AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 597, 27 August 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

PER RINGAROOMA, AT THE BLUFF. [press agency.] Melbourne, August 21. The Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, in delivering his Financial Statement op Friday last in the Legislati ve Assembly, said increased taxation was looming in the distance, as the present sources of revenue are found to be deficient.

The revenue did not come up to the estimate by £187,467, the falling off being mainly in the Livestock tax and the Lauds tax. The expenditure prth posed for next year is £5,127,642 and a surplus of £70,786 is reckoned on. A large sum of the new loan will be required for public works; over £200,000 Law Courts, £215,000 for Parliament buildings, £340,000 for new schools, £300,000 for the Yan Yean water works ; and then there is the payment for the Hobson’s Bay railway.

The Reform Bill debate will likely last another week, but the subject is pretty well worn threadbare. Mr Burns, of New South Wales, has been taking great interest in the Cable duplication question. All the Governments interested have given way on all reductions on Indian and Butch limes, but stand out firmly against the Eastern Extension Company to prevent Press combination. The rate would now come to about 4s per word for Press messages being little less than one-third of the present rate, instead, one fourth, as originally proposed. Rigarding the Postal question, it was agreed that Mr Berry should send a telegram direct to the Secretary of State in the name of the Australian Colonies and New Zealand requesting that the present Postal arrangement be embodied in the treaty of 1873, which terminates on the Ist of January, 1879, and may be continued until' Ist February, 1880, when the Peninsula Oriental Company’s contract terminates both as regards India and Australia This, it was pointed out, would afford time for a final settlement of relations between England and the Colonies in Postal matters.

Mr W. G. Clarke has been returned unopposed as a member of the Legislative Council, and his presence in the Upper Chamber will at any rate add to to the collective wealth possessed by the members of that body. Dr Hearn, of the University, is being opposed by Robert Byrne, an auctioneer, and a former Treasurer for a very short time. Hearn is opposed to the Government Reform,Bill and plebiscitum and advocates Hare’s system of representation.

The captain tried for scuttling the barque Leota, at Rotumah, has been acquitted.

On Sunday last, an elderly man named Saxley attempted to murder his wife in their own house in West Melbourne, by cutting her throat, and then attempted suicide hy cutting his own. Both are now in the hospital ; the bushand’s state is precarious. Jealousy is said to be the cause. She is a young woman; they had lately been living apart. The amount subscribed to the Cathedral fund amounts to .£13,000, exclu-

sive of the £IO,OOO promised, by W. J. Clarke, Esq. Mr Win. Akhurst, welLknown as a journalist and burlesque writer, died lecently on the-.voyage from London to Sydney. Business continues dull.* There was a. long discussion in the Assembly last'night on tie unauthor' ised expenditure of £240,000 on Law -Courts. A Board of Inquiry is to be appointed.