AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 18, 23 July 1885, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[RBUTBBB* TBLKGBAMB.I Received July 23, 2 am. Mklbottbne, July 22. The Hon. Mr Service, Colonial Treasurer, brought down his financial statement to-night. Tho revenue for the past yoar was £6,290,000, excluding the balance of £314,000 with which the year was commenced, and expenditure for same period £6,210,000. Balance at tho end of the year is £392,000, and the actual surplus of receipts over expenditure £78,000. The Treasurer estimates the revenue for the forthcoming' 12 months at £7,000,000, and expenditure for the same time £6,950,000. The estimated balance at the close of tho financial year 1885-86 will be £51,000. The public debt is set down as £28,600,000. In the course of his speech Mr Service referred to the great success which had attended the action of the Government in reducing the telegraphic charges from Is to 6d per ten words. He announced that no fiscal changes have been made. Sydnbt, July 22. The agitation respecting the execution of the convict Johns was led by Thomas Walker, a Freethinker, who, on the night previous, used language of an inflammatory character. The Governor received a deputation, but declined to go behind the decision of his advisers. On the morning of the execution, a large crowd aseinbled outside the gaol walls, where speeches were made, and there was a good deal of cheering, all of which was heard by the convict when he was addressing the Press from the scaffold. Johns died a Free, thinker, although he was attended to the last by the clergy. This Day. Mr Farnell expresses his opinion that an early break up of the present administration may be expected, and urging in political circles his. claims to the Premiership should such a contingency arise.