AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 85, 17 January 1885, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Sydney, January 9. There is very little political news. Members ot the Ministry ai'e visiting different parts of the country. The Treasurer at Miama stated that tho revenue returns exceeded the most sanguine expectations, and that the revenue for the current year j would reach to eight millions. The Attorney-General has had a long interview with Mr Griffith on the annexation question, but Government will wait advices from Homo before taking further stops. A suggestion has been made to the Trea surer to di&burso five or six thousand pounds of public money in Fending telegrams to the English newspapers, and the suggestion has been most favourably received, tho Treasurer having promised to submit it to the Cabinet. Ilanlan, Beach, and Clifford, are now in active training on the Paramatta River. The weather has been very hot, with but little rain, and some parts of the country are in a very bad state A "Gazette" notice states that the in-! troduction of sheep from Now Zealand is prohibited for twelve months, and that no cattle, &c, are to be imported from any place outside of the Australian colonies for a period of twelve months from Ist February next. A meeting is called to decide upon the best steps to be taken to express appreciation of the courtesy and hospitality of Commodore Erskino and the officers of H.M.S. Nelson. The troopship Tamar, with relief crews, will arrive on Sunday. No further cases of small-pox are reported, and the patients in quarantine are well.

doing Melbourne, January 9. The Australian Frozen Meat Company has arranged for a new freight contract with the Orient Company at a rato reduced from 2d to lid per lb. The service has taken stops to promote a conference, to be held in Melbourne in a fortnight's time. All Premiers have been invited to attend. Blackburne, chess-player, played eight games blindfold, winning five and three being drawn. H. T. Gorum, of Registrai^Gcneral's Department, has been appointed Secretary to the Public Service Board. Messrs Berry and Langridge have gone to Tasmania to see if it is possible that mutual tariff rates can be agreed upon.