AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2347, 11 October 1881, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

[By Telegraph.] [Per Eingarooma, at the Bluff ] MELBOUENE, October 4. The Budget debate only lasted two evenings, and was then exhausted. Sir B. O’Loghlen said that the Government intended to introduce a special Bill renewing the tobacco and beer duties, and if they could pass an amended Land Tax Bill this session they would do so. Government hoped to bring certain town lands within, the Act. He had no doubt the colony could borrow as much money as it required at about 4 per cent. In the course of his sermon on Sunday, the Bishop of Melbourne incidentally referred to the Irish Land Bill as one of the grandest and wisest acts of legislation. Eather an extensive fire occurred on the night of the first at a store in Elizabeth street, off Flinder’s lane, jointly occupied by Wilson, Crosbio and Co. and hander, Lazarus and Co. The portion occupied by the latter contained goods valued at £SOOO, which were only insured for £IOOO. Wilson, Crosbie and Co. were’; nsnred in the Victoria Company for £3OOO, and estimate their loss in excess of that. The origin of the fire is unknown. SYDNEY, October 4. There was a serious tramway collision on Sunday afternoon on the Bandwick line. The shock was severe, and a considerable number of passengers were shaken. A boy and a youth received serious injuries. A brutal murder has been perpetrated at Mount Gravatt, a short distance from Brisbane. An elderly man named Pillinger was found with his skull smashed in and other injuries. A school teacher has been arrested on suspicion. ADELAIDE. October 4. The Treasurer submitted his fiscal resolutions abolishing the duties on tea, coffee, chocolate, cocoa, rice, cornsacka, woolpacks, and imposing a duty on real and personal property to the amount of £36,700. The abolition of the duty on tea would benefit the working classes as £30,000 were now collected under that head. The total revenue for the quarter was £600,831; receipts from Customs, rents, and land were largely in excess of the estimated revenue. The want of rain in the northern farming districts is severely felt. Many crops are iujured beyond the possibility of recovery, and over a large area the wheat plants are feeble.