AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5938, 19 February 1881, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Pisa s.s. Hbro, AT-HoKTrntA.)

Hokitika,'February 18th. VICTORIA.

The Government will probably confine the business -clihesession to the Reform Bi'l, which will.be prowith to the exclusion of all other.measures. Ministers, expect the session to last only five weeks, •Mr-Berrydesiring ample time toprepare the Estimates.-. ..,•!....■.... .;..; -..-.■ J .-.. : ■ :

IheMelbournc City Council have resolved to borrow £25,000, in. £100 debentures, at 4J per cent.

NEW SOUTH WALES.

The Budget speech of the New South Wales Treasurer: showed an increase in revenue for the'year of £480,000,; leaving a surplus of £49,000. The Treasurer's credit balance is £309,000.' The chief items of the increase on the Estimates are £157,000 for educatorn, £1000. for the census, and £20,000 for thepost--effice The Treasurer said that there was no heed of xew taxation. The, Government hoped, by timely reductions, to secure the Riverina trade. The public debt of the Colony was reduced last year by £335,000 and .next year they would probably pay off £232,000 at 5 per centum, with the view of getting money at a

_ J.B. Lawrie, of Sandnngham, near the place where bkuthorpo alleges to have discovered Leichardt's relics ciscredits Skuthorpe's statement. '

;: r; : SOUTH AUSTRALIA. A company has been formed in, London, with a xaprtal of a quarter of a million, to work the,mines .north of Port Augusta. ■ .' ; . •' A terrible hurricane occurred' at Ashburton River r*jA.) °" thoCth and 7th January. Thr»o Euwpooha -ana several natives were drowned, "Twelve pearlinir Tessels.were shattered, and £5000 worth of pearls lost _J2ie South Australian Government now pay ths Unent Company Is an ounce upon letters, and Is a Tound for parcels, and Cd per pound for newspapers, conditional on the fortnightly service being mainTcinea. ..*..:.:\'.-. _ '■>-■■