AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 72, 24 August 1878, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Melbourne, Ang 20.

Endeavours will be made by Government supporters to finish the debate on th° Reform Bill on Thursday. The result is doubtful.

The Assembly is discussing contract law. The only expenditure authorised by Parliament was £125,000, while contracts were accepted to £275,000, apparently by the M'Cnlloch Government. Probably a Royal Commission will be appointed for the Exhibition this week. The Chief Inspector of Sheep for Tasmania waited on Mr Berry to-day respecting the alteration of regulations for the importation of sheep. A similar application was made from Adelaide. Both were refused.

Walter German, a trader, lias been committed for trial for absconding with £I2OO belonging to his creditors. In the Victorian Legis’ative Council, Sir C. Sladen has given notice to mwe a new clause in the reform Bill to reduce the qualification for members to freehold property value £125, instead of £250. Mr Anderson has given notice that the number of members shall be forty, and the provincef increased to eight. In Adelaide Mr Bmieaut moves that the land tax be 6d in the ■£ on the value.

A readjustment of the Custom duties ensn s immediately.

The Kapunda Rabbit Preserving Company shipped 42,00011)3 of rabbit fish by the Cuzco, and sends Gl.OOOlbs by the Aconcagua. In .Queensland good gol 1 prospects are reported from the Palma - diggings.

NEW CALEDONIA.

The own correspondent to the Sydney ‘ Hera'd f says the total number of victims known to have been ma-sacred is do e upon 150. Thirty two dead ho lies of Kanakas were fmuid Everyone died of gun shot wmmds. The latest news is that a detachment, of infantry surprised the rebds at a village named Audio, and killed twenty ; than burnt the village and a considerable q'.rm ity of pro 1 , isums, etc. In ibis encounter the. second column of soldiers who approached on the other side by night, were by mistake fired upon by their comrades, fortunately without any injurious remit, ere the error was discovered. It is reported that the insurgents are becoming hard up for provisions, as must, of course, be the case, they having no means of stowing away any quantity of food, even if possessed of any. Nothing is heard from the revolted districts. All parts of the island are perfectly quiet, except the native land at Poifa, north of Bonrail.

The weather continues very hot. Settlers look forward to another hard summer if plentiful rains do not come soon.

Official information has been received that troops will arrive from France and Cochin China. The Lusitania arrived at Adelaide on the 14th, and the Somersetshire at Melbourne on the 15th. The latter brought 260 passengers, among whom is Dr Ryan, who distinguished himself in the RussoTurkish war, and received a number of testimonials from the Sultan. The Somersef shire returns to England via the Suez Canal.

Mr Henty, the oldest colonist in Victoria is dead. He had resided in the colony 48 years, A new dock has been opened on the Yarra, and a ship of over one thousand tons was taken in.

The threat of the English Government to retain 4d instead of Id per letter out of its receipts for mails to Australia mid New Zealand, was discussed at the Cable Conference, held at Melbourne on the afternoon of the 14th. It was stated that Victoria would lose £IO,OOO annually, and Sydney and New Zealand £7OOO each, if this new arrangement was insisted upon. A joint message was sent to the Victorian Agent-General, Mr Michie, asking if the Imperial Government had replied to the protests of the Agents-General on the subject.