AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENTS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7398, 29 July 1895, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENTS.

Beisbane, July 25. The Treasurer delivered the Budget speech in the Assembly to-nigh b. The revenue for the year amounted to L 3,413,000, which is L 62.000 more than the estimate. The expenditure was L 3,308,000, L 39.000 under the estimate. A. portion of the surplus will be applied to the reduction of the funded debt of a million and a half. The loan fund has been administered sparingly, L 165,000 less than estimated having been spent. It is proposed to continue railway construction with the view of increasing facilities for producers and developing the interior. Though the year had been prosperous, and there has been a general expansion of trade and commerce, careful financing is still necessary. The estimated revenue for the coming year will show an increase of L 57,000, but no change is needed or intended in the methods of taxation, nor will the salaries of the civil servants be further reduced. The Treasurer mentioned that the shearing strike of last year cost the colony L 17.500, and in the last five years the expenditure on : this account was L 96.000. In his annual report, the sanitary officer of Inverness-shire speaks of the prevailing custom of the residents of the islands keeping cattle and other sfock in their dwelling houses. He states tW early in spring a few well-to-do crofters, who had persisted in this practice, were reported for prosecution, proceedings having been taken against four as test cases. One case was withdrawn, but convictions were obtained in the " other three, and the parties ordered to provide byres apart ! from their dwelling houses within three months. . This did a little good at the I time, more especially in the neighbourhood of the convicted parties. Buildhig operations were commenced, but only in a few cases was the work carried on to completion, the great majority having relapsed into tlje usual chronio state of apathetic indifference long before the end was attained. Wore drastic measures having been resolved on, a complete census was taken of this particular class of offenders. It was then found that a total of 167 dwelling houses contained 431 animals comprising 397 cattle, 30 sheep, and 4 horses. This black list having been submitted to the committee, instructions were given to take legal proceedings against 28 of the principal offenders. This is expected to have a most beneficial effect, as at least one case has been selected from each township.