AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3292, 10 July 1879, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Per Pbesß Agency.) ; (Pee s.s. Claud Hamilton at { Hoeitiea.) ; • Victorian Polities. Distress in Victoria. ' i 1 ' The Eellys.

Melbourne. . The Reform League has been arranging the f political - programme consisting of constitutional reforms, progressive land tax, and securing the, power of the purse to Assembly. The farmers of all parts of the colony are organising to secure proteclion for everything relating to agriculture. They will not ' support any candidate not thoroughly identified' with the farmipg interest. Zox beat Deane at the East Melbourne election by a majority of 1237.

A serious defeciency is shewn by the financial statement; owing, .io, the. falling: off in the estimated revenues from lands, AS; owing to bad harvests, the selectors are behind in payments.

Something like eighty 1 thousand pounds; has been thrown upon the market,; while! on the other hand the expenditure has ; been largely increased, the .International, Exhibition absorbing a very large amount] of money. ■■■-■■, '

Under these circumstances some three thousand pounds (?) at very least has to be provided for by taxation; probably in the direction of customs, excise and stamp duties. It is iiofc thought probable that' the Government will risk an Increase (Query! Income) Tax. :

The estimated cost of the Melbourne Exhibition is £219,735.

There is a good deal of distress in various parts of, the colony^ Steps ar,e being taken by subscriptions , and othe* means, to; alleviate it.. The want of water is felt in many parts of the country. • : J The ■■•• Government are withdrawing; thg permanent artiller£l6rces and a number of the police from the country where they

were stationed during the Kelly scare as they were entailing a very large expenditure. Nothing is now heard of concerning the outlaws.