AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 743, 27 August 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(PEB BINGAEOOMA AT THE BLUFF.) Melbourne. Aug. 21. The Treasurer in delivering his Financial Statement on Friday last in the House, said that 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 estimates by L 187,067, the falling off being mainly in the live stock tax and the land tax. The expenditure proposed for t>e next year is L 5.127,642,.127,642, and a surplus • >f L70.78S is reckoned upon. A large sum of the new loan will be required for public works, over L 200,000 for Law Courts, L 215,000 for Parliamentary buildings, L34Q,QOQ for new sphools, L300,G00 for the Yan Yean Waterworks, arjd then there is the payment for the Hobson's Bay Railway. The Reform Bill debate will very 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 the reductions on the Indian and Dutch lines, but stand out firmly against the Eastern Company ? s effort to prevent a 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 of one-fourth as originally proposed. Regarding the postal question, it was agreed that Mr. Berry should send a telegram direct to the Secretary of State for the Colonies in the name of the Australian Colonies and New Zealand, requesting that the present postal arrangement, embodied in the treaty of 1873, "which terminates on the Ist January, 1879, may be continued until Ist February, 1880, when the P. and O. Company's contract terminates,, both as regards India and Australia. This, it was pointed out, would afford time for a final settlement of the relations' between England' and the Colonies in postal relations. Mr, W. J, Clarke has been elected \rn-r opposed as a member of the Legislative Council, and his presence in the Upper 5 Chamber will at any rate add to the tive wealth possessed by the members of that body. ; Dr. Hearn, of the University, is being •'opposed by Mr.- Robert Byrne, an auctioneer, <Mid a former Treasurer for a very

short time. Professor Heam ia oppoaed to the Government Reform Bill anctpiebiacititm, and advocates Hare's system of representation. The Captain of the Leota s has been tried •for sputtling the barque at Rotumah, but was acquitted. On Sunday last an elderly man named Saxby attempted to murder his wife 'in his own house, West Melbourne, by cutting her throat, and then attempted suicide by cutting his own throat. Both are now in the hospital. The husband's state is precarious. Jealousy is said to be the cause of the act. Mrs. Saxby was a young woman and they had lately been living apart. The amount subscribed to the Cathedral fund amounts to L 1.3,000, exclusive of the LIO.OOO promised by Mr. W. J. Clarke. Edward Henty, who died last week, was the pioneer settlor of the colony, having come to Portland from Tasmania in 1843. Mr. Win. Akhurst, the well-known journalist and burlesque writer, diod recently on the voyage from London to Sydney. Business continues dull. A long discussion took place in the Assembly hist night on the unauthorised expenditure of L 240,000 on Law Courts. A Board of Enquiry is to b« appointed.