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The revenue for 1892 is estimated at 538,000l., and the expenditure at 578,000l.

Several new gold deposits are reported as having been discovered in the Northern Territory, as well as indications of a diamond mine in the Kimberley district.

Tasmania. The Tasmanian Parliament was opened by the Governor on July 8. The Viceregal speech spoke in glowing terms of the improved financial condition of the colony and its coming prosperity. There was a large surplus in the revenue for 1890, and a prospect of a still larger one for 1891. The mineral resources of the country were being developed with highly satisfactory results. The railway returns since the purchase of the main line by the Government were very encouraging, though greater efforts were needed to bring the 'newly-discovered silver fields into communication with the seaports and the centres of population. Although the returns from the reproductive public works were very satisfactory, paying already a fair contribution to the interest on the cost of construction," the Government, in the interest of the bondholders, and in order to maintain the credit of the colony in the money market, proposed to limit further borrowing until a more favourable season.

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Mr. B. S. Bird, the Treasurer, in his financial statement, announced a surplus of 35,000l. in the year. The revenue for 1892 was estimated at 910,000l., and the expenditure at 875,000l.

An Eight Hours Bill was rejected in the Assembly by the casting vote of the Speaker.

Fresh discoveries of tin are reported in the island, the deposits being of unusual richness, especially in the Blue Tier district. Iron ore has also been found in the interior.

New Zealand.-The Parliament was opened on June 11. In the Governor's speech stress was laid on the soundness of the financial condition of the colony as proved by the increased value of the exports. The exodus of the people to the other colonies was mentioned as a matter of regret, and new land legislation was promised with a view to the promotion of settlers on the soil, including a scheme for the repurchase of private estates. A Bill dealing with the labour difficulty was announced, and a statement made that no change was contemplated in the existing scheme of taxation.

The Premier and Treasurer, Mr. John Ballance, who is the champion of the advanced or popular party, which is now in possession of power, delivered his financial statement at Wellington on June 16. The revenue for the past year amounted to 4,283,000l., and the expenditure to 4,175,000l. For the next year Mr. Ballance estimated the former at 4,413,000l. and the latter at 4,150,000l. He proposed to abolish the existing property tax, and to adopt in its place a graduated land tax, ranging from 1d. to 1gd. in the pound, with certain exemptions

for improvements up to the value of £,000 tax, from 3d. to 1s. in the pound, wou ar public debt stood at 37,349,000Z.

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Rather through the disorganisation political condition of the colony and the wa sition than through its own strength of the country, the Government has bee sweeping measures into law, though e land and income tax is not to be mirVERSscheme by which the burden of taxatx a ratio, on properties above 5001. in varie cised, and is likely, if ever carried on 1 of some of the best colonists, toget amount of capital, from the country. time introduced in any British embr perties pay at a higher rate, is imene. democratic supporters of the Gover::et. & but its obvious tendency will be a condition of the colony; to increa are so heavy on its productive interesan which New Zealand presents 10 15 20 sarily to curtail and to damage te the maintenance of which none ar the working classes. Mr. Bala ever, "New Zealand for the Ner succeeded in driving his on lo only from power but from pu office to work his pernicious pat to feel the effect of these • Frimer. An attempt made by Mr. the Opposition, to overthrow t of confidence, was defeated t the hopes of the colony hac Last native to Mr. Ballance, House for which he was een resigned his seat and retire a A great meeting of t attended by delegates from: br of taking into considerat federation of all the Mao' :: sand natives were prese! made, but the meeting conclusion regarding act in April the total num be 41,312, showing a u This fact seems to pro the past to hasten the to work, and that the The total population turns, is now 619.00

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The Federation proposals, brought forward by Sir George Grey in a languid and perfunctory manner on August 3, have been dropped in the House of Representatives. It is evident that New Zealand will not enter, for the present, into any system of Australasian Federal Union.

The Women's Suffrage Bill, which was passed by the House of Representatives, was rejected, somewhat contemptuously, by the Legislative Council.

Lord Onslow announced his desire to be relieved of the office of Governor. The reasons for this step were said to be that the Government House at Wellington being unhealthy and infested with typhoid fever, the Ministry declined to adopt any suggestions for its cleansing and improvement.

The last link of the railway system of the North Island, connecting Wellington the capital with Napier, and Napier with Wanganui and Taranaki, has been completed.

Fiji. The chronicle for the year 1891 is almost a blank. Several smart shocks of earthquake were felt in May among the eastern and northern islands of the group, causing some slight damage.

Polynesia. The Baron Sennft von Pilsbach was appointed President of the Municipal Council of Samoa by the representatives of the three Powers, England, Germany, and the United States, but the appointment, which is virtually one of chief local Resident and adviser of the King, was not popular, and has not been a signal success. The Baron von Pilsbach suffered himself to be embroiled in Samoan politics, and the latest news is that his resignation is probable.

Tamasese, the Samoan chief set up by the Germans as King in place of Malietoa, is dead. Fresh dissensions, however, have broken out between Malietoa and Mataafa, a claimant to the throne, hostilities between whose partisans have only been prevented from breaking out by the active interposition of the Powers. All business at Samoa has been stagnant, and it is feared that the peace lately secured is likely to be disturbed.

The British Resident at Rarotonga, Mr. F. G. Moss, has instituted a Parliament for Tonga, which met for the first time in August. There is one House of Assembly of twelve members, and a Supreme Court with native Chief Justice. All measures are to be approved by the British Resident.

The death of Mr. Dominis, the American husband of Queen Liliukoloni of Hawaii, has plunged the state into confusion. The American interest is severely affected. The local residents of that nationality are urging the United States Government to annex the Islands.

There have been disturbances in the New Hebrides and Solomon's Island, caused by the behaviour of the French residents, who are extremely unpopular in Polynesia. A petition from some of the native chiefs of the New Hebrides was forwarded to the British Government praying for annexation.

PART II.

CHRONICLE OF EVENTS

IN 1891.

JANUARY.

1. The New Year's Honours included peerages for Sir Francis Sandford, long connected with the Education and Scotch Departments; and Sir Edward C. Guinness, who had given 250,000l. for the relief of the London poor.

The new year was also marked by the reduction of the Indian and Colonial postage to the international rate of 2 d. per half ounce.

Nioro, the chief town of the insurgent chief Ali Madori, who had risen against the French in Senegal, occupied, after the complete defeat of the Toucouleurs, who lost 400 men.

After remaining two years in force, the Minister of Agriculture consented to relax the dogs muzzling order in the Metropolitan District.

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At a bazaar held at St. John's School-room, Upper Wortley, near Leeds, a number of children were playing in some tableaux called "Snow Flakes." By some misadventure a Chinese lantern carried by one caught fire, and rapidly extended to the cotton wool with which the children were covered. Nine lives were lost, and others seriously injured.

2. Hurstbourne House, near Andover, the seat of the Earl of Portsmouth, an eighteenth century mansion, burnt to the ground. Many family portraits and relics were destroyed.

Shortly after the close of the performance of " Cleopatra " at the Fifth Avenue Theatre, New York, an alarm of fire was raised. In a few hours the whole theatre was destroyed; Hermann's Theatre and Sturtevant House and other buildings in the same block were seriously damaged.

Two severe shocks of an earthquake felt at San Francisco, and at the Lick Observatory the ceilings were cracked.

About 250 clerks employed in the Savings Bank Branch of the General Post Office struck against an order of the Postmaster General to work beyond the seven hours stipulated by the Order in Council.

3. The discontent in Newfoundland in consequence of the circumspect policy of Lord Salisbury reached such a pitch that threats were openly made to throw off British Supremacy and to appeal for admission to the

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3. The Chapel Royal, Whitehall, formally handed over to the United Service Association for a museum and lecture hall.

The Republic of Guatemala ravaged by an epidemic of small-pox, by which upwards of 20,000 persons lost their lives.

4. A terrible accident occurred on the frozen Danube between Buda and Pesth. The ice suddenly gave way at a spot where the crowd was greatest, and about sixty persons were immersed, of whom, however, a large majority were rescued.

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The Senatorial Election throughout France resulted in a decided gain for the Republicans. M. Jules Ferry, after many years exclusion, was returned for the Department of the Vosges.

5. A serious riot took place at Motherwell, near Glasgow, in consequence of the attempt of the manager of the Caledonian Railway to evict from their houses tenants who refused to return to work. Only two out of sixty consented, and on the Sheriff-Substitute attempting to carry out the order, the men, assisted by large numbers of miners from Hamilton, resisted. A squadron of Hussars was sent for to assist the police, and to disperse the crowd, which had attacked the station master's house, and destroyed the signal boxes. The Riot Act was read, the streets cleared, but the evictions were not carried out.

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By the intervention of the Sultan, the long-standing differences between the Porte and the Patriarchate were adjusted, and the Orthodox Churches were reopened throughout European Turkey in time to permit the Christians to attend their Christmas (old style) services.

6. An Anarchists' Congress assembled at Lugano, at which two Italian deputies attended.

Messrs. Decker, Howell, & Co., of New York, who had suspended payment during the panic, resumed business, having paid all creditors in full, interest and principal, an amount exceeding $12,000,000.

A serious epidemic of typhoid fever declared itself at Florence, where there had been 900 cases within three weeks, with 75 deaths.

7. A final interview between Mr. Parnell and Mr. W. O'Brien took place at Boulogne, at which an arrangement was arrived at, though kept secret, which it was hoped would put an end to the schism and lead to the reconstruction of the Nationalist party under a new leader.

The midnight Scotch express train from Euston came into collision near Preston with the detached wagons of a goods train, and the fireman of the express train was killed.

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A certain portion of the Chilian navy revolted against the government of President Balmaceda, and against the attempt to levy taxes which had not been properly voted by the Chambers. Contrary to expectation, the army did not join in the movement, but remained faithful to the existing government.

8. The Bank rate of discount reduced from 5 to 4 per cent., the Reserve standing at 15,531,6451., or 393 per cent. of the liabilities, and the stock of bullion to 24,143,860.

The Postmaster General having received a deputation of the clerks who had struck against the extra work imposed upon them, consented to their resuming work on apologising for the breach of discipline.

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