AUSTRALIAN.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 113, 1 August 1885, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN.

Hobabt, July 22. —The Tasmanian Parliament was opened yesterday by His Excellency the Governor, Sir George Cumin Strahan. The Speech dwells principally upon the preparations that had been taken by the Government to place the colony in an efficient state of defence, and announcing that it is proposed to raise a loan for the purpose of carrying out various public works. Hob art, July 28.— The Shaw, Saville, and Albion Company's Tainui arrived here to-night from London. She sailed for New Zealand to-night. Sydney, July 23.— -The death is announced of the Hon. Sir George Wigram Allen, Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, aged 61 years. The further inquiry into the circumstances attending the wreck of the A.S.N. Company's s.s. Cahors was concluded to-day. The Board found the captain and mate amenable, and have ordered the certificate of the captain to be suspended for six months, and that of the mate for three months. Sydney, July 23.— Mr Farnell expresses the opinion that an early break up of the present administration may be expected, and urging in political circles his claims to the Premiership, should such a contine gency£arise. Sydney, July 24.— New Zealand wheat, 2s lOd— an advance of one penny; New Zealand oats remain at 2s Id ; maize, at 3s ; and the Sugar Company's No. 1 pieces, at £26. Sydney, July 27.— A further expedition to New Guinea is projected, the object being commercial, not scientific. Arrived this morning : Hauroto, from Wellington. Sailed last night : Tekapo, for Wellington. Sydney, July 29. — The banquet given by the citizens of Sydney, in honour of the return of the New South Wales Contingent, took place lastnight, and provedagrand success. His Excellency Lord Augustus Loftus and Admiral Tryon were present, and the assemblage included most of the leading men of the colony. Numerous speeches were made congratulating the members of the contingent on their safe return. Melbourne, July 22.— The Hon. Mr Service, Colonial Treasurer, brought down his Financial Statement tonight. The revenue for the past year was £6,200,000, excluding a balance of '£314,000, with which the year was commenced, and the expenditure for the same period was £6,210,000. The balance at the end of the year is £302,000, and the actual surplus of receipts over expenditure £78,000. The Treasurer estimates the revenue for the forthcoming twelve months at £7,000,000, and the expenditure for the same time at £6,950.000, the estimated balance at the close of the financial year 1885-86 being £50,000. The public debt is set down as £25,600,000. In the course of his speech Mr Service referred to the great success which had attended the action of the Government in reducing the telegraphic charges from Is 6d per ten words, and announced that no fiscal changes have been made. Melbourne, July 22. - In the Legislative Assembly last night, on the motion of Colonel Smith, member for Ballarat, the Hon. Mr Gillies, Minister of Railways, laid upon the table of the House the papers relating to the recent appointment of Mr Allison D. Smith, of New Zealand, as Assistant Locomotive Superintendent of Victorian Railways. Melbourne, July 2C. — Mr MurraySmith, Victorian Agent-General, telegraphs to the Government that the various colonial agents have had an interview with the Hon. F. Stanley, Secretary of State for the Colonies, in which he expressed the intention of the Government to retain clause 31 in the Enabling Bill, omitting, however, the section giving a seceding colony power to abrogate past legislation. In consequence of the censure passed upon him tby the Board of Enquiry, the Hon. Mr Richardson has tendered his resign atioh as a member of the Executive Council of Victoria. Melbourne, July 23.— The Board which was appointed to investigate certain recent transactions under the Lands Act has sent its report, censuring Mr Richardson for signing an application for land lodged by Mr Carnegy. Melbourne, July 23. — Arrived this, morning : S.s. Wairarapa, from Bluff. Melbourne, July 24.— The following horses have been scratched for the Melbourne Cup : -Duke of Athol, King of the Gipsies, Revenge. The police authorities announce^ their determination to suppress cash betting on racecourses within this colony. The announcement has caused considerable comment in sporting circles. The Ministry have given an unqualified denial to the statement made by Mr Farnell that the present administration would break up before long. Ministers state there is nothing to warrant such an expression of opinion as that given by Mr Farnell Melbourne, July 27. — A communication has been received by the Secretary of the Melbourne Cricket Club from a number of the principal English cricketers, in which the Melbourne Club is invited to send a team to England next year. Melbourne, July 28.— Thirteen members of the Permanent Artillery Force, stationed at Queenscliffe, have been arrested for acts of insubordination which occurred last week. Six of the ringleaders were tried by court-martial to-day, when the Court; refused to hear counsel, who declared the Court illegally constituted. The prisoners, when called, upon, refused to plead. , Adelaide, July 27.— Ireland, Fraser, and Co. 'a Mauritius commercial circular to hand, per s.s. Oceanic, states that holders are firm, although there is little doing in the sugar market, and prices are , only nominal. , .