Australian.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1771, 5 September 1874, Page 2

Australian.

' ' . Sydney, August 19. The Governor leaves for the Fijis on September 7th. y , „r ■,• „ A fire in Bolton-s'treet, Newcastle, destroyed the property and building of Wood Brothers' bonded stores,, of the value of £20,000; insured for £10,000 in~ the Victoria and Liverpool, London, and , Globe. - . ! .The Torres v Straits steamer Jeddas put into Aden with her fore compartment on fire, which was only extinguished by scuttling a portion of the vessel. An official account of the Palmer states that the goldfield is prosperous, but provisions are dear and scarce, and the blacks troublesome. Adelaide,, .August 16. Tho immigrant ship City of Adelaide was stranded in 10 feet of water, two yards from tho shore, at Manly Beach. The pa«sengers were landed in safety. J. W". Barrow, the editor of the Advertiser, and late Treasurer of the colony, is dead.

Melbourne, August 19. The Treasurer has made his Financial ' Statement. He stated that he commenced the year with a balance of £170,358 from" last year, and the estimated revenue was £4,259,135, which together, and with the recoup from advances, made the gross revenue £4,515,182, being nearly £200,000 more than was received in the previous year. The expenditure was £4,478,000, which was also.in excess of laiD year. This would, leave a isum of £37,102 to be carried forward next year. He proposed to change the ad valorem duties on half a million's worth of goods to fixed datei, and to place some of 10 per cent, goods in the 20 per cqnt. list, and remit duties oh a few articles. ' An additional duty would be placed on wine. The result of these alterations would occasion a loss to the revenue of £470,000, but £130,000 more was expected from wine. The statement has not given, satisfaction, especially to the freetraders.. The book importers have.already held a meeting, oncLprofosted .against the fixed duties instead of ad ralor«m. The Payment 'of -Members $illhas been read a first time in the Assembly.. " •" Several Council elections have been held, but only one alteration has been made, where a.former member retired^