AUSTRALIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10593, 28 February 1895, Page 5

AUSTRALIA.

[Special to Press Association.] THE NEW SOUTH WALES WHEAT CROP. SYDNEY, Feb. 27. It is now believed that the wheat yield of the colony will be very much smaller than was first expected. In many cases where twelve to fifteen bushels per acre were reckoned upon only five have been reaped. LAND AND INCOME TAX. The Assembly is considering the Land and Income Tax Bill in committee. A FARMERS’ ASSOCIATION. A scheme has been drafted for the formation of a Farmers’ Association to control the sale and export of butter, and to abolish agents, THE COAL TRADE. A letter received in Newcastle from a Wellington business man states that the low price of Newcastle coal is seriously affecting the West Coast coal trade, and that those interested are calling out for an import duty. WANT OP CONFIDENCE MOTION. In the House this afternoon. Sir G. R. Dibbs gave notice to move that the administration of the affairs of the colony by the Government had not met with the approval of the country. This being a direct motion of want of confidence in the Government, the House adjourned till to-morrow.

Though the Opposition Party ia hopeful of carrying the want-of-confidence motion, the weight of opinion among members is that the motion has no chance of success. It is believed that the Labour Party, which holds the balance, will vote with the Government. OBITUARY.

Sir William Manning, Chancellor of Sydney University, is dead. The cause of death was senile decay. CATHOLIC PASTORALS. MELBOURNE, Feb, 27.

Archbishop Carr has issued a lenten pastoral devoted chiefly to the condemnation of mixed marriages and the Victorian Divorce Amendment Act. Bishop Crane, of Bendigo, has also issued a pastoral referring to secular education. He warns Catholic parents who refuse to send their children to Catholic schools that they will be excluded from the sacrament. THE PENSION LIQUIDATION • SCHEME, The Premier is not enamoured of Mr Wynne’s pension liquidation scheme, but he has consented to allow an actuarial report to be made upon it. RECIPROCITY. Sir E. C. Braddon has jgritten to the Premier, aiding him whether he ia prepared to negotiate a reciprocity treaty with Tasmania. The matter has been referred to the Commissioner of Customs. THE ANTI-TOXIN PROCESS, Several cases of diphtheria have been successfully treated ia the hospital by the auti-toxin process.