AUSTRALIA.

Southland Times, Issue 8090, 19 August 1885, Page 2

AUSTRALIA.

[By Elkctbio Tslegbaph — Oopybight.] (RETJTEB'S TELEGRAMS.) SYDNEY, Aug. 18, The steamers Massilla and Luaitania, which have Jboen doing duty for some time as armed cruisers, left yesterday for England in accordance with Admiral Tryon's instructions to report themselves to the Admiralty. Major-General Sir Peter Scratchley, High Commissioner of New Guinea, left Sydney yesterday for that territory in order to assume his duties. MELBOURNE, Aug. 16. The Melbourne manager of the National Mortgage and Agency Co., of New Zealand, reports of the local grain market as follows: -"Shipping wheat is firm, at ds 2d to 4s 3d. Malting barley is steady, at 4s to 4a 6d. New Zealand oats, (feed sortc) meet with more demand at a slight improvement, at 2a 9J to 2s lid ; milling sorts, steady, but not in active demand, at 3a to 3a Id, New Zealand oats, under bond, 2s to 2s 3^ ADELAIDE, Aug. 18. The Colonial Secretary, Mr Newlandj brought down his Financial Statement tonight. He proposes to increase the duties on ale and beer by threepence per gallon, and on perfumed spirits by 8s per gallon, while tobacco and cigars will be raised 6d and la respectively. It is proposed to levy an import duty of 53 on horses, 2s 6d on cattle, oi on sheep, and 2s on pigs. All the present five per cent, ad valorem duties are to be abolished.