AUSTRALIAN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1290, 19 November 1896, Page 36

AUSTRALIAN.

Sydney, .November 11. ■ A Select Committee of the Legislative Council is holding an enquiry in regard to 1:ho Lind Tax Assessment. Util. As a matter of courtesy, the Council requested tiro Legislative Assembly to permit two members to give evidence, but the Premier (.Mr Iteid) declined to have anything to uo v,-it,h ir. Alder a rambling discussion in the Assembly the matter was talked cut, ami noth’ng donee The blsrino Boa rd has reserved its be i.-o-o. o.i connection wild the wreck of tm* I’res by torian nUssion steamer Dayspring. Svo:a:v, November 12. Obituary —Dr V/ynt.c tdill, one of the Tjioueer missionaries of the London Missionary Society in the South Seas. The Land Tax Am nidmeat Hill passed all irs stages in the Legislative Assembly by 43 to J o. Tho Assembly has docid T in favour of b.ebi i'’>.•/ L ■)!■..: siia ? said LXbibil ion ill ;.Uc Col ■■■::>' a! s . a , . ... Tm :. .dour meet ox l:a • : • d uvh. w lie 1 D.A harm Pem ra Lon Con-tV-rouce Nvit.it iavour. i.' io momber or fhar party moved the adjournment OZ the Louse to cali nfcrention to the granting of idee railway passes to delegates, and refusing- to grant the same privileges to deiegates attending- labour conventions. ■ The report of the Select Committee of the Legislative Council oa the land tax has been presented to the Legislative Assembly. It simply covers the evidence so far taken, and states that owing- to the limited time at disposal prior to prorogation, the committee could not complete tlieir task. Sidney, November 14. Parliament vvas prorogued by proclamation yesterda*^^^

The Factories and Shop Hours Bill, the Land Tax Assessment Bill, the Coloured Races Bill, the Restriction of Mining Laws Amendment Bill, and the Navigation Act Amendment Bill, passed both Houses. In dismissing the Assembly, Mr Reid, the Premier, said the session would be known as the most useful in the history of their Parliament.

In the Legislative Council the AttorneyGeneral promised the establishment of a Land Tax Court of Appeal immediately Parliament went into recess. The session, he said, had been a recox d ono so far as the measures were concerned. The Factories Bill, as passed by the Legislative Council, lias the half-holiday knocked out. . Sydney, November 15. The Postal Convention has been opened. The principal subjects to be discussed are Federal mail contracts and the representation of the colonies at the Postal Congress in Washington. The Hon Mr Seddon, Premier of New Zealand, in a letter, apologised for tho absence of a delegate from that Colony, owing to the early approach of the general election. He added that lie had formed no definite opinion with regard to representation at Washington, but thought that one, or perhaps two delegates would be sufficient. The Convention adjourned until Monday. Sydney, November 10. Tho Marine Board found that no one was to blame for the wreck of the Daysoring, but decided to call the attention of tho Governor of New Caledonia to the necessity of having the coral patch on which the vessel struck properly surveyed and charted. Melbourne. November 11. The case of Lake v. Lake, in which the husband claimed A3OOO from the corespondent (Short), engaged the attention of the Divorce Court for some time. Eventually the Chief Justice dismissed the petition, on the ground that the evidence suggested that the whole thing was a concoction. In the Legislative Assembly, Mr Mclntyre moved that the. State Bank Bill be dropped and the Credit Fonder Bill be proceeded with. Tho Premier (Mr Turner) characterised the amendment as theatrical display. The Government, he said, originally thought tiie best way would be to work the credit fonder scheme through a State bank, and Ministers still held that view. Pie did not think a great reform should be brought about at once, but they could well discuss the subject, and let it be fought out at the next election. If the Government saw no hope of carrying the State Banking Bill, it would be abandoned. Melbourne, November IG. Speaking at a banquet at Warrnambool, the Minister of Mines announced that though the State Bank proposal had been dropped for the present, it would be put before the country at the next election, and be one of the proposals on which tho Government would stand or fall. Adelaide, November 11. English files just to hand state that 11.M.5. Eclipse will be the now flagship for the Australian station. Adelaide, November 14. The Government have appointed Drs Kinmont, Morris and Morrison to the hospital staff. The two latter were selected in London. A select committee of the Legislative

Council commenced an enquiry into' the affairs of the hospital, but soon got into’ a? dispute with reference to the right of the Colonial Secretary to put a certain question, and adjourned till Monday without doing anything. At a meeting of citizens, it was decided to petition the Governor to have the enquiry conducted by a Judge of this or a neighbouring colony. Brisbane, November 11.

Mr Battersby, member for Moret-n, caused a painful scene in the Legislative Assembly by persistent disorderly conduct, and was eventually suspended. The Labour Party, with three exceptions, voted against the motion to this effect. A letter from a Government officer in the Northern territory explodes the idea that the tick plague had been introduced into the territory by buffaloes. These animals are found to be entirely free from the pest. In the Legislative Council notice has been given of a motion that a joint committee of both Mouses be set up to enquire and report as to the best means to bringabout the colony’s representation at the Federal Convention. Brisbane, November 12. Three supposed French escapees, who were recently arrested, escaped from Cooktown lock-up by cutting through the floor. Tho first official notification concerning the conclusion of the labours of the Queensland National Bank Commission was contained in an announcement made in the House by the Premier that he intended toask the House co pass the Bill as of an urgent nature through all its stages. It is understood the Bill will seek to temporarily guarantee the current deposits of the bank. The Premier hopes to bo able to present the Commission’s report on Thursday, and this it is understood will be followed by a second Bill affording permanent relief to the bank. Brisbane, November 13. The Chief Secretary is in receipt of a despatch from tho Secretary for the Colonies communicating an invitation of tho French Government to Great Britain and the colonies to take part in the Universal International Exhibition in Paris in 1900. The Government is now communicating with the other colonies with a vie\> to ascertaining their opinion. The proposal is favourably regarded here. Brisbane, November 15.

The Duke of Devonshire has arrived at Thursday Island from London with smallpox on board. One case has proved fatal. Brisbane, November IG.

There are no signs of the drought in the west breaking up. The stock routes are in the worst condition ever known. In many parts there is not a blade of grass. It will be impossible to run the mail service for a few weeks, and teams will have to cease travelling. Tho drought has lasted almost continuously for the past four years, and has played great havoc. Perth, November 12. An immense reef formation, carrying besides good gold, nickel and cobalt, has been struck in the Empress of Coolgardie mine. Perth, November 13. It is reported that there are 25 fever cases in the vicinity of the Great Boulder mine, and that none of the patients will enter the Hospital. It is feared that the rival medical lodges will cause a good deal of friction. One miner has been refused admission to the Hospital on the ground that he was a member of a lodge organised by other than Government medical men. Adelaide, November 13.

In the Assembly the Coloured Races Restriction Bill passed. A motion to continue the progressive income tax for another year—but to raise the exemption fiom A 125 to Al 50—has been introduced. Hobart, November 11. The general election has been fixed to take place in January.