the place of all other matters in the Assembly, and the proposal to spend half a million in advance of the loan, meets with general assent. The only question at issue at the present time is whether the engines urgently required should bo ordered from England or America. This is strongly combated by the Protectionists. The Local Option Bill is causing considerable difference of opinion amongst the advanced sections of the teetotal and publicans’ interests. _ The promoters of tho measure are willing to provide for compensation to publicans whose licenses might be refused.

The efforts now being made to secure the Riverina trade to Victoria have led to a groat reduction in the railway tariff for wool and produce generally. It is estimated Victoria will loose over sixty thousand bales of wool this year. At tto intercolonial ploughing match the prize list offered was over £6OO, and brought together ninety ploughmen from all parts of Victoria besides other colonies. The awards were all in favor of the Victorians.- Except the actual winners, no one is satisfied with tho results, and it is stated that an injustice has been done in the judging. The Ellonsborough mine at Sandhurst is to be lighted by an electric light. This will be the first mine thus lighted in Victoria. At the end of last week the balance in the Post-office Savings Banks amounted to £1,159,510. There is expected to be a creditable display of wines and cereals made at the Amsterdam Exhibition. All vessels from Batavia will be quarantined, owing to cholera. The Metropolitan Gas Company have voted two thousand pounds to the family of their late secretary for faia valuable services.

The farmers at Kyneton, an extensive agricultural district, are in favor of tho total abolition of the stock tax.

Servants’ wages have risen, and the supply continues scarce. Joseph Cook, the Boston lecturer, is drawing large audiences. Another raid has been made on Chinese gambling houses. The defendants were fined from ten to fifteen pounds. The weather during the last week has been very unsettled. A fair amount of rain has fallen over the country. The Government forwarded by yesterday’s mail orders to the Agent* General to purchase some Armstrong armor plates for the South Channel Fort, in accordance with the recommendation of Sir W. Jervois. Sixty men have now been enrolled for the permanent artillery force. Another sixty will be engaged as soon as possible. Sydney. The Minister for Lands has taken prompt action in regard to the recent duramyisra by means of using paupers from the Erysipelas Hospital at Pararaatta. The whole of the deposit", amounting to £960, bare been for feited. Proceedings have also been taken to prosecuts criminally all connected with the fraud.

An audacious highway robbery was committed at Adelong on Saturday. Three men stuck up a mao, whom they robbed of £45, and then bound and gagged him. He was found much exhausted. The police are on the track of the robbers. ,s A contract for £437,000 has been let in connection with the Sydney waterworks. Great preparations are being made for the reception of Sir Henry Parkes on his arrival. Sugar making has been started at Lismore with good prospects. Advices have been received that the second shipment of wine to Bordeaux was delivered short. Some of it is believed to have been stolen en route. Adelaide. A danse is to be inserted in the Hewspapers Bill, at the instance of the Government, that when in the opinion of a Judge or a special Magistrate an article in a newspaper contains anything injurious, they oan order the publisher to give up the name of the writer. Mr Archibald Forbes is drawing immense houses. Forsyth, one of the accused in the recent insurance conspiracy oases, surrendered himself to the police. He has been residing at Levuka and Auckland. The Estimates contain a veto of £25,000 foe immigration, and a substantial sum for defences. The Government have sent Homo for a vessel of the type recommended by Governor Jervois.

There is every indication of an abundant harvest, and satisfactory reports of the corps arrive from all parts.