AUSTRALIAN.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4399, 8 February 1883, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

Melboubne, Yesterday. The Political Situation in Victoria.

The political speeches made last night gave the first intimation of a probable coalition between the constitutionalists and the liberals. Mr Gillies, speaking at Echuca, denounced the ingratitude of the Government, with whom he declared he would henceforth have no tie. The feeling of the couutry, he said, was iv favor of a strong Government capable of practical legislation, and composed of reasonable men in a position to sink party differences and re-unite in the national work. He hoped the modus .operandi would be discovered, and pledged himself to efforts in tbe direction indicated. Mr Graham Berry spoke at Geelong, and announced that he would defend the Education Act against all assailants. He denounced the eduoation and tariff com> missioners; one of his speeches was somewhat ambiguous, but it is believed that he is not adverse to a coalition with the constitutionalists. The number of ministerial candidates announced for the general election is comparatively small, and it is generally considered certain that the Government will be defeated.

The Melbourne manager of the National Mortgage and Agency Company (Limited) reports of the local grain market as follows :—Wheat, go d demand at 5s Id to 5s 3d ; malting barley os 3d to 5t 7d, also in good demand ; New Zealand oats, less depressed, and rather more inquiry is now experienced—feeding qualities 3s to 3s 6d ; New Zealand oats, under bond, 2s 6d to 3s. . Sir Julius Vogel ia a passenger for London, by the Sorato, which sailed today. [Received February 8, 2 p.m.] Melboubne, This day. Mr James Service addressed a meeting of the electors of Castlemaine last evening. In the course of his speech he confirmed the statement made by Sir Bryan Bryan O'Lotjhlen that old party lines had ceased to exist, and that moderation was now the order of the day. He declared that the delay which' had occurred in .floating the four million loan was unpardonable, and denounced political patronage, which he characterised as the upas tree of the Constitution. He upheld the Education Act, and averred that it had produced satis" factory results. He strongly urged tU©

of the federation of the Austra lian colonies and advocated the re-organi satiqo of the Volunteer force. :

Mr. Bent, the Minister of Railways, in his address to the electors of Brighton, declared himself in favor of the manage* raent of the railway department by a commission.

The Hon. J. J Casey has announced that he will contest the election for the. Sandridge constituency.

Sydney, Yesterday. In the Legislative Assembly to-night, the Colonial Treasurer delivered the Bud *■ get Statement. He estimates the revenue for the year at £6,819,200, and the ex penditure at £6.482565, leaving a surplus of £33(3.635. This, added to tbe surplus remaining at the close of the lafit financial year, gives a total estimated surplus for the year ending December 31st next of £1,135,5' 74. No alterations are proposed in the Customs tariff, but it is announced that a loan will shortly be raised to recoup the Consolidated Loan Fund, in which a deficiency has occurred, owing to the stoppage of land sales.

[Received "February 8 0.10 p.m.] \; Sydney, This day. In the Budget speech last night, the Hon. G. R. Debbs, the Colonial Treasurer, in referring to the railways of New South Wales, announced that the-Government are taking steps to extend the line from Redfern station to Circular Quay, Sydney. and that a further extension of tbe tramway system was also contemplated; he further announced that the railways during the past year had yielded 531 per cent, upon the capital invested in their construction, and that this percentage was higher than any other railway system in the world. /