October 24 sentenced to fourteen years' penal servitude. Dean, with Meagher, had previously been tried for conspiracy to defeat the ends of justice, and convicted. Thus ended, to the complete triumph of Judge Windeyer and the vindication of the court of law as a tribunal more to be trusted than popular opinion, a case which moved the citizens of Sydney in an extraordinary degree, shaking the whole foundations of the judicature as well as the legislature. How far it went to the undermining of both may be judged by the fact that up to September 19 the Prime Minister was still hesitating as to a measure to which he was much pressed, namely, the removal of the too rigorous Judge Windeyer from the Bench. Yet before this date the Government must have been in possession of the material facts of the case, and of the share of Messrs. Meagher and Crick therein.

The Prime Minister delivered his Budget speech on May 9. In it he promised that "every shred of Sir George Dibbs' duties would ultimately go." The land tax of 1d. in the pound would yield 400,000l. The income tax was of 6d. in the pound, with 300l. exemption. These taxes were afterwards modified in accordance with the settlement made with the Legislative Council.

Among the most notable measures of the session was a Public Service Bill, regularising the appointments to the Civil Service, and freeing them from political influence.

A new loan of 4,000,000l. at 3 per cent. was floated in the London market with success, the sum being subscribed at ninety-six, more than twice over.

One of the oldest and most respected of the colonists, Sir William Manning, who had been many years a Judge of the Supreme Court, died on February 27 at the age of eighty-four years.

Victoria.--The course of politics and the position of parties in this colony were very similar to those in New South Wales. A Ministry representing the extreme Democratic party was in power, generally supported by the Labour members, and depending on that support for its existence. As in New South Wales so in Victoria, the chief questions which agitated Parliament were those connected with the taxation of land and property, which led to differences between the two Houses of Legislature. At the beginning of the year, on a proposal to reduce the salaries of members of Parliament, the Labour party went solidly with the Opposition to defeat the Government. Upon Mr. Turner threatening to resign, a compromise was effected by which the members' salaries were reduced by 601. a year, from 300l. to 2401. Payment of members was once more found to be the keystone of the future of Democracy, the greater part of the Legislative Assembly depending on their official salaries for their maintenance.

On January 9 the Land and Income Tax Bill was thrown out by the Legislative Council. Something like a crisis ensued,

which was ended by the Government separating the land tax from the income tax. A bill embodying the latter was passed by the Assembly on January 18 and accepted by the Council on the 24th of that month.

A proposal to reduce the Governor's salary from 7,000l. to 5,000., on the score of economy, was brought forward by the Government and agreed to by the Assembly. It was afterwards rescinded in accordance, as was reported, with representations from home, but more probably out of deference to the feeling that the Victorian Governor should not be rated lower than other Governors.

Parliament was opened, after the prorogation, on May 29, by Sir John Madden, the Chief Justice, acting as Governor. A Tariff Bill was one of the chief measures promised, based on a policy of "moderate protection." The Ministry declared it to be impossible to reduce duties to 25 per cent. without annihilating native industries. Some duties, however, were proposed to be lowered in the new tariff, which was hailed by the Free Trade journals as the first sign of a reaction in the tide of public opinion. A motion by Mr. Murray Smith, the leader of the Free Trade party in the House, for fixing a maximum of 25 per cent. for the new duties on imports, was rejected by a large majority. The principal changes in the Ministerial tariff included a reduction of the duty on woollens from 35 to 30 per cent., on blankets from 35 to 15 per cent., and on machinery from 35 to 25 per cent. After a contest extending over five months and occupying almost conclusively the attention of the Legislature during the session, the Tariff Bill was finally settled on terms which were regarded as favourable to the reformers. The indications were that the extreme Protectionist party had begun to lose popularity, seeing that the high duties were affecting the revenue, and that revenue was even more a necessity for the Colony than protection.

Mr. Turner, the Premier and Colonial Treasurer, introduced his Budget on July 30. The prognostics of increased revenue were heralded by a hopeful assurance of returning prosperity. A surplus was expected upon the new fiscal scheme of 269,1967., leaving the net total deficit at 114,9417. Mr. Turner afterwards corrected these figures, assuming that the deficit was not more than 42,7911. Subsequent revelations as to some of the leading sources of public revenue seemed to show that these calculations of returning prosperity were a little premature if not exaggerated. The deficit in the returns from the Government railways at the end of 1895 was stated to be 500,0007.

The Legislative Council, on December 12, threw out a bill for conferring the suffrage on women.

The report of the Railway Inquiry Board, when published, proved to be a strongly worded and most sweeping assault on the existing system of management. The board complained of

the political influences which permeated every branch of the service as being among the chief causes of the unsatisfactory working of the railways. Forty-five of the country lines which had been constructed, not with a view to the convenience of the community, but to the political interests of their members in Parliament, were declared to be unprofitable. The number of officers was in excess of the public requirements, and their salaries and wages extravagant. The pensions and compensations were an exhausting burden on revenue, the payments in the last year under these heads having amounted to 83,000l. The whole service was disorganised if not demoralised. Political influence destroyed discipline. Reductions in rates and fares were made to please politicians. The traffic branch was in an unsatisfactory state through laxity of discipline and want of supervision. The board concluded its report by proposing the abolition of the railway system as a branch of government, and its entire separation from the public service.

A report from the commission appointed to inquire into the system of colonial banking was less productive of any practical result. Only five out of the ten members signed the report, the others, who included all who were practically acquainted with banking, protesting against their conclusions. A moiety of the commissioners recommended the institution of a State bank, in which the Post-Office and other savings banks should be incorporated.

A crowded and enthusiastic meeting was held on January 29 in favour of federation, in the Melbourne Town Hall, with Sir John Madden, the Chief Justice, in the chair.

Messrs. Chaffey Brothers, the founders of the Irrigation Settlement at Mildura, presented a petition in bankruptcy on December 3. Their failure, it was stated, will not affect the Mildura Colony, which is in a fairly prosperous state. The Attorney-General, in the Assembly, declared that "the Government would not allow Mildura to sink," having already done much to promote the success of that interesting experiment. According to a report published in the Argus, the irrigation settlement, which is mainly devoted to the cultivation of fruits, produced 900 tons of raisins during the season of 1895, the gross value of all its products for this year being 40,000.

The City of Melbourne Bank, which had long been in a declining condition, closed its doors in this year. The failure was of no consequence, as all deposits had been drawn out.

The official valuation of property in Melbourne and its suburbs showed a decline of 2,500,000l. since 1891.

Lord Brassey, the new Governor, arrived at Melbourne in his own yacht, the Sunbeam, October 25.

The movements of commerce in 1895 showed a slight improvement. The total of imports was 12,472,000l.; of exports, 12,547,7001. The increase under the latter head was over 500,000l.

Mr. Davitt, the Irish Nationalist leader, arrived in Melbourne on May 18, and met with a great reception from a mixed crowd of Irishmen, Socialists, Trade Unionists, and Free Thinkers.

South Australia.-The record for South Australia is, as usual, without incident of note-not even a change of Ministry disturbing the even current of affairs. In February the Government took a bold step in concluding a commercial treaty with New Zealand, to last for seven years, providing for a reciprocal exchange of commodities, the produce of the contracting Colonies, on terms more favourable than those enjoyed by their neighbours. Some of the other Colonies naturally objected to such a measure as prejudicial to their interests and injurious to the cause of federation. But South Australia is only the first overtly to declare that her own advantage is a consideration superior to the question of Australian union. A sharp exchange of despatches between Adelaide and Melbourne left the matter precisely where it stood. The Government of South Australia insisted that it had a right to make its own commercial arrangements, and in answer to the remonstrances of Victoria retorted upon her that she was the first to seek her own benefit in her fiscal policy, and never thought of deferring to her neighbours in matters of trade. Whether in obedience to the general feeling, however, or upon the discovery that the bargain was less advantageous to herself than she intended, the reciprocal treaty with New Zealand was abandoned at the close of the year. This attempt to forestall a common tariff by partial treaties will probably have the useful effect of stimulating the zeal of the promoters of confederation.

The Government decided to abolish the militia force, which consisted of 1,000 men, thus effecting a saving of 10,000l. a year.

The Parliament was opened on June 6, and the Treasurer delivered his Budget speech on August 22. The revenue for the year was stated to be 2,424,355l., showing a deficit of 98,000l. in spite of economies.

Lord Kintore, the Governor, left Adelaide on January 17, being succeeded by Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, who arrived on October 29.

Queensland. The chief political event of the year was the resignation of Sir Thomas M'Ilwraith, the Prime Minister, who had for many years been connected with the political history of the Colony. He was succeeded by Mr. H. Nelson, as Colonial Secretary and Treasurer. The parties in the Colonial Parliament, through the gradual absorption of all the leading members of the Opposition into the Administration, are now divided into those who hold office, with all who have capacity and property and education, and the Labour party, which has almost completely absorbed the functions of the regular Opposition.

The session of Parliament was opened on June 25, and closed

December 20. No measures of any importance occupied the attention of the legislators, which was chiefly engrossed by the care of providing a public income to meet the expenditure. The Colonial Treasurer introduced his Budget on July 25. No additional taxes were proposed, and a good report made of the financial condition of the Colony. The revenue for the year was declared to be 3,413,000l., showing an increase of 70,000l. Among the most important developments of the Ministerial policy was a scheme for the encouragement of immigration, marking a return to the path from which the Colony-like all the rest of the Colonies-had strayed.

Sir Henry Norman, the Governor, left Brisbane on his retirement from office, on November 14.

West Australia.-The youngest of the five Colonies continues to advance-by help of the opportune gold discoveries at Coolgardie and Murchison-by leaps and bounds. Gold has brought commerce and revenue and population. It has swelled the volume of the public wealth, and put vigour and health into all the springs of life. During the year 1895 the total export of the precious metal amounted in value to 910,4561. New discoveries were being reported every week, and new reefs explored, which are attracting a large amount of capital and enterprise to the country. It may be that some of the enterprises for which British money is being sought will fail to realise the hopes of the projectors. The gold fields have yet to be properly worked, and there is still some uncertainty as to the depth and richness of the auriferous deposits, while the supply of water is precarious. But every day sees an increase in the development of the resources of West Australia. The stream of people from outside which is the life blood of the country-continues to flow in an ever-increasing volume. The total population on the last day of the year was reckoned at 101,000, as against 82,000 on that day twelve months. The revenue for 1896 was estimated to reach 1,438,7177., as compared to 863,6791. realised in 1895. The returns from the railways rose from 45,000l. in 1890 to 296,000l. in 1895, and left a net profit of 5'4 per cent. on their construction.

The legislative session was opened on June 25. Sir John Forrest, the Prime Minister, had, as compared with all other Australian Premiers, a pleasant time, having nothing but good to announce, with no opposition, and ever-growing surplus.

Sir William Robinson, having resigned the Governorship, was succeeded by Colonel Sir Gerard Smith, who arrived at Perth on December 23.

Tasmania.-At the beginning of the year an informal conference of Premiers met at Hobart to consider and discuss the details of a scheme of confederation for the Australian colonies, New Zealand to be included, if willing. In the process of the deliberations a considerable amount of local jealousy was developed, the Premiers agreeing in nothing absolutely except in