AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3316, 7 August 1879, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Pek B.a. Claud Hamilton ay

Hokitika.)

(Pxb Puts AaxMCY.)

The Claud Hamilton hat, arrived at Hokitika.

Melbottbvi, Tveaday. To night the Treasurer made hit budget speech, and presented a vatt array of figure*. He declared the Mtualda/aeiesey ? to be not more than £137,000, and ttated tbis swept awoy;any amount owing- ,bY selectors. However the falling off and increased expenditure proposed, nieHHr^ tated new taxet to the anowrt^of' £428,173. , - ' '-■ '-

The ' Land Tax it to be re?iatd, and instead .of producing £13,000 it to yield £200,000; ancf also h« made progretsive, and that new, Mnpteotive duties be imposed to bring- in JS&ftliMii The2o per cent, duties will, at a r*le, be increased to 86 per cent., and thelO ftfeent. to 15 or 20. The new taxet rang* over ai large variety of good*, including'wines,: rice, hops, malts, eorneaekt, - apparel, wooden wan, and maaufaetaretl metals. Many of the ■' artielea at ' taxed can hare no protective effect rtvt all. at they cannot be manafottJreWit the;colonj, and fault bat been fomnd with, the Government propbtalt on that ground^ by Ministerial ;j«ttfMffojtt ffc was intimated that certain otbet dutiee ing last fortnight, and none of the laet items named had been, tokened fltofc;« . The Budget hat been by no meet* favourably received, either by> frieade of foet, and is not expected to put in ita pretent shape. ♦ It it; prate r and; jty* ■» digested, and it it thought if it ahoald be passed there is not maeh: VrflWM^^jaf the Estimates being realiaed. Soeae of the new duties, such at boota and akeea, are as much at 60 per cent. 'Our public dobt at th^.end^Jt»4 amounted to twenty milliont. Sir W. Jervoit baa a modified eehente of defence, which till letaeathe etrltii,, hire, and that will probably be eairied out. , " •rt'-'-n;', -?*?n

Mr Reid had introduced ia tho Cornell a bill-to amend tho. eosurit«tioa^sjsj& increase the number of members. It is wid this will receive the eapfbtt-of' moderate men in the Assembly in opposi tion to Mr Berry's bill, wUefc 4oi* Ms* find favour in the country, except with a certain section. .f!" ■ "'<'*^.™h Jas. F. Lawrence,, the;murderer of Finlayson, has been eotntnited for trial for wilful murder. At the inquest he was quite cool and collected, and apft* rentiy^ndifferent to the proceedings* Rain ' is. still much required, in. tho. country, bat harvest prospects ate shear '"' ingY and there was > sea* prospect* •< improved business when theiiseel p/ope- , sals of the Government, put an tod to all' trade. * ...,,,,. ,\ \ , "^, The unemployed meetiag* are gfttisi less frequent, ia4a^y«f;th» Mil la** found work. : |ti(>U |, T ?.;.' • '.*. - The rowing match oetwes* Hes*h tf|sy Messenger is causing so**; interest ia. aquatic circles. •::