AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3296, 15 July 1879, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Per Peess Agency.) *

(Per 8.8. Rotoeua, at-the Bluff.)

Melbottene, July S. Mr Berry hag been entertained at a banquet by the Reform League. He spoke of the embassy as a rfbccess^ and interpreted Sir M. Hicks-Beach's despatch as a victory for the Liberal pn'riy, j which, he said, had the support of all j i parties in England. He gave no indioa- j , tion of what nature the reform measures ■ the Government intendeds to introduce j was, but called upon^his supporters to! stand to their guns, and not ailoV local*; jealousies to drive them v away till the constitution*! Rattle was fought out. r The revenue^ returns * for *the quarter .ending 30th Junei show a decrease on the gross receipts of* £77,737 as compared with th& corresponding quarter of 1878. . fEhe; decrease on Customs is £3&,4Q7. The returns fon the yea"r, as camprfre^d* with* those of the previous *year, show a net increase of £4000; but there is a decrease on customs 0f5j£103,825 ;.and the revenue from!the land tax, which shows an increase of £152,329, will nq,^ be inaintained. The large increase jstaccounted for by ihe-fact that a considerable amount which accruedJast year was*not "collected till this year. ,The annual value. of;,the,ta* js only about, £120,000. The „. total revenue for, |he year just ended, excluding recoups and balance-brought uSpmwed,: isl set down at £4,62^908, or ,£329,668 below Mr Berry's estimate.. This; will necessijaie a large a^mount of fresh taxation, which, it is understood, will be proposed^to be made up from custom, excise, and stamp duties, which will t jnake gome £600,000 of fresh taxation imposed 'by tlie prßsent Government. .(• >The Melbourne election, which * toqk place last Tuesday, resulted in the 11 re-election of Mr Zox by 1287 majority "'tf^tJr-'^i.';.■;'/■'■ V.', 1. '■ :.'/ .-■■■■ • . ' fy"- The' une'mplojred continue to afford some embarrassment to the Government. Many of them are being given wdrk, but still the number of unemployed is said Jo be Very great; and means have been taken by subscription to alleviate the present and pressing necessities.. • , i The Reform League Conference has been sitting and have adopted a platform for the next election, to include constitutionial reform, a professional land tax, and and payment of members. The Exhibition m to cost £218,735, and as a consequence of this great outlay, Government sent Home to state that this colony is unable to take . part in contributing towards the Colonial Museum in London. :

■ TheTweather has been. unusually cold, a and it is stated from observations by the Government astronomer that in the; months of June and July the cold was Hgrea-ter-tban for the last 20 years. In , many parts of the country water is stilli wanted. _..... . j j'l-vf/The "hotel at Piranna, near Warnam-j bool, fiWil#'Burhfe >d dbvraon Saturday, and! a man named Willie Gordon, was burned to death. . r ; : >' The ' Intercolonial Football Match,; South Australia, y. Victoria, resulted in; ftiibxitjol! -the' latter, in both matches; playi'3.,Vj^' 1'",;;'....; ;! , : -. ■ ';f "J*lt'lias transpired at an inquest held on, Bates. r the actor, that he was robbed of Jsii; lewellery pn the night his body was found on Flemington RoadJ An unknown man was seen dogging his steps for some' time, and his attention was called to the >man. ,\A benefit is to be giren to Mrs' Bates by the managers of all the theatres. .*: Farmers' Unions are being formed all over the colony, and are likely to hare a large influence in the next election. There is a fair steady business doing in market. The New Zealand horse, Le Loup, has been backed for the Melbourne Cup to OTer £20,000. Professor Pepper arrived to-day per Lusitania. ..„■• , It is not expected that the cable will be repaired until next week. v The steamer is believed now to be at Batavia, and wil) probably reach;! Port Darwin by the end of the week.