AUSTRALIAN.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 8133, 17 January 1895, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN.

Per Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Per Press Association. VICTORIAN POLITICS. Melbourne, January 16.

In the Legislative Assembly last night the Premier, referring to the recent crisis, said that the Legislative Council had a legal right to act as it had done, but whether it had a constitutional right was another question. Looking at fall the circumstances quietly and impartially, . he thought that the House eofild not afford to raise the constitutional question, which could be avoided. The real question to consider was what course was desirable in the ‘interests of the whole colony. The Land and Income Tax Bill in dispute could be sent back to the Council, but in the face of its almost unanimous [rejection last week, there was little chance of its being accepted now. The Government would then have to dissolve the House, which would be penalising the recently returned members. Nor was it certain that this step would lead to a final solution of the difficulty. He believed that this course would be injurious to the best interests of the colony and create turmoil. He believed that the land tax was growing in favour, and attributed its defeat to the pressure of financial institutions. He hoped that, with the income tax, a reduction of the subsidy to municipal bodies, and rer trenchment, to be able to reduce the deficit for the year to £78,000. He moved the introduction of the Income Tax Bill, which was carried to the Committee stage.

The Legislative Council have rejected the Alien Bill, which reduces the fees for naturalisation and recognises the naturalisation papers of other-colonies. During the debate on the Premier’s statement that Sir J. B. Patterson, the ex-Premier, had approved generally of the action Of the Government, one labour representative protested strongly against, the action of the Government, alleging that the House j of Representatives had been insulted ;by the Legislative Council and that the breakdown by the Turner Government' was worse than anything displayed ; by the late Government. Mr A. Deakin feared that the Government had pot realised the seriousness of the position, and said that he regarded the fall in the colony’s stocks :as due to the rejection of the Land Tax Bill. The action of the Government ■ amounted to - almost ,-a sacrifice of principle, and he considered that the Government might have adopted counsel which would have asserted tire right of the; lower chamber. This would have ‘been better for tire Government and the - country. AN i IMPOSTER. ! A man travelling under the alias of Count Velasco, has been sentenced-to two years on a charge of obtaining money under false pretencesTHE COAL INDUSTRY. Sydney, January 16. • The .chairman of [directors of the, Hetton colliery, writing to the Premier, 1 predicts that with a continuation of low .prices-Newcastle will.be able; duripg the year, to-reestablish the coal trade with the -west ceoasteof America,. and in a’ more moderate degree with 1 the east. ‘ H.M.S.ORLANDO. H.M.S.Oiiando.witliAdmiral Bridge, will shortly, make, a visit to the .various colonies. She is expected to leave here about a fortnight hence,' her route being'. Melbourne, Adelaide, Albany, Hobart, and then New Zealand. HOSPITAL FOR CONSUMPTIVES. A gentleman -named Hall, -recently deceased, .after making a few legacies,; left the . bulk, of his estates to establish a : consumptive home for respectable poor. THE MONOWAI. Sailed—Monowai, for Auckland. THE TASMANIA. Sailed—Tasmania, for Auckland. CANNIBALISM. : Perth, January 16, One of the ringleaders in the recent cannibalistic feast gives gruesome details of the affair. He says that one of the natives impaled a boy by running a pointed stick down his throat, and then 1 roasted him.