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land had treated the Queensland Government in the issue of the last loan-the Bank being charged with having failed to carry out its promises. The matter has since been one of public discussion between the representatives of the Bank of England and Sir Thomas McIlwraith, with the result that the Bank has been able to prove that the Queensland Treasurer's criticisms were unfounded.

With regard to the matter of Federation, Sir Samuel Griffith declared in the Assembly that it would be futile to introduce any Federal Bill into the Queensland Legislature until it had been adopted by the Parliament of New South Wales. As New South Wales, under the present régime, has decided to postpone the subject of Federation, it may be assumed that the scheme has been indefinitely postponed.

South Australia. The Parliament was opened on June 16. Dr. Cockburn, the leader of the Opposition, brought forward a motion of want of confidence in the Government, which was defeated by a majority of seven.

The Hon. Thomas Playford, Premier and Treasurer, delivered his financial statement on August 20. He announced that the year ending June 30 left a surplus of 153,691., of which 120,858. had been used to meet Treasury Bills. Out of the total amount borrowed, amounting to 19,900,900l.,; there was a profit over working expenses of 4 per cent. in 17,600,5751. expended in public works, leaving the interest on 2,300,3251. only to be provided out of the general revenue. The railways were paying over 5 per cent. on their cost, while the irrigation and drainage works were paying over 3 per cent. The Treasurer declared that there had been an increase in the value of both imports and exports, the total figures in 1890 having been 15,500,000l., while for 1891 they were 19,600,000l.

Western Australia.-The first Parliament of Western Australia, under the new Constitution Act, was opened on January 20 by the Governor, Sir William Robinson. Almost the first measure announced in his speech was one which proves that Western Australia will lose no time in assimilating her political system to those of the other colonies-at least in the direction of finance. A Bill authorising a loan to the amount of 1,300,000l. for railways and public works was announced on behalf of the Government. It has since been passed, and a portion of it, to the extent of 500,000l., placed on the London market.

Meanwhile there has been a great and most encouraging increase of population since the institution of responsible Government, with a corresponding activity in all the branches of trade and commerce. The first section of the Midland Railway, from Guildford to Gingin, was opened on April 10.

The total revenue of the year, the first year of responsible government, amounted to 497,000l., being an excess over the estimate of 55,000l., while the expenditure amounted to 435,000l.

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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. 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 1ğd. in the pound, with certain exemptions

for improvements up to the value of 3,000l. A graduated income tax, from 3d. to 1s. in the pound, would also be introduced. The public debt stood at 37,349,000l.

Rather through the disorganisation which prevails in the political condition of the colony and the weakness of the Opposition than through its own strength or the favour it enjoys in the country, the Government has been enabled to carry all these sweeping measures into law, though the so-called progressive land and income tax is not to be introduced until 1893. The scheme by which the burden of taxation is laid, in an increasing ratio, on properties above 500l. in value, has been severely criticised, and is likely, if ever carried out, to lead to the departure of some of the best colonists, together with a considerable amount of capital, from the country. The principle, for the first time introduced in any British colony, of making the larger properties pay at a higher rate, is intended, of course, to please the democratic supporters of the Government and the Labour party; but its obvious tendency will be to limit all improvement in the condition of the colony; to increase the burdens which already are so heavy on its productive interests; to lessen the attractions which New Zealand presents to the British emigrant; and necessarily to curtail and to damage the fund of national wealth, in the maintenance of which none are more deeply interested than the working classes. Mr. Ballance's cry continues to be, however, "New Zealand for the New Zealanders"; and as he has succeeded in driving his only formidable rival, Mr. Bryce, not only from power but from public life, he is likely to remain in office to work his pernicious policy until the Labour party begins to feel the effect of these "Progressive 'Progressive" measures.

An attempt made by Mr. Rolleston, the temporary leader of the Opposition, to overthrow the Government on a vote of want of confidence, was defeated by 11 votes. Mr. Bryce, on whom the hopes of the colony had been fixed as the only possible alternative to Mr. Ballance, having made use of language in the House for which he was censured by a vote of the majority, has resigned his seat and retired into private life.

A great meeting of the Maories was held at Waima in May, attended by delegates from many of the tribes, for the purpose of taking into consideration the desirability of forming a confederation of all the Maori tribes for political purposes. A thousand natives were present, and several stormy speeches were made, but the meeting broke up without coming to any definite conclusion regarding action in the future. At the census taken in April the total number of Maories in the islands was found to be 41,312, showing a decrease of only 120 since the last census. This fact seems to prove that the causes which have operated in the past to hasten the decadence of the native race are ceasing to work, and that the process of Maori decline has been arrested. The total population of New Zealand, as given in the census returns, is now 619,000.

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 2d. 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.

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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.

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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 United States.

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