AUSTRALIAN.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2161, 15 May 1886, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

[reuteb's tklegrams.] Sydney, May 13. In the Legislative Assembly to-<lay the contract for the San Francisco mail service came up for consideration. The motion that the contract entered into be approved was ad-

journed until Tuesday next. Mr Clarke has given notice of his intention to move a vote of censure upon Mr Dibbs for expending a sum of ,£6OO in publishing au " Australian portrait gallery." Sailed : The Tarawera, for New Zealand.

May 12. Sir Henry Parkes' motion of want of confidence in the Treasurer's Budget proposals, came on for discussion in the Legislative Assembly last night, and was ultimately rejected by G6 votes to 22, although , most of the speeches during the evening indicated a disapproval of the main portions of the Budget.

Melbourne, May 13. It is understood that the Victorian Government are willing to allow non-contributing colonies to share in the benefits c£ the reduction of Press rates to Australia to 2s 8d per word, which will probably come into force on the Ist July next.

[Received May 14tli, noon.l Melbourne, Friday. Arrangements have *been made for giving a reception te Mr Murray Smith on his return to the colony. Sir Andrew Clarke telegraphs the Government that the prospects of a satisfactory settlement of the New Hebrides- question are very encouragiug.

Adelaide, Friday. The South Australian Government has replied to Mr John Pender's communication regarding the reduction of cable rates, in the same terms as the Victorian Government, namely, that they have no objection to non-contributing colonies sharing the benefit of the reduction.