AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 224, 15 January 1880, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Melbourne, Jan. 6. The Liberal Association formed at the instanceof the Corner party, which includes Casey, Munro, and other prominent politicians, formerly supportors of the Berry Government, is attracting a good deal of attention. Their programmo is upon reform, retrenchment, and the restoration of public confidence. Tho plebesclto is not included in their programme. The Ministerial journals fiercely attack the Association, whioh substantially favors Service's Peforni proposals. Application for space in tho Exhibition are closed, except to Victoria, where they will bo received up to March Ist. The total area applied for is not yet rieHared. Tho Customs revenue for last quarter is £60,056 leas than for the lastthreemonths of 1878.

£17,246 lias been received as stamp duties up to the end of last month. The dutios came into operation on December Bth.

Tho railway revenue (exclusive of the old Melbourne and Hobaon's Bay Company's lines) Is less by L 26.730 than for the last three months of 1878, and less by L34,G40 in 1879 than? 1878. The Argus contends jthat the actual deficit at the present time considerably exceeds half a million, notwithstanding that taxation has been increased by L 175.000 per annum sinco the Berry Government took office. Tho Cot nor Party hold a meeting at Eaglehawk, where tlioy were onthusiastically welcomed. Mr Casey a pn minont member of the party, stated that the Minis terial Reform Bill was impossible without resolution.

Only sovon out of a field of twenty-two started for tho Champion llnce, owing to First King being considered almost a certainty. Tho favorite won as he liked by four lengths. There was a splendid finish for third place, Petroa betting Martindale by a short neck. Time> 6min 4|secs. Grand Flavour won the Nornianby Stakes ; Palmyra, a strong favorite, was nowhere. The Australian Eleven wore defeated In their first match by the Victorian fifteen, the latter winning by $2 runs. The Eleven only made 88 in thoir second innings. They proceed to England in March, playing several matches in the colonics during til-) interval. Their fielding is splendid. The Eastern Telegraph Extonmon Company intend to lay a cable from Manilla to Hong Kong. The Sp.inish Government have promised an annual subsidy of L9GOO for ton years. !