AUSTRALIAN NEWS. Opposition to Property Tax.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 36, 9 February 1884, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN NEWS. Opposition to Property Tax.

Sydney, January 31. An opposition is being raised throughout the country to the Government taxation proposals, principally to the Property Tax, which is to be collected in the same way as the New Zealand tax. Meetings are being convened in opposition. On Tuesday night a meeting against immigration was held in Hyde Park. A large crowd accompanied a deputation to Parliament houses, and outside raised groans for Mr Stuart, the Premier, and Sir John Robertson, and a petition was presented through Mr A. G. Taylor. In the Assembly the Government is being attacked for continuing the heavy expenditure, and retrenchment is being advocated. Mr Suttor, whose seat the Government propose to validate by a bill, has declined to take advantage of this technicality, and has written to the Speaker requesting him to issue a writ. The Elections Committee has also decided that Mr Vaughn's seat is vacant, as j he was concerned in a Government con- 1 tract. — The rainfall in the country during i November is not half up to the average.— ! : The Hon. James White, as President of the Jockey Club, has been fined £20 for I having permitted certain persons to carry on betting on the St. Leger Reserve of the Randwick racecourse. A case brought against Davis, the prosecutor in the above case, by the Club for having carried on the business of a bookmaker without a permit, ; was dismissed. These decisions are import- ; ant as directed against cash betting on the i course, and also showing that the Club has no power to license bookmakers and compel I them to wear a badge. — Somefurther arrests have been made in connection with the Wooloomooloo case.

Brisbane. A fire occurred at Greeham's, Brisbanestreet, Ipswich. The building and stock are insured in the New Zealand Company Orticefov £1,600. Mr Archer, the Agent-General, has been created K.C.M.CJ.

Melbourne. Mi 1 Templeton has been appointed Chairman of the Public Service Board. Mr Labutouche, Secretary of Railways, has applied for twelve months' leave, previous to retiring from the Service.— Archbishop Gould is confined to his room, and there are some apprehensions about his condition. — The trustees of the Exhibition have adopted plans for an aquarium. It is proposed also to establish permanent exhibition for manufactures. — The damage done by rains in the Goulburn Valley is not very serious.