AUSTRALIAN TELEGRAMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4373, 18 November 1875, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN TELEGRAMS.

[PER 6.3. ' ALBION,' AT HOKITIKA.] [PRESS AGENCY.] MEMonufE, November 11. Ser James McCullooti's enunciation of frig policy at Warrnambool took place last Saturday week. He estimates deficiency in revenue at £340,000, and proposes to, meet this by the imposition of a land tax and tax on bank stocks, shares, and other property ; small land-holders are to be exempted. Duties of Customs to the extent of £10,000 are to be' swept away, but those imposed for protective purposes are to remain untouched. Only such duties are to be removed as are vexatious and injurious to trade. To meet deficiency thus caused, an income tax is to be levied which, however, will not touch moderate incomes. The Government propose to borrow a million and a-half to carry out existing engagements and introduce an amended laud bill to extend the period of licence fees ; an increase in the assessment on stock. The Opposition, led by a member of the late Government, has been originated. There is opposition to four of the Ministers. Sir James McCulloch was opposed by Mr. B. Douglas ; Mr. Madden, Minister of Justice, by Mr. M. L. King; Mr. Ramsay, Minister o£ Education, by Mr. Madden ; and Mr. Jones, Minister of Railways, by Mr. Fincham. At Ballarat the feeling was very strong on both, sides, and the greatest excitement prevailed in the contested districts. The elections for Warrnambool and Ballarat took place last Saturday, when Sir James McCulloch was returned by over 200 majority, and Mr. James was defeated by 971 majority. On Monday Madden was also rejected by over 200 majority, and Mr. Ramsay was returned by 311 majority. Two of the Ministers out o£ nine have thus been deprired of their seats in Parliament, and the Opposition have gained two votes. Mr. Berry, who was in Warnambool previous to and during tho election, repeated the threat that the Opposition would not permit the public business to be proceeded with until a dissolution was granted. What the intention of the Government is has not yet been mad.e known. The racing has divided public interest with the election, and the city never was so full of strangers. Every hotel is crowded, and the places of public entertainment were all well patronised. The season of the year has been most unfavourable, and in the middle of spring cold winter weather, with rain storms, being experienced. Wm. McCulloch's Shorthorn stock and brood mares were sold on Monday, and the total realised was £1900. The stock brought very low prices, £660 being the highest for a bull, and £775 for a cow.

The Agricultural show, now on, is the best, as regards cattle, ever seen in the colonies. Mr. A. K. Smith, formally installed Mayor, yesterday gave an inaugural banquet. Four hundred persons were present, including the Ministers. The Sabbath question was publicly tested where Gatehouse, late mayor, sought re-elec-tion as City councillor. His action as mayor so strongly disappointed the Sabbatarians that they opposed him strongly, but were beaten, as Mr. Gatehouse wa3 re-elected. Three breach-of-promise cases have been heard t.Viia sittings, in which plaintiff in each case recovered damages. Edward J. Murphy, a well-known solicitor, in good practice, committed suicide by poison. The jury returned a verdict of temporary insanity. "Various surmises as to the cause are current. The Exhibition closes next week. The attendance has been \ The scarlet fever epidemic conV" J.j } and an increasing number of deaths arerfejjorted, principally amongst children. The Macgregor arrived at San Francisco on the 27th October. The llingarooma, with supplementary mail from Sew Zealand, jast caught the Pera at the heads as she was leaving. The mail steamer awaited her arrival. A diabolical attempt was made to upset a train on the Geelong Railway last Friday, when several favourite racehorses were being conveyed to town. It is thought this hau something to do with the attempt. The Peer obtained the gold medal for blood stock at the show yesterday, and Serenader the silver medal for a trotting stallion. An extraordinary scene recently took place in the Independf&it Church, Collingwood, on Sunday evening. The minister, Eev. W. Wilson, was reading a statement from the pulpit, when ha was frequently interrupted, and told he was telling lies. Sydney, November 11. Captain Home, the well-known explorer, died. Railway extension was opened to Gunning. Very hot weather has been experienced and large bush fires. A , , During a fire at the Pelican Hotel, Oxford, a man fell from the roof and was killedLady Robinson has presented to- John Bennett, of the Victoria Theatre, a Humane 1 Society's medal and cheque for £800, «pre-. | aenting the public testimonial.

'Favourable news continues -fro be received, •from Cooktown. The news •speaks ofproreefs discovered almost daily. Blacks =are very troublesome. . ■ . AicMonsr n»med Carter,under committalj iornmrcler, lianged himself in the cell of a country lock ap November 11. | parliament opened-yesterday. The-Goj vernment intend to re-iiltroduce the Stamps; rgiH but remove some of the objections.! j 'Floods -have occurred-at Port Peril, but are Taiiianfati old hand, named- Lambert] «R-ho has been twice charged with murder] •murdered Isaac Richards and Richards' wif<j in their hut, and then hung himself on a tree • close by. He killed Richards -with ail axej ; and the wife by cutting her throat. A tragedy happened at Mall Creek, Char- , on Tuesday sight last. -A pleasure party of eight, returning in a boat from Kangaroo Point, "were caught in a squall! The boat capsized and six were drowned; : after hanging to'the boat some time, darkness preventing them from being seen. A passing river craft -rescued two. No bodies have been _ ' The Council a second time_ rejected the Public "Works scheme by a majority of one. Parliament has prorogued. ,