Australian Summary.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3496, 9 March 1880, Page 2

Australian Summary.

(Pee Pbess Association.)

VICTORIA.

Melboubne.

The elections hare resulted in a complete reversal of the verdict pronounced. The Constitutional party have secured forty-nine seats in the new Parliament* and the Ministerialists thirty • seven. There have been several curious surprises. Munro and Casey, two leaders of the Corner party, were defeated— the former by a young man only known as Captain of one of the leading Metropolitan Football Clubs, and Casey was defeated by a barrister named Fisher, who was Vice-President of the Central Reform League. Fourteen seats which formerly returned Ministerialists were won by the Opposition, who only lost four of their old seats. O'Loughlan, Attorney-Geuera!, was defeated, and Grant and Longmore, two other Ministers, had a very dose contest. The voting throughout was very close. The miners as a rule supported Berry, and the Ballarat district almost went entirely for Berry, the Sandhurst districts for the Opposition. At Geelong Berry had only 53 votes over Grant and Drews, Oppositionists. Langton lately petitioned against the return of Patterson and Pearson for Castlemaiae, on the ground of bribery. Other seats will be petitioned against by the defeated Oppositionists. It is rumored that one of the ministerial members will likely forfeit bis seat

through an insolvency proceeding, wheit O'Loughlan will try for his seat. The Ministry resigned on March 2nd and Service was sent for. New Parliament meets on March 9th. The New Parliament, An analysis of tbo opinion of members of new Pauliament show that 40 favor payment of members, five support it in modified form, 41 are against payment, two of whom would ask modification. In case of a successful attempt to review it, Berry's reform scheme, pure;and simple, has only 32 absolute supporters. Four would only vote for parts of it. The plebiscite by itself, or the sixth clause by itself, but not both. The rival schemes. For Service* scheme there are 41 declared rotes, and five members who appear to favour that scheme, but have not definitely said that they will vote for it. There are one or two members favorable only to an alteration of the constitution of the Council. There is one (Mr D. M. Davies) who has said that if the Ministry are defeated he will hold, himself free to vote for any other plan by which deadlocks can be stopped for the future.

The great majority of members on both sides are committed to the Education Act as it stands, and are also either strong protectionists, moderate protectionists, or free traders pledged not to effect any alteration of tariff, which would injure the protected industries. Already more thau one member of the defeated Ministerial party hare expressed determination to accept the new situation, and assist the carrying of the Reform scheme.

Mr Service is likely to hare a much larger majority than that shown above. A romantic case of suicide occurred in Melbourne. A steady young man named Walter Hy. Bruce, aged 15, conceived a strong affection for a girl named Rosa Cootes, 12 years of age. Recently they quarrelled, and she told him, no doubt in jest, to go and poison himself. On Sunday eveniDg, February 29th, he obtained some cyanide of pota&sium for a photographer's where he was .employed, and poisoned himself. On his dead body was found a letter to Miss Cootes, saying he had faithfully obeyed her demand to kill himself.

It is probable there will be about 11,000 applications By Victorians for space in the Melbourne Exhibition. Almost 12,000 square feet of space, including the floor and wall space, are required. The prize list of the Melbourne Juvenile Exhibition will shortly be issued with 3546 entries. Melbourne and the suburbs obtain 66 gold medals and 203 silver for 82 entries ; New South Wales obtain four silver medals; South Austra* Ha, 1 gold medal and 2 silver for 22 entries; Tasmania, 3 silver for 32 entries ; Fiji, 1 silver medal for 192 entries.