Australian Summary.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3472, 10 February 1880, Page 2

Australian Summary.

(FEB. 8.8. RoTOBtTA AT THE BIUFF.)

(Per Pbess Association.)

The following we were compelled to hold over from-last evening :—

VICTORIA.. Election News.

Parliament is expected to be prorogued by the Governor in person. Mr Berry makes his public address at Geelong, announcing the future policy of the Government. Mr Service is to reply on the following Thursday at Maldon, when the contest will commence in real earnest. Every seat is to be contested, and the issue is very doubtful, but it i$ considered the Government will be certain to be weakened, but not overturned. Ad important manifesto has been, addressed by Mr Service to the electors of Maldon. He trusts the electors will unmistakeably signify they will not sanction any Government reform proposal; he contends the settlement of the vexed question of reform is quite possible, and the Berry Government is the only—obstacle in' the way; he asserts that the difficulty can be splendidly and satisfactorily settled by adopting the.scheme which he submitted somo fourteen months

ago, which he still adheres to. and is a simple, reasonable, and an effective method. He says the present system of taxation is particularly severe in respect to farming interests, and states that the new parliament must grant relief to farmers, miners, and manufacturers by such a remission taxation as will lessen the cost of production. SYDNEY. Nominally three quarters of a million is still in hand of the late loan, but it has transpired that really only £345,009 is available for new lines. Edward Trickett proposes to proceed to England to row Hanlan for the chainpioniship of the world, on the Thames. It is suggested that Mr Clark, Captain of the Sydney Bowing Club, should accompany him. The Assembly rejected Garrett's Totalisator Legalising Bill by a majority of four. V It has transpired that the convict Hume's story that an aged white man, supposed to be Classan, of Leichardt's* party, was living amongst the blacks on the Mulligan, is correct. The man died in November, 1876, attempting to reach a camp of white settlers. The committee appointed to procure a painting of Sir Hercules Robinson has given the commission to a Melbourne artist. I

The Irish Relief Fund amounts to eleven thousand five hundred pounds. The South Australian Begister expresses astonishment that Government placed the loan of three millions and a quarter on the market at loan miuinum fixed.

The contractors who supplied the defective rails to the Fort Augusta Bailway agree to pay Government £20,009. It is reported that a brother of Sir Jas. Fergusson is to succeed Major Goodwin as assistant Adjutant-General of volunteers.