AUSTRALIA.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1607, 15 April 1879, Page 3

AUSTRALIA.

[BY SUBMARINE CABLE.] [heuter'b telegrams.] Melbourne, April 14. In an ascent, a balloon at a great height collapsed. The aeronaut escaped uninjured. Adelaide, April 14. The Leger was won by Warlock, Viceroy second, Cowarie third. [By Telegraph. | [Via Bluff.! Melbourne, April 8. Parliament has been further prorogued to March 23rd, but it is unlikely to meet before July. The revenue returns have been published, and show that for the quarter ending March last £1,147,883 was received, showing an increase on the corresponding quarter last year of £8428, mainly derived from land tax sales by auction. Land revenue also showed an increase of £15,633, and duties on the estates of deceased persons an increase of £9715, but in many of the departments, especially customs, there was a falling off. The revenue for the year amounted to £i 003,736, showing an iucrease on the corresponding year of £113,928. The Victorian Commissioner of Customs has been lately in Sydney endeavoring to arrange a Bonier Duties Treaty, but failed. His ideas and those of Sir H. Parkes being wide apart. The opening of the railway to Oakleigh last "Wednesday was most successful. The Governor was present and made a speech, which the Minister of .Railways characterised as the best railway speech he had heard made. The Governor, in the course of his remarks on railway construction, said—" I have just come from a colony where the experiment of public works in proportion to population has been tried, perhaps, on a larger scale than in any other, and I own that the experience which I have there learnt has in no wise shaken my belief in the benefit of railways." The stock tax is being felt to press heavily. At a recent meeting of tanners and fellmongers it wa* stated that the tax had been the cause of closing several establishments and putting at least 600 men out of employment. This was mainly owing to the reduced number of sheep coming to market. The Exhibition Commissioners resolved to invite the Prince and Princess of Wales to be present at the opening of the Exhibition next year, and the Governor has undertaken to forward the invitation to the Prince ; but it is not thought that he will he able to accept. Still there is some idea that a member of the Royal family will be present. The barque Suffolk, which was abandoned at sea, has been burnt. How she caught fire is not Btated.

Mr Carlile, formerly of New Zealand, has an article in the " Melbourne Review" on the land system of New Zealand and Australia. As regards New Zealand, he points out that her variety of experience in the various province < has been of incalculable value to her. Almost every system of dealing with the Crown lands has been tried, and the practical success or failure of each has enabled the unified Government to frame for the whole country "A land law which embodies most of what it is desirable to retain, and leaves out what can best be rejected."

Over 300 men are engaged on the Exhibition building, and the structure is now well forward. The drought has been most disastrous. Bain fell yest.rday, which has been pretty general over the country. It is reported that a sea serpent has been seen by a person at Kasse, Western Australia, said to be eighty feet long and two feet in diameter. Boyd and Mackie's mill, at Newstead, was destroyed by fire. It was filled with wheat and flour. The insurances amounted to £15,250. Business continues very dull. There have been some pur-hases of wheat for shipment to England owing to reduced freights. All places of amusement are being fairly patronised, especially the Opera, which is doing remarkably well.