Australian Items.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1525, 14 November 1873, Page 15

Australian Items.

Tasmania.—Proposed Income-Tax. The Nelson Examiner, of the 28th ult., writes as follows: —A portion of the press in the north of Tasmania appear to be anything but gratified by the prospect of an income-tax being imposed—as contemplated in the financial scheme of the present Government of that colony. The Launceston Examiner characterises the measure proposed by Mr Fysh, the Treasurer, as " a perfect monstrosity." The rate proposed will not meet the deficiency, which amounts to £60,000, and is said to be certain to increase during the next two years. "Then," says our contemporary, there will be the creation of a new department, and of course a further addition to the expenditure. There are to be three Commissioners, each, no doubt, drawing a liberal salary, and quite a small army of collectors, ' clerks, officers, and other persons.' And what for ? To get in, if possible, £25,000 a-year by means of one of the most intolerable and obnoxious taxes that can be imposed an any free community I" That is what is said of an incometax in democratic Tasmania! Tasmanian Markets. In its last summary the Launceston Examiner says :—Business is at a standstill—in fact the market is paralyzed, owing to the news conveyed in a telegram advising the arrival at Sydney of 1,000 tons of wheat, and the great question is, how was it kept so quiet? The future I course of the market entirely depend!

upon whether any more is to come from California. Unless it does, wheat must undoubtedly go up again very quickly; the 1,000 tons already arrived, in addition to what may arrive from Melbourne in the two vessels reported as loading, will not have any appreciable effect on the market if they are the only shipments. There can be no mistake about the matter; the colonies have been so drained by the English market that stocks have been reduced to a minimum. As an instance of the scarcity in Adelaide, we know that negocintions were pending between a leading 'house here and an Adelaide firm, for the supply of 300 tons of wheat, and had suitable available shipping been in port, the bargain would have been completed ere the arrival of the news from Sydney. At present, holders will not sell on the one hand, nor are buyers eager. As no transactions are occurring, we can only "give nominal quotations:—Flour, £l2 10s,; wheat, ss.

Victorian Legislators. The subjoined extract from a Victorian journal is commended to the consideration of electioneerers, as a frightful example which it would be judicious to keep in view when parties are at issue as to historical accuracy on matters of fact : "' We were married 30 years,' said a disconsolate widow in describing the merits of the departed, ( and so much as " you lie " never passed between us.' The old lady evidently was not the relict of Mr Ward, member of the South Australian Legislature for the constituency of G-umeracha. That gentleman is still alive, and judging from the language used at a meeting of the free and independant Gumerachans, convened by the honorable gentleman at the Highercombe Hotel) Tea Tree Gully, S.A., one could hardly be 30 minutes, much less 30 years, in his company without having ' you lie ' freely given. The lion. Mr Ward was so full of the idea that his friend Mr Boss was not truthful, that he must burst or give expression to it; and the only way Mr Ross had of retaliating was by constantly repeating, ' If you say that again I'll kick you out of the room.' A brass band which each accused the other of bringing in, enlivened the proceedings, and when matters were getting particularly hot the brass bandists would soothe the savage breasts of the Gumerachans with the sweet notes of the bassoon. If the day ever comes for Australian federation, and Mr Ward is to be a representative man, it is to be hoped Mr Boss will have fulfilled the dream of his prime, and kicked him out of his playful habit of calling people bad names."