AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2483, 9 June 1888, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

{By I'li.kctiuc TnuiiutAPH.— Copyright.] Sydney, June 7. In the House this afternoon the Premier delivered a statement of the course the Government intended to pursue. The Land Bill was to be dropped for this session; the Land Property Tax Bill will be proceeded with, and the Chinese Restriction Bill will be dealt with to completion. In this matter the Government I intend to withdraw from the course previously determined on. Amended 1 Standing Orders were to be introduced. He stated that the deficit of New South Wales had not increased one shilling since the Government took office. The deficit stands.now at £2,020,000, aud the Treasurer would at once introduce a Bill providing for its extinction, He proposed to pay off a quarter of a million annually for ten years, payments to be made every six months. A scheme of military defence is about to be submitted to Parliament. It includes a number of complete submarine defences, and it is believed that the entrance to the harbour will be absolutely impassible for a hostile vessel. Melbourne, June 7. It is not expected that the British court will be ready for opening on the Ist of August. Owing to the bungle in the allotment of space iu Loudon, nothing can be done to the court till the plan arrives on June 22. Sydney, June S. - The Government have shelved the Local Government Bill. The Premier last night announced to the House that the Government proposed to recommend a vote for the construction of a railway line from Hunter River to Tweed River, at a cost of £6,080,000. He stated further that the railway extension proposals of the Government embraced eighteen hundred miles of new lines, at a cost, including the HunterTweed line, of £11,000,000. The Land Tax Bill was read a second time. It is announced that the military forces of the colony are to be increased '.a !),400 men. The Colonial Treasurer has introduced a motion, imposing a property tax of Jd in the pound.