Australian Telegrams.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2974, 27 August 1878, Page 2

Australian Telegrams.

(Pee s.s. Ringabooma at the Blufjf.)

(Pee Pjiess Agency.)

Melbourne, August 21. The Treasurer, delivering his Financial Statement on Friday last, warned the House that increased taxation was looming in the distance, as present sources of revenue are found to be deficient, and the revenue did not come up to the estimates by £187,467* the falling off being mainly in the lire stock tax and land tax. The expenditure proposed for next year i 5.£5,127,642, and a surplus of. £70,786 is reckoned on. Large sums, of the.new. loan will be re-

quired for public works: ever two hundred thousand pounds for. the. new law courts; two hundred and fifteen thousand pounds for Parliament buildings; three hundred and forty thousand } pounds for new schools; three hundred thousand pounds for the Van Yean water works; /. and than there is the payment for the Hobson's Bay railway. The Reform Bill debate will likely last another week, but the subject is pretty well worn thread, bare. Mr Burns, of New South Wales, hat been taking great interest in the cable duplicating question. All the Governmenu interested hate giren way on all reductions on' the Indian and Dutch lines*; but < stand out firmly against the Eastern Extension Company to to prerent the press combinations. The rate would now come to about 4s per word for press messages, being little less than one third of the present rate, instead of Is 4d as originally proposed. /Regard* ing the postal question. It was, agreed that Mr Berry should send a telegram direct to the Secretary of State for the Colonies in the name of the Australian colonies and New Zealand requesting that the postal arrangements, embodied in the treaty of 1873, which terminates on the Ist January, 1879, may be continued until the Ist February, 1880, when the P. and « O. Co. contracts terminate, .both as regards India and Australia. Thia.it was pointed out, wouldafford time for a final settlement of the relation between England and her colonies, in postal matters.

MrWm. J. Clarke has been returned unopposed as a member of the Legislative Council, and his presence in the Upper Chamber will at any rate' add to the collective wealth possessed by the mem* ,hers ,of .that body. „ . „-,.* Dr Hearn of the University iij being opposed by Mr Robert Byrne*, an auctioneer, and a former Treasurer for a rery short time. Dr Hearn is opposed to the Government Reform Billand plebiscitunm, and advocates Hare's system of representation. , . The captain tried for scuttling the barque Cota at Rotumah was acquitted.

On Sunday last an elderly man named Saxby attempted to murder hiswjfe in a I kouse in West Melbourne, by cutting her throat, and then attempted suicide by cutting his own. Both are now in the hospital.. .The husband's state is precarious. : Jealousy is said to be the cause. The wife .was a young woman. They had lately Wen living apart.' ''<'-'••/, :

The amount subscribed to the Cathedral fund' amounts to thirteen thousand pounds, exclusive of ten thousand pounds promised'by Mr W. J. Clarke. Mr Edward Henty, who died last week, was the pioneer settler of the Colony, having come to Portland from Tasmania* in 1834.

Mr W. M. Akhurst, the well-known journalist' and burlesque; writer, died recently On a voyage from London to Sydney, ..... v . „..',. 1 Business continues dull. A long discussion' occurred in the Assembly last night on the unauthorised expenditure of £240,000 on the lair courts, and an enquiry was ordered.,