Australian Summary.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3502, 16 March 1880, Page 2

Australian Summary.

(Peb Pbess Association.)

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

VICTORIA.

Oh March 5 the following members of the new Ministry were sworn in :—Jas. Service, Treasurer ; Kobt. Bamsay, Chief Secretary and Minister of Education; George Briscoe Kerferd, AttorneyGeneral; John Madden, Minister of Justice ; Duncan Gillies, Commissioner of Bailways; Johnj Dayid Duffy, Commissioner of Crown Lands; Thos. Bent, Commissioner of Public Works; Robt. Clark, Minister of Mines ; Henry Cuthbert, Commissioner of Trade and Customs, and Poßtmaster-General. With the exception of Cuthbert all are members of the Assembly. The Hon. J. G. Francis, M.L.A., and Hon. E. Sanderson, M.L.0., have seats in the Cabinet without port folios. Clark's inclusion is a concession to the Corner party.

Cuthbert represents the extreme Liberal feeling in the Tipper House and Sanderson the Conservative feeling. The non-inclusion of Murray and Smith is much regretted, but for'personal reasons they declined office.

Duffy, Bent, and Clark, are the only united members of the Government.

On the whole the popular feeling endorses Service's selection, though some grumbling exists. The first executive act was to cancel the proclamation calling parliament togetheron Tuesday March 9. Parliament now meets on May 11. Probably Sir Charles McMahon, the old speaker will be invited to preside over the Assembly at any rate temporarily, though a strong preference is felt for Murray. Smith or Cooper will probably be elected Chairman of Committees.

It is scarcely probable the re-election in the Ministry will be opposed. The Government intend to rescind, a portion of Longmpres regulations, which harrassed the selectors.

Victorian applications for space in the exhibition amount to over 165,000 feet.

The late Chief Secretary gazetted his son, Benjamin Berry, supernumerary treasurer, an office in the fourth class of the Civil Service, over the heads of a number of competent officers of longer service and superior- attainments. He has not passed the Civil Service examination as required by law. The Hon. W. J. Clarke has determined to retire from the turf. He has sold his race horses Petrea and Adernus to M. Long at Sydney. It is believed Clarke is hurt at the comments of the public on the running of his horses.

The Viotorian Fifteen again defeated the Australian Eleven, winning by one wicket and one run. There was not much public interest in the match. The Eleven play fifteen of South Australia on March 13, and then saiLfor England. One hundred and ninety-six poems for the Exhibition inaugural cantata have been received. The Selection Committee selected eight, for further examination. Very few competitors understand the character of the poem required, the most meritorious being written in the same measure from beginning to end without the slightest attempt at variation. '

NEW SOUTH WALES.

In consequence of the bread at Paramata being considered bad the prisoners refused to receive it. Several threw it over the walls. All the warders were called together as a mutiny was expected. Bread and biscuits were obtained from the neighboring shops which quieted the prisoners. A horrible murder has been committed at Moonlight Flat, near Bathurst. A man named Poulson killed his son and daughter, aged 11 and 12 respectively, with an adze in a fit of delirium tremens.

Sir Henry Parkes is nominated to the vacant seat in the senate of the University. The schooner Harriett, from Hobarton, reported that during a gale on the first inst. she passed close to a vessel of about 70 tons bottom upwards. The wreck had been apparently some length of time in the water. The Irish Famine Fund amounts to £22,000.

QUEENSLAND.

The National Rifle Association has resolved to offer trophies in the Colonial rifle match during the annual rifle meeting in exhibition week in July next. Rifle associations iv other colonies are invited to send teams.

The Irish Relief Fund exceeds £10,000,

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Professor Cavil started to swim from Semaphore to Gienelg (10 miles), but in two miles and a half he gave up, with his eyes very bloodshot. Moodie, an amateur, swam some miles further.

The Register estimates the average yield of wheat at 11 bushels, making the total out turn 163,000,000 bushels, of which 13,375,000 bushels or 361,500 tons are available for sale or export. It is believed the child of a German wandered in the scrub and was lost.

TASMANIA.

The relation between the Houses are strained. The Assembly disagreed with the Council's amendment reducing the loan.

There was no quorum in the evening, the Council alleging that there was a discourtesy on the part of the Government not securing a quorum. The Bishop and Dean Bromby proceed to England on an 18 months' tour.