AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5126, 28 August 1877, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(per eingarooma at the bluff.) Melbourne, August 22. The Treasurer's Budget shows the estimated revenue.for the current year to be £4,476,880; but allowing for remissions of Customs expenditure, £4,860,000. A deficiency of £383,000 is shown, which is' made up b/ a credit balance from last year of £205,679 ; land tax, £200,000 ; lire stock tax, £SOOO ; leaving a balance carried forward of £46,066. ; The new duties are imposed to the extent of £15,000, and the increased duties to £IB,OOO but on the other hand the remissions are £86,000. Breadstuffs- are untouched, but dried fruits and stores are freed. Bags and woolpaoks are now taxed, and an increase made on children's boots, earthenware, doors, and matches. The principal objection to the scheme is in the land tax, which is the same as put-before the country, and to the live stock tax on horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs, whether by land or sea. The-defence requirements are to be paid .out of the ordinary expenditure, which contains several heavy items. No fresh cases of small-pox have occurred, and all are doing well. The drought still continues. Wagner’s “Lohengrin” was produced for the first time in the colonies by Lyster’s Opera Company ; it was a brilliant success. The steamer Chimborazo left London for the colonies on the 13th with 360 passengers. John O’Neill Gawtress, of Footacray, has been acquitted on the ground of insanity. The East Australian telegraph line is now opened within 160 miles, and a horse express is being run. The political deadlock continues in Adelaide. A new Ministry has been formed in Tasmania, with Fysh as Premier. Large iron works, for working up Tasmanian iron into pipes, are about to be constructed in Melbourne. -