AUSTRALIAN CABLE.

Timaru Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 1785, 20 June 1895, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN CABLE.

♦ Per Electric Telegraph— Copyright. Per Press .clssociation. NEW SOUTH WALES POLITICS. Sydney, June 19. The all absorbfng topic of conversation m political circles is the attitude which the Council is likely to adopt m regard to the taxation measures to-night. It is thought that that branch of the Legislature will possibly attempt to excise the income tax, leaving the land tax. The Herald declares that it is not too much to say that this possible action of the Council is regarded by the country with grave concern and apprehension. A majority of the Council shows itself so bitterly hostile to the policy of the Reid Government as to forget the ordin- J ary decencies of political life m its eagerness to destroy that policy before it is placed before them as "a whole. If the taxation pleasures are rejected it will become a question of Council versus Country. Mr Brick has introduced a Bill to ex. tend the restriction against Chinese immigration to Japanese and Kanakas. In the Legislative Assembly the third reading of the Customs Bill is being debated. In the Legislative Council the Government's motion to postpone the Land and Income Tax Machinery Bill for one week was rejected by 38 to 9. In moving the second reading the Hon. Mr Want made a warm onslaught on the Opposition, and declared that if those membei'S who were freetraders voted against it it would be an unexampled act of treachery, and every opponent would have to face the music. The Hon. Mr McLaurin opposed the .attack, declaring the Bill a wretched one. Jt was purely class taxation, and would ruin the country. He was opposed to the exemptions m the Bill, and moved that the Bill be postponed for six months. The Hon. Mr Heydon supported the amendment. The debate was adjourned. THE ANGLIAN. Sailed — Anglian, for Auckland. THE ROTOMAHANA. Sailed — Rotomahana, for Auckland. THE PACIFIC CABLE. Mr Cook, Postmaster-General, says that New South Wales took action regaining the Pacific Cable long before Victoria and Queensland, although they did not invest the Agent-General with the powers afterwards conferred by Victoria on her representative. SHIPPING. Sailed — Star of New Zealand, for Auckland. THE REDFERN RAILWAY ACCIDENT. The Redfern railway accident cases have commenced. Counsel for the Commissioners admitted that H was caused by negligence and the only question to be decided was the amount of compensation. Mrs Coward claimed £10,000 foi 1 the loss of her husband. A verdict was given for £2750. NEW CALEDONIA, Clouds of grasshoppers are eating what, little grass is left m the northern part of New Caledonia, where not a drop oJ rain has fallen for six weeks,

, Brisbane, June 19. A French steamer has arrived at Cooktown with 150 Tonquinese labourers foi Noumea.