LATEST AUSTRALIAN.

Evening Star, Issue 3962, 5 November 1875, Page 3

LATEST AUSTRALIAN.

[Per Alhambra at the Bluff.) Melbourne, October 30, The week generally baa been barren of events of interes a. The political excitement is growing stronger as the day of battle draws nearer. Sir James M’Cuiloch unfolds the Government policy at Warnambool to-night. It is generally believed that it will embrace a laud tax as well as the taxation of other descriptions of property. The various anomalies in our i 'U'loms duties will be removed without interfering with the protection system. One Benjamin Dorrylas, a working man’s candidate and general agicator, has come forward to oppose the Premier, but it is thought he wd have no chance. The seat of the Commission i of Hallways at Ballarat looks anything but secure, and there are grounds for apprehension in West Bourke, where the Minister of Justice seeks re election. The Minister of Education has also an opponent in the field in the person of one Mirams. a prominent member of the protection league. When the polling day arrives there will be some severe work in some of the electorates. The population of Australasia, including New Zealand, is 3,233,100. There are thirty-one horses left in the Melbourne Cup, but reports of two or three of those remaining are not very favorable. The weather has been altogether against training. Sir Hercu'es Kobinsen will be present, and wul arrive in Melbourne next Thursday night. A filthy publication, called the ‘ Police News and Weekly Budget,’ on Saturday last overstepped the bounds of decency by presenting a nasty picture, accompanied by still nastier letterpress matter. The proprietor, Richard Egan Lee. was immediately summoned and has been committed for trial.

Tho Acting-Governor has been actively performing public duties during the past few days. On Thursday he laid the foundation stene of the new Aims Houses for the Licensed Victu.dlei s’ Association ; yesterday he was present at the National Agricultural Show at Talbot; and to-day is opening abHorticultural Exhibition at Brighton. The statements • f Captain Logan, of the steamer Hero, respecting the Marquis of Normanby have been a good deal commented on, hut a letter from a passenger by the Hero on that occasion tells a plain unvarnished tale. It is published in yesterday’s * Argus,’ and as an act of simple justice to the Marquis should be republished in New Zealand. The convict William Page, who murdered Marv Buchan at Mount Gambier, was exjcuted last Wednesday. He left a confession stating that the crime was unpremeditated, and that he never made any attempt against the girl’ chastity, Mauritius advices state that the G&rron was loading for Lyttelton, and the Lochiel, May Flower, and John Ivtrdrup for other New Zealand ports. Shipments of the new crop were smaller than in any year previous. The scarlet fever epidemic still continues Several deaths of children ara reported. Mr Berry delivered a lecture on protection at Eaglehawk last night. He stated that the Opposition would not allow business to proceed until there was a dissolution.

Tho exhibits for Philadelphia from Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, will leave direct for New York on 30th November. No steamer leaves for New Zealand from here till the Albion on the 11th November for Hokitika. . Sydney. One of the banks has received information of the circulation of forged credits on the Bank of British North America in New York, A shepherd' named Blackhouse, has been found in a hut uear Gunnedali with his skull smashed in. An axe was found close by. The Bank of New South Wales has declared a dividend of In per cent., with a bonus of 2A per cent., and carried LO,OOO to the reserve fund, which now amounts to L 400,000. Tho Marquis of Normanby has given LIOO to the National Agricultural Association of Queensland. Mm blacks nre very troublesome on the road to Palmer. Several muvdeis have been committed : ncourftging accounts continue to be received from the goldfields. Adelaide, Several public meetings have carried lesolutions in support of the Government policy. Arrangements have been made for the shipment of German immigrants from Hamburg early next year. Tho ex; ort of breadstuff's for the year to date is 150, (JUO tons. Tasmania. Thu second session of Parliament has been opened. The speech was confined to a recomme n'a ion to pass the Public Works scheme The addier-s in reply was carried in both Houses.