Australian Telegrams.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2916, 20 June 1878, Page 2

Australian Telegrams.

(Pee s.s. Albion.)

(PJBE PbESS AgENCT.)

Melbourne, June 13.

Parliament meets en tie 9th of July, when a stormy session is anticipated." The leading feu'oures of the Beform Bill to be introduced by the Government hare been sufficiently indicated to make it doubtfrlif it w'H Je approved by the Council.

The Castlemaine election resulted in the election of Professor Pearson against his two opponents, Chapman and Gaunson, the latter of whom lost his £50 deposit, cot hav'ig obtained one fifth of the rotes of the succossfuV candidate. .Professor Pearson is a late fellow of Oriel College, Oxford, and a historian of some note. He is a warm supporter of the Government, and spoken of as the future Minister of Education.

South Gippsland has now half-a-dozan candidates, including Mr CLaunson, the defeated candidate at Castlemaine.

There hare been no public utterances of note during the week. Ministers are mostly engaged in the preparation for the coming campaign, and obtaining departmental returns with-a view to an economical preparation of the eslimates for the coming year. There have been rumours of misunderstandings in the Cabinet, but .pot such as are likely to lead to an open rupture. It is also reported that two of the Ministers were to retire the step would not be regretted by the remainder. There is some little hitch regarding the final settlement of the terms of tl c cable contract. Colonel Glover, in accedig to the reduction in press and Government rates, could only arrange'for such reduction over the company's cables, but Mi* Ber y stands out that the specified reductions (75 per cent, for press and 50 for Government messages) must include the through passagj from London to Port Darwin, including the land lines through India and Java. There are also one or two other little matters which it is hoped will be amicably settled. The reduced press rates will come into operation as soon as the contract is signed. ; New Zealand has not yet replied in regard to her share of the general agreement.

There 13 nothing further in reference; to the Loch Ard disaster. There, are no more survivors, and very little cargo has been saved. Subscriptions for Thomas Penrce, the brare young midshipman, are bei tg raised in this and other colonies. Miss Carciichael is improving, but still remains at Gibson's station. *■

The unemployed cdntinue to. give, some trouble, a id meetings have been held in all parts of the colony. As an instance of the dulness of the building trade a cargo of Oregon timber was offevsd at auction on Tuesday, when the bidding did not nearly cover the cost of the original priea and freight. In the present unsettled state of affairs capitalists willnot invest, and no doubt money is Hight; still 1 all the places of amusement ere wonderfully well pat-

ronise,d, many places being crowded nightly. * " Our Girls," j*i the Academy of Music, wit.'i Mr J. L. Hall, is pronDg a. great success. The Italian Opera are doing fairly well. . '■ Business generally is dull. ■•■: The weather during the past few days has b*en very boisterous, and cold and we^. ' . I'

Richard Heraghty, who was condemned for execution at Ballarat for a most brutal murder of his paramour, was reprieved at the tost moment, and a special train was despatched on Sunday announcing that the sentence had been commuted to life imprlsorment, the first, three years in irons. The wreck of the Loch Ard was sold for £2,020, a very high price considering there is little likely to be saved. James Purvis, a very old colonist, who has imported several well known race horses, died last night. Sydney, June 13. A brilliant met-or has been seen, the size of the sun. It exploded with a loud report. - : Adelaide, June 13. The. address in reply was agreed to in th^ Assembly. Mr Townsend has been re-elected Chauman of Committees. Rains have been geherrl throughout the country. .