The New York herald., 1874-01-12
AUSTRALASIA. "A U
Financial and Industrial Condition Of the
Antipcdal Populations.
Reduction in the Scale Of Fixed Duties-The
California Mail Contract -Royalist En-
barrassments in Fii-Prussian Pol
Icy in the Territory-A New
Country Discovered.

SYDNEY, Nov. 3 1o7a
The colony Of New South Wales at present occu-
bies higher position In o financial sense than at
any past period Of It's history. OF this the Gov
ernor gave some slight intimatton when opening
the present session OF Parliament leaving details
to be given by the Colonial Treasurer In his annual
budget speech. The Hon. @. A. Lloyd. who now
does duty for this colony, astonished Parliament
press and public by the figures submitted fort
might since. The public revenue had not only ex-
ceeded anticipations, but had done so by 20 per
cent leaving him at the end Of this year with an
actual surplus Of $s,27O,o0o. A trine more than
half this amount Is to be appropriated. to the pay
ment Of deficits In the revenues Of previous years.
one-thrd OF the balance to public works and the
remainder to be used In making good any falling
or In next years revenue. The latter is entirely
probematica, but is expected to occur through
the new fiscal policy proposed by the government
In the existing tariff 255 articles have to pay duties
either hxed or ad vaorem. The latter are to be
entirely abolished and the list OF fixed duties re-
duced. Tobacco manufactured g. per Id. !;
neaf tobacco, 1s. per ID. proposal to
increase the duty the latter by Is. per Id. was
abandoned In consequence Of importers clearing
six months stock out OF bond in anticipation Of
change taking place.
THE NEW TARIFF,
though generally approved OF, has proToked long
debate in the Assembly, and has not yet received
Parliamentary ratification necessary for enact
ment.
All classes. Of colonists are rejoicing at the pros
perity OF the country and the reduction OF taxa
tion, save little clique known as the protection
party, which has three representatives In Paria-
ment, and of these two are place hunters The op.
moments OF the government thought
THE CALIFORNIAN MAIL CONTRACT
% sure thing to produce change of Ministry, and
probably they were right In their direct calcula-
tions. They lost sight of contingencies that
might and have since strengthened the posi-
tion Of the government, out OF whose em 0a'ras
de rtcheSSe mail subsidy would not be
felt. For three nights the San Francisco line was
debated with considerable viruence, and when g
division was taken the malecontents found them
selves outvoted by two to one. Before the ques
tion Of ratification was finally decided telegram
was received from the Postal Commissioner at
LonIon stating that the steamers Maggregor, Tar.
tar and Mongol each upwards OF 900 tons capacity,
had been chartered to carry on the temporary ser.
vice. so tnat there Is reason to hope that for some
years to come correspondence between the United
States and Australia Will not have to make de-
tour via England.
The public mind has been considerably exercised
about
FIJI AND IIS RULERS,
FOR so Cacoban Thurston, Woods and Co. may now
term themselves. One day insulted by the mob
In our palace OF Navosso, with bankrupt ex-
chequer, rebellious taxpayers and authority
divided BY the proclamations OF Captain Chapman,
of Her Britannia Maesty's ship Dido, or Captain
Simpson, of the Blanche; next day with the
rebels at their mercy, Captain Simpson vow1ng
vengeance against all who opposed their benefcent
sway, and an opportunity afforded Of completing
their coup Getat by procaiming new constitution,
taking the balance OF power from the whites
and vestfng 1t IN the natives Mr.. Gladsones action
respecting Fiji is quite unique. He Will neither
annex nor protect it, neither acknowledge the gov
ernment as 1t exists nor allow the white residents
TO form one more congenial to their political pro-
clivities and their taxpaying capacity. When
last wrote LevuKa was In q state Of siege, be.
leagured by 1000 Fijan and Tongese natives, COM
manded by creatures Of the government who were
deferred from attacking the capital by the open
ports big guns and the belligerent look Of the
Blanche. 1hurston at first stormed andraved about
accepting Captain Simpsons attitude as Q declara-
ton Of war, then, finding that after all his gas was
expended he was only like Bottom, the weaver. he
descended from his perch and did the humble by
interviewing Simpson. little nattery often ef-
1ects more than large army. ThurstOn had not
the iorce, so he tried the nattery, and used 1t
position as ever royal navy onacer bundered
into. and there are not few who have SO distln-
dence Of the King and Cabinet, made sole arblter
I Of the qua quarrel Dy accepting ThaTsson's % written
70 II ne
Pc resisted oy :Her Majessy's representativs
glittering and he bit. draft Of the new
constitution then submitted Tor his approval or
steps were taken by either parry until Captain
Simpson informed a deputation from the British
must submit to the authority OF CacObau, whose
new constitution he had seen, approved OF and
70 e OF o ss
ment. The so called rebels being asked to show
cause why he should accept Thurston's resignation
OF the responsibility he had voluntarily accepted.
leaving him to justify his proceedings as best he
could.
The result was that he handed back the bogus
resignation with complimentary note, and conf
Mted vn If s tha oy
by an Irresponsible Ministry, brought into exist.
ence by q constitution then unrepeaed, and was
Informed by Thurston that they would sustain
themselves by force, and II necessary burn d. wn
was nothing now left to the residents but abject
submission to Cacobau's rule, backed up as II was
by q British irigats. rate ov,x.v oo,,,.
At once chartered q email vessel and despatched
her here with q telegram, requesting his govern
teress OF mis- fellow countrymen, who own fully
two-thrds Of the alienated land IN FIJI. 1t Is be-
iieved that the request Will be acceded to. as will
also be that Of the Rev N: Breneret, Chic, Of the
Mahon to Interfere and restore them the land they
held ior is years, until orctbly dspossessed by the
King and his Wesleyan advisers.
THE NEW CONSTITUTION
Ia a remarkable composition, commencing with
some religious pattudes, followed up by aweh
known extract from the Declaration, OF Inde.
pendence OF the United States. "Al! men ere
born ree aud equal" &c. ABOUT Hevoes oG sloss ss
setting forth the form or government pro,
posed to be inaugurated 1t has the s9aRe Re ana
form OF representative instituuon roanh wnhe tn
despotsm. There is to be a Parliament Of rs rs
members, 20 OF whom are appointeu ~
the King and his advisers, and eight are 70 pe
elected by the white residents Tne klnga1m y ,t ~
be divided into IL districts, from each Oh Wnicn ti1