WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 70, 5 December 1844, Page 3

WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

We have received fi'es of papers from Perth, from tbe beginning of May to the latter end or August* The most important it eras of intelligence relate to the state of tbe Revenue, and the financial measures of tbe Government. From an official comP a * rative statement of tbe revenue for 1843, and that for 1844.: we find that of tbe former year to have been £9544 Os. Id.; that for 1844. £9509 14s. 3d. Ihe decrease being £U ss. lod, In the meantime, the expenditure bad not diminished, and it was necessary to have recourse to measures to increase tbe revenue, and in tbe Perth Gazette of the 3tu July we find:— The new taxes to be imposed are— On each and every gallon of wine, the produce of any part of tbe British empire, 6d. On each and erery gallon, the produce of any other place, Is. 6d On each and every pound weight of damaged tobacco, or tobacco to be used solely for the purpose of washing sheep, 3d. On each and every pound weight of other tobacco, Is, 6d.

On each and every pound weight of cigars,ss. On each and every pound weight of snuff, 5s On each and every gallon of ale or beer, of every sorts 6d.

On each and every bushel of oats and other grain, including bran, not being food tor man, 6d, On each and every gallon ol pickles, inoluding vinegar, and of assorted fruits, Is. On each and every gallon of vinegar, 61. On each and every pound weigbt of salted or cured provisions, Id. On each and every pound of butter, ld« On all live stock not being direct from tbe United Kingdom, £\o percent. On all goods, wares, and merchandise, imported into the colony, and not already or otherwise subject to a specific duty, a duty of j6"5 percent.

The united opinions of the Legislative Connoil we earnestly hope will have the effect contemplated, that of forming an : increased raveuUe, and assisting the farmer; although, for our own pait, in common with many others, we fear reverse will prove to be the fact, and that our trade and 'communications with England will be materially diminished/ Flour will be subject to an ad valorum duty of 5 per ceut. ~ Tbe value of imports duriug tbe year ended 31st Maicb, 1844, is given as £46,880; the value of exports as i?31,fi09. From the offreial Returns of tbe survey department we find the quantity of land surveyed during the year ended 31st ol March, 1844, was 383.646 J acres. The quantity of 1 and under cultivation was 3,858 acres, being an increase of 811 acres on tbe previous year. The quantity of stock of all descriptions was 8Y,940,-the increase over the quantity of the previous year being 15,094,

Theffifteenth anniversary of the colony,notwithstanding the depressed state of every interest in the colony, was kept up with some spirit, balls, races, and other public amusements, having been got up for the occasion.

The Western Australians appear to have been labouring under the impression that there was a direct, pernrtuenOy established, and speedy com* munication by means of steam.vessels between England and Sydney, and a requisition was ad" dressed to the Sheriff, to call a meeting to memorialize the Home Government that the steamer might call monthly at George's Sound, to leave a mail for Western Australi aon her way to Sydney. Tbe meeting was held, and resolutions passed, and a petition to Her Majesty adopted, which petition was forwarded through the usual course, Sam* months afterwards, howevar, the Western Australe ians received intelligence from England, that tbe packets Cnat steamj to Sydney were put ou for the present merely as an experiment, and that no alteration could be made in the terms of tbe contract.

11 appears from some remarks mde by Governor Hutt in the Legislative Council, that be expects to be -peedily recalled from the Government of West* ern Australia.

The Legislative Council, previously to it* breaking up on tlis 22nd August, bad had under its consideration a series of resolutions brought* forward by the Colonial Secretary, P. Brown, Esq., the object of which was to afford some relief to the colony from its present embarrassment. The chief means of relief suggested are alterations in the Crown Lands Act, end a loan to be raised in Engs land of ,£IOO,OOO, to enaule parties to pay off mortgages, and to devote some few thousands to tbe purposes ofimmig ation. Nothing, however,ap* pears to have been done ih the matter. The Western Australians are turning tbeir attention to the export of timb rto the Mauritius, also to the export of bark and numerous- other articles which bad hitherto been neglected.. We do not observe any reports which would -enable us to give an account of the value of stock, Sec. V/e observe that about the latter end df May sheep were worth 10s,, even of inferior description. The whale fisheries in the bays appear to have been doing well; but considerable jealousy appears to exist as to the Americans; Some particulars with respect to -shipping will be found in our shipping columns i-Sydney Herald.