AUSTRALIAN.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 135, 2 January 1886, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN.

Sydney, Dec 23.— Hia Etnmonce Car dinal Moran will leave for New Zealand after the Christmas holidays. After encountering many obstacles, Sir John Robertson has been able to submit to His Excellency the following names for the new Ministry : — Premier and Colonial Secretary, Sir John Robertson ; Colonial Treasurer, Mr Burns ; Minister of Justice Mr Leydon ; Secretary of Lands, Mr Spring; Minister of Public Instruction, Mr Young ; Minister of Public Works, Mr Garrard ; Minister of Mines, Mr Vaughan ; Postmaster - General, Mr O'Connor ; At-torney-General, Mr Simp?on. In the Assembly to-day, the seats of the new Ministers were declared vacant, and the House then further adjourned until January 27th.

Sydney, December 23 — News from the Western districts reports that the drought has broken up, and that copious rains have fallen over a large extent of country, Sydney, "December 24. --The newly formed Ministry is considered to be a very weak combination, and it is not expected Sir John Kobertson will be able to hold office long.

Sydney, Dec 29.— Sir John Robertson has issued a political manifesto, which refers principally to the Land Act of New South Wales, and indicates amendments that it ia considered desh-able to introduce into the measure. These alterations, Sir J. Robertson says, will largely assist the financial arrangements of the colony. It is the intontion of the Government to take the earliest oopportunityy v of proposing to Parliament other measures for meeting the deficiency in revenue, and placing the finances of the country on a sound basis.

Melbourne, December 23. — The "Australasian " publishes its annual article on the Victorian wheat crop. The estimated amount of land under wheat is giveu at 1,060,000 acres, and the expected yield is 10,000,000 bushels ; average, nine decimal forty-six bushels per acre. The total surplus available for export is expected to reach 82,000 tons. The difficulty bet.voen the shipowners and wharf labourers is not yot settled, The masters, however, are very firm in their attitude, and as the labourers show signs of yielding, it is expected that a compromise may be arrived at.

Melbourne, December 24.— The difficulty between the shipowners and the wharf labourers remains unsettled. There is, however, a possibility that the entire question will be postponed for a moakh ; but, failing that, the masters will obtain men from other colonies without delay.

Melbourne, December 26. —An article appears in the "Ai-gus" today in which considerable changes are foreshadowed in the personnel of the Victorian Ministry, Mr Service, the present Premier, is said to be desirous of retiring into private life, and is expected to resign office Mr Berry, the Colonial Secretary, will proceed to England as Agent-General, Mr Murray Smith, who now holds that position, willing to return to Victoria. The Hon. Duncan Gillies, Minister of Railways, will probably succeed Mr Service as Premier ; while Mr Deakin is spoken of as the coming Colonial Secretary. A cricket match has been arranged for New Year's Day betwesn the Australian eleven who are aboutto proceed toEngland and a combined eleven. The team to be sent Home will in all probability be made up as follows : — Messrs Jarvis, George Giffen, Bruce, Horan, Palmer, Blackman, Garrett, Trimble, Bonnor, Mcllwraith, Scott, Walters, and Spofforth. IMelbourne, December 28. There is no change to report in the dispute between the wharf labourers and the masters, as owing to the holidays the differences have remained in abeyance. The Ministerial changes foreshadowed by the " Argus" are fully confirmed. To day Mesars Service and Berry will retire. After the conclusion of the Federal Conucil, which is expected to finish its work by .the 20th of February, Mr Service proceeds^ to England for two years. The appointment of Mr Berry as Agent-General will probably be gazetted to-day. Brisbane, December 23. —Reports from the country districts state that heavy rains are falling, and that the drought is now at Ml end.