Australian Telegrams.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3011, 9 October 1878, Page 1

Australian Telegrams.

(Pbb Pbbss Agbncy.)

(Pib s.s. Tauabtta.)

Mblboubhb, October 2. The Loan Bill for five millions passed the Council afteij a short discussion, and ' has been assented to by the Governor. ' There has been, rather a lively time of it in the Assembly over the .Reform Bill. H. Williams moved- an amendment limiting the bills, which are to be passed without the assent of the Council, to the Annual- Appropriation Bill and the ad interim Bills of Supply, the object being to provide that the tax, loan, and other money bills shall be subject to the plebiscitum arrangement of- the Ministerial measure. In reply, the Premier said that he . ' would not be unwilling ultimately to limit the Council to two bills, the Annual Appropriation Bill and the bill imposing 1 taxation for the year, the Assembly to be | the judges of what these measures should 1 contain. In that case Joan bills, land bills, and committee measures would be removed from the category of money bills. As to a loan bill, the Chief Secretary said there would not be the slightest objection to take that out, but Mr Berry argued it was necessary, in the first instance, for the. Assembly to put forward it's extreme, claims,' because otherwise they would' hare nothing to give way upon when Ihey met the Upper House in conference or when 1 they went to London. As to the plebiscitum, Mr Berry sayi that ha does not regard that as an essential feature of the Bill.! It is a conservative ' concession, put in for the sake of, and tp < be used by, the Legislative Counoil; and' as. there was overwhelming evidence that it will not be .acceptable in England, he is not disposed to make iti retention a vital question. - . The amendment was lost by 41 to 20. Seven Government supporters roted in its favour. The Government hare obtained two victories in the. Supreme Court. . - ' ' .:•; • * On Wednesday a judge's •warrant Wai applied for with, a view of determining the status of the; County Court Judges, who have* be«n dismissed, *nd reappointed. The Court refused the sum* mons, as a majority consisting of Judges Barry and Moleswarth, hald that the Government could dismiss County Court Judges without, cause. The Chief Justice alone dissented, and held that the Government had no power to dismiss County Court Judges except for misbe-' haviour. -■■ v •-

After a somewhat,stirring debate the , Assembly- agreed ! to purchase Marshall Wood's, statue of the Queen for three thousand pounds. ; The Church of England Assembly has > closed its session, after having passed the Dean of Melbourne's resolution favorable to religious teaching in schools.. The subject of religious education is just now prominently before the community, owing partly to the remarks of the Bishop of Melbourne in favor of a separate grant to Roman Catholics, and partly to a bill introduced by Sir J. O'Shanghanessy providing that a grant be made to schools in which it is shown the prescribed standard of education has been reached,, the object being separate grants to Catholic schools. ' The Eastern Extension Cable Company do not like the idea of giving up the •cable subsidy altogether, and have made 1 fresh proposals, allowing a redaction of 75 per cent, over their own lines without restriction of combination to press. < This : will make the cost of messages 6s 3d per word; but this will be no advantage either, to the press or the public unless the use' of cypher in • also permitted. The awkward cable interruption has prevented the conclusion of negotiations. A serious mining accident occurred at Ballarat on Saturday, which resulted in the immediate death of two men and the shocking mutilation of a third. The cage fell with them a distance of 100 feet down a shaft.

Four prisoners have escaped from a working gang at Maryborough, and succeeded in* reaching timbered country, where they have' not yet been recap* tured. The Melbourne Cup betting is still very dull, and the public do not seem inclined to speculate 1 this year. On the strength of his winning the Wagga gold cup, Woodlands has come more into favour, but Mileta is not yet supplanted. She is well bred, a magnificent filly to look at, in- .fine "condition;* and • being - trained by the successful Wilson.

Henry V... at the Theatre Eoyal, is drawing crowded bouses. Creswick. has apparently lost much of his attractions, and is not doing well. The weather has been pleasant, with some cold days. • The country is looking splendid.