AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 206, 4 December 1879, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Melbourne. The position of the Ministry is daily becoming less secure. 1 They hold office simply because the Opposition and the corner party have not agreed* At the Ministerial caucus only thirty-five supporters attended, though some others •* apologised.They profess great indignation

at the angry communications in the Age which pressed Mr Berry to reconstruct his Ministry and ab nldon all his reform Bills. They also advise him to resist the.dictations of the Age which, however, has not modified its demands. Information has been .received that theTmperial Government- 1 is willing to .carry all letters and newspapers via Brindisi at Southampton rates, retaining three pence halfpenny for letters, and a 'penny for newspapers sent from England. ■■■ : ■■■■ ‘ Sydney. Sir H. . Parkes, in an able speech, moved the second reading of the Education Bilk He 'remarked-that at' present 071 public schools", 155 denominational, and lp2 half-time schools, where-a total, of 94,384 children wer.e educated, were, open. He denied that the 1 Roman Catholics endured -.persecution,.; there Were twenty thousand children attending no schools. If the Bill reached. those children it deserved support. The.-nude, figures at the; French school Exhibition are creating a sensation. The Daily Telegraph suggests the prosecution of the Commissioners. 1 ‘