AUSTRALIAN TELEGRAMS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9254, 2 December 1891, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN TELEGRAMS.

Melbourne, November 30. . A sub-Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, to whom the question of the site of the proposed lighthouse on the Snares was referred to, report adversely on the site selected, but offer no objection to site suggested on the outlying rocks, about four miles from the main island, if powerful fog signals are provided. The Committee are of opinion that the only course possible is to ro commend the New Zealand Government to delay preparations for the work until the question has been re-considered by experts of the colonies interested. Melbourne, December 1, The auditors' report shows the defalcations of Mr Matthew Larkin, the well-known secretary of the South Melbourne Permanent Building and Investment Society, to be £13,000. The balance-sheet shows the Society made an additional loss of £8,000 on , the year's working. Sydney, November 30. The Financial Statement was delivered in the Legislative Assembly to-night. It shows that the expenditure for the past year was £10,547,000, and the receipts £9,957,000. Estimated deficiency for this and previous years is £589,000. Estimated revenue for next year is £10,960,000, including £836,000 from the new system of taxation. Expenditure is put down at £10,602,000, and ifc is estimated that there will be surplus for the year of £358,000, leaving a deficit at the end of 1892 of £231,000. The new taxation will consistof a ten and fifteen per cent Customs' duties. Sydney, December 1. The new duties include : — Butter and bacon, 2d per 1b; fish, Id; coffee, 6d ; tea, until March, 1892, 3d, after that free ; timber, up to 3s per 100 ft, according to its nature ; sugar, 6s 8d per cwt; oatmeal, £2 per ton ; barley, beans, oats, peas, and wheat, 10d per lOOlbs ; flour, bran, and pollard, Is per lOOlbs ; hay, chaff, straw, and potatoes, 10s per ton ; onions, £1 per ton; fresh and frozen meat and oysters will be admitted free of duty. Hob art, December l tl The Bank of Van Diemen'q Land has declared a dividend of 4s, ]% the £, equal to £150,000.