Australian Summary.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3519, 6 April 1880, Page 2

Australian Summary.

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

(Pee Pbbßs Association.)

VICTOBIA

The Government are busy preparing the work for next session. The Reform Bill is nearly drafted, and the Land a Department are plotting the boundaries proposed, showing the number of rotes at various Stages from the ratepayers' roll

upwards

The Government have reinstated Thos. HiginbO thbhV' Engineer-in-Chief of railways. They offered to allow Watkins to retain his present Balary of £1200 yearly if he would go back to his old position, but he declined. Farrell, Parliamentary librarian, who surrendered his seat for Castlemain 2 years ago to enable Professor Pearson to be returned to the Assembly, also toceived notice that his services would be dispensed with shortly. Gordon, late Engineer-in-Chief for the Water Supply, is certain to be reinstated.

Benjamin Berry, ' son of the late Premier, who, though only a supernumerary in the Works Depart* ment, just prior to the Government leaving office was gazetted 4th class civil servant without having passed the examination required by law, will probably be put back to his old position, as the Audit Commissioners are reporting the appointment as illegal. Williams, member for Mandurang, has been selected to move in favor of payment of members on the assembling of the House. Williams is acting in a friendly spirit towards the Government, who will give him the requisite facilities for taking the sense of the Legislature. Ho will propose theold rate of payment, Bamely £300 per annum, and also that the remuneration shall date from the day of election. ;

There is some dissatisfaction amongst the Catholic supporters of the Government.

The Government reserred the land at Sandridge, registered by the Harbour Trust for a canal cutting, recommended by Coode. The Exhibition Commissioners profess their inability to explain the dissatisfaction felt in London respecting their action. The Victorian Agent-General has been pressing that a Commission should be nominated in Great Britain to risit Victoria, and apparently he finds the ground cut from under his feet by the letter from the Great Britain Committee in Melbourne, offering to do the bulk of the work for the British Court in the Exhibition.

NEW SOUTH WALES.

Sir H. Parkes informed the Assembly that Government is not disposed to proceed with the business in consequence of the action of the Upper House in again amending the Stamp Bills, and Rare notice that he would more on March 31st for leave to bring in a bill declaring the powers of the Legislative Council in respect to Taxation and Appropriation Bills. The Assembly discussed the Council's new, clause in the Lands Bills providing for the exemption of cattle of pastorals from impounding by selectors for two months after purchase. The clause was rejected by 303 votes to 8. Commodore Wilson oh hearing of the Chandernagore expedition to New Ireland ordered the Conflict schooner to pay a visit to the Island for observation. The Conflict, after visiting New Ireland, will return to Cooktown and telegraph the result of the visit to the Commodore.