AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Witness, Issue 1189, 12 September 1874, Page 10

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Melbourne, August 29th. On Thursday, the Treasurer made his Financial Statement. He stated that he commenced the year with a balance of £170,358 from last year. The estimated revenue was £4,259,135, which, together with recoups from advances, made a gross revenueof £4,515, 152— being nearly £200,000 more than wa3 received in the previous year. The expenditure was £4,478,000, which was also in excess of last year. This would leave a aura of £37,102 to be carried forward to next year. He proposed to change ad valorem duties on half a million worth of goods to fixed duties, and to place some of the 10 per cent, goods in the 20 per cent, list, and remit duties on a few articles ; an addifonal duty to be placed on wine. The result of these alterations will occasion a loss to revenue of £47,000, but £13,000 more is expected from wine. The Statement has not given satisfaction, especially t>> freetraders. Boot importers Have already held a meeting and protected against fixed instead of ad valorem duties. The Payment of Members "Bill has been read a first time in the Assembly. Several Council elections have been held, but only one alteration was made, where a former member retired. A large number of petitions have been presented to the Assembly from local bodies in favour of asßist' d immigration. Lady Bowen proceeds to Europe by the mail steamer next month. The libel action brought by theproprv tors of the Theatre Royal against the Herald resulted in a verdict for the plaintiffd, for one farthing damages. A small sheep farmer named John Moriarty has been murdered near Schnapper Point. The murderer is yet undiscovered. The Californian mail steamer left San Francisco on the 17th August. Mr Carter, the Commissioner of Titles, resigns at the end of next month. Mr Parkes, Premier of New South Wales, is at present visiting Riverina. Seven men belonging to the brig Prairie were drowned by a boat accident at Bowse Island. London telegrams of August 27th report an advance on scoured wool of l£d ; greasy is unaltered ; cross- bred s higher ; lambs are selling well to English buyers principilly. 680 guineas were paid for a single sheep yesterday. COMMERCIAL. The markets are very dull, and business received a check pending the result of the Budget. Sugars, especially yellows, sold at advance ; flour and grain very dull ; milling oata held for 5s 3d ; tobacco, good demand. Sydney, August 29th. The Governor leaves for Fiji on September 7th. A fire in Bolton street, Newcastle, destroyed the property and building of Wood's Bros, bonded stores, of the value of £20,000. They were insnred for £10,000 in the Victoria and the Liverpool, London, and Globe Co. The Torres Strait steamer Jeddah put into Eden with her fore-compartment on fire. The fire was extinguished by scuttling the fore portion of the vessel. Official accounts from tho Palmer state that the goldfields are prosperous. Provisions are dear and scarce. The Blacks are troublesome. Adelaide. The immigrant ship, City of Adelaide, was stranded in 10 feet of water, two yards from the shore, at Henley Beach. The passengers were landed safely. Mr J. W. Barrow, editor of the Adver-

tiser, and late Treasurer of the Colony, is dead. The crops are reported to be looking well.