AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2499, 11 April 1882, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

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[Per s.s. Bingarooma, at the Bluff. 1 MELBOURNE, Aprils

The revenue roturua are very satisfactory, and it is expected that by the 30lh of June the excess will amount to £550,000. The principle items of incronse in tho quarterly returns issued are ad valorem duties, £87,593; tobacco, £39,000 ; railway receipts, £93,019 Tna Government have paid off the whole of the outstanding liabilities, and it is believed there is every prospect of the year baing closed with an aotual instead of a nominal surplus. Colonel Grossman, who is inspecting the defences of the colonies, has expressed satisfaction with the Victorian defences, and has impressed upon tho authorities tho neoessity of a permanent force with five men at least to each gun. A Bill will be introduced at an early period, which will embody the scheme opened up by the Government, and will provide for torpedo corps being enrolled under the Naval Discipline Act. It is probable that steps will soon be taken to reduce tho postage from twopeuco to a penny, Already the sum of .£3970 has been paid to the vine growers in the Geelong district for the destruction of their vineyards owing to phylloxera. Welcome rain has fallen all over the colony, and there is a belief that the drought is now broken.

The full amount of £25,000 has been subscribed to enable tho claim for Ormond s £SOOO towards the Cathedral fund to be made.

During heavy weather the brig Alexander was driven ashore at Warnambool and became a total wrecV. The cargo is covered by a floating policy. The Loch Maree, about which fears a* 6 entertained, having sailed from G-eelong la'' October, was spoken off Kent's group on the 30th of the same month by Captain Murdoch, of the Don Diego. The weather soon after was very thick and Btormy, and it is oorjcc tured that the Loch Maree may be wrecked on some of the islands adjacent to New Zealand. The Rirgarooma, with the English mails, met the (Shannon at the Heads, and only just succeeded in transhipping her mail*.

Mr Berry leavei for Sydney on the 17th, where he is to deliver addretues on protection.

Nothing now if heard of Bryant, alias Beaumont, and the iubjeot has been allowed to drop. A truck containing chaff, attached te a G-eelong passenger train, caught fire, and had to be detached and taken on to Werribee station, while the reßt of the train was left on the line.

The racehorse Santa Glaus, whioh figured prominently in the Cup betting, has been sold for 900 guineas.