AUSTRALIAN.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 116, 22 August 1885, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN.

Melbourne, Aug. 13. —The PostmasterGeneral has received a letter from the New Zealand Government refusing to assimilate the rates of postage of letters via Brindisi to that paid by the San Francisco and direct lines. Melbourne, Augustl2.— The Messagenes Maritimes p.s. Oceanien arrived here yesterday from Sydney, the authorities refusing to give her a bill of health. Melbourne, August 14. — The Defence Department intend to form a reserve force numbering 2,000, consisting of men whose time of service in the Victorian militia has expired. . _, , Melbourne, August 17.— The work of drafting the bill accepting the provisions of the Federation Enabling Act is in a forward state, and the measure will Bhortly be placed before Parliament. Thfl dispute between the omnibus drivers and the company is now at an end, and the service is carried on as usual. Melbourne, August 19.— Remainder of the insubordinate members ot the Permanent Artillery were sentenced to four months' imprisonment by the courtmartial, but the prisoners having been recommended to mercy, the Government reduced the sentence to three months. Sydney, August 12.— A proclamation has been issued notifying that all vessels arriving from French ports will be placed in quarantine, in consequence of the presence of cholera at Marseilles. Sydney, August 14.— 1t is stated here, on good authority, that the Peninsular and Oriental Company's 8.8. Massillia, which was fitted up as a cruiser during the recent unsettled state of affairs in Central Asia, and which was stationed at Port Jackson, will shortly be disarmed and return to England. . , Sydney, August 16.— A grand review of the colonial forces was held on Saturday, when over four thousand troops were under arms. - In consequence of the large number oi liberated convicts, who haye been arriving in this colony lately from Nevp Caledonia, the Premier, Sir Ale?. Stewart, has addressed a remonstrance to the Imperial i Government on the subject.

Sydney, August 19. The polioe have arrested two men on bus pioion of being concerned in the. murder oi a policeman at Canterbury, New South Wales, on 13th inst. It is announced that Colonel TUcbardson has been promoted to the rank of MajorGeneralJEor his services in the Soudan. Sydney, August 17.— Steamers Massalia and Lusitiana, which have been doing duty for some time as armed cruisers, left yesterday for England in accordance with Admiral Tryon's instructions to report themselves to the Admiralty. Major-General Sir Peter Scratchley, High Commissioner of New Guinea, left Sydney yesterday for .that territory in order to assume his duties. Adelaide, August 19. — The Colonial Treasurer, Mr Newland, brought down his financial statement last night. He proposes to increase the duties on ale and beer by threepence per gallon, and on spirits by eight shillings a gallon, while the duties on tobacco and cigars will be raised to sixpence and a shilling respectively. It is proposed to levy an import duty ot five shillings on horses, two shillings and sixpence on cattle, threepence on sheep, and two shillings on pigs. All the present five per cent, ad valorem duties are to oej abolished.