AUSTRALIA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5285, 15 June 1895, Page 5

AUSTRALIA.

[Special to Pbbbs Association. J CUSTOMS DUTIES BILL. SYDNEY, Junk 15. The Telegraph saya tbe divisions on the Customs Duties Bill are a great triumph for Freetrade, and could not have been more complete as representing the popular will if the meaßure had become law, which it soon will do.

THE VICTORIAN RETRENCHMENT

PROPOSALS

MELBOUBNE, June 15.

In consequence of the rejectment of the Civil Servants' Betirement Bill, 180 civil servants -who had volunteered to retire oa pensions, and were granted leave of absence pending the passing of the measure, have been reinstated in their positions. Probably the Government will offer a number of them compensation in lieu of pensions. From the same cause the retrenchment in the Education Department has been curtailed by J820.000. The Premier states that the Government is determined to square the accounts next year, and if the Legislative Assembly is not prepared to assent to the retrenchment proposals, it fears that it will be ■ compelled to aßk foe further taxation. THE TOTALISATOR. The Totalisator Bill introduced into the i Assembly provides that only registered clubs may use the machine. They will be allowed to deduct from five to eight per sent of the money put through, to be spent on racing. A third of the net profits must; be handed to the Colonial Treasurer and placed to the credit of the charities fund. TEMPERANCE LEGISLATION. At a meeting of the Temperance party in the Assembly, it was decided that in the present state of public business, temperance legislation must stand over. FEDERAL BANK OF AUSTRALIA. ADELAIDE, June 15. The liquidator of the Federal Bank of Australia has obtained the permits ion of the Court to remit a further £7000 to London to pay another dividend of Is to British creditors. This makes 6s in the £ paid since the Btoppage. STATE MONEY LOANS. Thb Register, commenting on the recent local loan, says the fact that thoae with Burplus cash are eager to accept 3$ per cent for their money should make the Government pause before undertaking the business of a money- lender on what must be presumed doubtful mortgage security. Where the security is good, plenty of money ia available, but the possibility of securing a money-lender who can be influenced by politicians in want of votes is a consideration that appeals to many voters who put eelf-interest first and the credit of the country after. If the Government continues to ignore the danger, Adelaide may have to go through the same bitter experience as Canada and some other countries, where State money loans were tried with disastrous effect.

TASMANIAN INCOME TAX.

HO BART, June 15.

The Income tax is not nearly'realising the Estimate. The Government intends to propose a separata Dividend tax, in order to reach business men who escape the Income tax.

The fish-hooks used to-day are of precisely the same Bhape as those employed twenty centuries ago. The only difference is in the material. Then they were of bronze ; now they are of steel.

The moot wonderful wine cellars in the world are at Warsaw. They have been used for storing winea for over four

hundred years, and uoiao of the wines date from tho year 1600. The whole place is one mass of fungi and stalactites.

There is no doubt whatever that the average person eats & great deal more in winter than in summer. The air in winter contains more oxygon, and therefore animal combustion i 3 moro rapid, and extra food is required to keep up the same amount of animal heat.