Australian Telegrams.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2967, 19 August 1878, Page 2

Australian Telegrams.

(Peb s.s. Abawata at the Bluff.)

(Pee Peess Agency.)

Melboubne, August J4.

The reform debate still continues, and is likely to continue till the end of next week. The question is losing interest, most of the best debaters in the House having spoken.-

The Council are still engaged on their Constitutional Keform Bill, which has nearly passed through the House.

The new loan is to be floated by the bank in the usual way, not by the delegates who go home with the Beform Bill, as first intended.

Mr Morgan, Chief Secretary of South Australia, and Mr Burns, of New South Wales, are now here and will consider postal matters, in addition to finally settling cable matters.-

Mr Berry has some idea that the postal subsidies are not* necessary, and that the colony should trust to any of the steamers for mails. It is not expected this will be

tried

Mining is improving. An important fact has been the discovery of a goldbearing reef 1340 feet level in the Prince Patrick mine, said to yield three ounces per ton.

The steamer Somersetshire arrived last night. Among its passengers are Dr. Ryan, who gained such fame at Plevna, and Mr Slade, the spiritist and writing medium.

Much building is going on ; five large ones in Collins street are on.

A contract for over fifty thousand pounds has been taken for fifty miles of railway, between Geelong and Queenscliff.

Tenders will s on be accepted for the Goulbourn Valley line and the Oakleigh line.

Business is dull.

There have been several failures here and at Sydney recently.

At a sale of draught stock yesterday, after the horse show, some purchases were made on New Zealand account. Farmer's Fancy, the second highest price given, was bought for the New Zealand Land Company .for 530 guinea. Mr McEellar secured Prince Bismarck for 490 guineas, and Tremain for 300. Mr Torrans bought \oung Clyde for 365 gui-

neas. . >> The Assembly have decided to abolish the wattle bark duty.

Advices from New Guinea state that tho.'e who have gone there are in great destitution and misery. No gold has yet been found. The natives generally are friendly and willing to afford assistance, but many whites a*e guilty of most disgraceful acts towards the native women.% The Captain of the Sappho investigated several cases. He says New Guinea is quite unfit for the habitation of white men and it is quite impossible gold digging can be carried on there. Many have returned to Cooktown ill, while many remain suffering.

A twenty-one months' old colt, by Kantin Bobin, was purchased by Mr Hislop, of Hawke's Bay, for a thousand pounds, the highest price ever obtained in Australia for a colt of his oge.