AUSTRALIAN JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 221, 19 September 1888, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN JOTTINGS.

(FROM OUB OWN. CORBESPONpENT-)

Melbourne, Septemb^ 12.

THE COAL; STRIKE, The failure of the negotiations for the settlement of the coal strike has given rise to a feeling of in this.city; lb is now taken for granted that the struggle will be one of endurance between the miners and 'the masters. Whatever the result of that struggle may be, neither ot these parties will be the greatest sufferers. The other trade organisations are making numerous and liberal contributions;. and levies for the ; support of the miners on strike, while the Victorian Employers' Union has voted £2,000 per week tor four weeks, to assist the masters _ in their struggle, while they are also receiving assistance from other quarters. It is not upon these parties that the. evil results ot the strike fall, but on the hundreds ot workmen who are being thrown out ot employment by the stoppage of factories through the want or costliness of coal. More than one thousand are already out ot work from this cause, and some twelve or fourteen steamers are idle. There is not the slightest doubt that should the strike continue, thousands of workmen in both Melbourne and Sydney will be idle. It has been said that the effect of the strike would be to leave Melbourne in total darkness, but this is very unlikely. _T» e,S as companies in both Melbourne and Sydney have warned their customers to be economical in the consumption of coal, as if- such warnings were needed nowadays, and meanwhile they are obtaining aupplies of coal from those' mines which are still working. Hundreds of tons of farewood are brought into Melbourne by rail, every <day for household purposes, ana woodwillbe usedasfuel tosupplytheelectric light to the Exhibition whenever necessary. Therefore, the worst consequences of the strike will bethestoppageof the differentfactories and other works which cannot be carried on without coal. Bushmen engaged in the cutting of firewood are reaping a bar-: vest by tho strike. ''•-;■'. COAL FROM NEW ZEALAND. Surprise is expressed at the neglect of th? New Zealaad colliery proprietors to ;tak? advantage of the splendid market in Australia for coal. Prices exceed 40s per ton, and I am told that hundreds of thousands of tons of NeW Zealand coal could be I placed readily enough. The immediate benefit to the New Zealand collieries would be great, and they wpqld ati the same,time gain a splendidadyertisement for the i future. Newcastle is at present crowded with shipping awaiting cargo, and there are no less than 58 large ships and barques there, with an aggregate tonnage of over 60,000 tons. THE MOANATAIARI MINE. Mr John Buchanan,1 having floated the Pfffbquet mine, is now engaged in negotiating the sale of the Moanataiari, with every prospecb of success. Several Coromandel JM-operties are under offer. The specuative fever is still very Btrong in Melbourne, and if the mining exhibits now being sent to .the Exhibition are Buffiieritly good to .restore confidence in the minds of .capitalists,, the result Avill be a large influx of Victorian capital for the further development of our mining industry. It is difficult, indeed, to gauge the amount of capital now in Melbouriae awaiting fair investment in any of the adjapfent colonies where the inducement is reasonably . great. ".""' ' * . , THE: PROPERTY. BOOM. ' The boom in property continues as great -as ever, arid day after day sales are reported which yield immense profits, to speculators who have drily held iot a few weeks. The number of new buildingsbeing erected is surprising, and some idea of their -'extent may be -gathered from "the fact that three or four blocks now in coursfe of con-' .traction are to rise to a height; of ten storeys. Arid notwithstanding all this buildihg, the rents of" dwelling-hoiises in Melbourne are very high, 'and are rising, While it is veiy difficult td obtain eligible cottage residences in the suburbs. Evidences of prosperity exist on every hand, and the difference between protectionist Melbourne arid free-trade Sydney in this respect is'marked. -E *' -. *

NUW ZEAI.ANDERS * AT ' THE EXHIBITION. ;

Visitors from New Zealand to the Exhibition are arriving in crowds. They come by every steamer and train, and the a,verage ■ exceeds over hundred a week. The Now Zealand Court, which, by the way, is undergoing considerable improvement now,; is daily filled with familiar faces; and one Would, for the: time being, believe himself in either an Auckland or Wellington building. There is no difficulty in obtaining accommodation in Melbourne, and even when the Cup rush sets in lodging will be easy enough to obtain. '

Sydney, September 15.

consul Griffin at sydne _v Consul Griffin, so well arid /favourably known in Auckland, hasbeen banquetted at Sydney in recognition* of his services in connection with the introduction of Australian wool into the United ; States of America. Amongst those present were, Sir Herii'y Parkes, Sir Alfred Stephen and Mr S. A. Joseph,; M.L.C. It will be interesting/to New Zealand readers/to know that Mr Griffin expressed his conviction that. the Bill admitting Australian wools free, which has passed the House of Representatives, •jfbuld pass the Senate abd become law, without doubt.. Oh this subject he said :/- .The (President of the United.States, has in the most eriiphaub manner signified: hil intention of giving the measure his approval. The Bill will, I tluhk, bo of great benefit to both countries, and especially to my own. The fine longBtapied wools of Australasia -cannot be, easily grown-in the United Stetes, where/ they are greatly, desired by manufacturers to mix with' American wools of a coarser and shorter growth. The best authorities are very decided in the opinion that the miliowners iri the United States can compete successfully ".with" those of/Europe in the manufacture of fine cloths and dress goods as soon as they can obtain Austral-' asian wools.; At present they are obliged to import the great bulk of these goods from England, Eranoe, Germany and Belgium; Nor* would fche/charigS in the law affect injiiriously the American flockmaster, iot there would then be a greater demand than at present, for domestic wools to combine with foreign wools." f THE GREENWOODS. 'Better fortune is attending the Greenwood .family in Sydney. Mr Greenwood lias obtained the .position of- caller on the Sydney Stock-Exchange, for. which there were .seventy applicants. The salary is £500 per annum. Miss Maribel has been promised by Rignold the position of leading lady in the dramatised version of '■'" " Mr Barries of New York,'*' which-hein-tends'to produce. '. Miss Agatha has;been seriously ill with inflammation of the lungs, bub is convalescent, and gradually recovering. ; THE 'PRISONER' HOLT. J-The'case of the prisoner Holt was before the Supreme Court on Monday, September 3rd, when/an appeal was/ brought m the Equity Court to" restrain Gibkn and others, Sustees in his estate, from transferring to *ho Ban!- ot New Zealand a one-third in the .lands comprising the ROsehUl «s^9Wf|fe. ■which had been purchased by Holt with :»oneys which he advanced when manager >il-*—'.. ■-.■■*■■ ■ .'* s.*.*!. ■■>■.'.' ;■ ■• , ■■::■*.■■■:..■:

of tho Bank. The appeal was pot sustained* and the Cduirt directed, the costs of appeal to be paid as between solicitor and client. ' >' .-' "'"'■':"'■'■ AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. New Zealand has for several years had an Agricultural College at Lincoln in; Canterbury. New Solith Wales is about; to establish one a,few miles out pf Sydney, j at Rookwood, and buildings intended, for; a- reformatory were erected at a cost of £15,000 are, to be used as a college. The lands surrounding will be made into :&j model farm. ' AUCKLAND VISITORS. , I Aucklander3 continue to .pass through here to and frotn the Exhibition. Mr J. M. | Alexander and wife, Mr R. A. Carr, and Mr and Mrs Jas. Russell and family have been in Sydney * for some days, having I '" done " the big *' show," while Mr R. W. Moody is in Melbourne at present, having j some coal mining business which will de- j tain him there. Mr Hackworth, late Collector of Customs in Dunedin.has Ibeen here j for a day or two, and goes on to Melbourne.;] It seems a striking anomaly oh the " bad times" in Now Zealand to See co many business men running aciros's for pleasure. In the course of a chat.with Mr Carr he said he thoughb that the land speculation " boom "was about done in Melbourne. He thought that if many of the New Zealariders who contemplated coming over saw the country between, Sydriey and .Melbourne they would riot be in a hurry tp seek "fresh fields and pastures new," but remain in their own fertile country. ~ THE SCIENCE CpNCLAVE.: .

The Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science has just concluded its first conference in Sydney. The. spoons were held in the Sydney University. The Society, which now numbers 820 members, has every reason to be pleased with the manner in which their delegates were treated by; the Sydney members. X reception by the Mayor, garden party at the Observatory by the President, Mr H; C.Russell, and harbour and land excursions, etc.j filled in the afternoons. Sir Jas. Hector (Wellington), Mr S. Percy Smith and Mr J. A. Pond (Auckland), Professor Rlack (Otago), and MrS*. H. Cox, late of Welhn^toh (Canterbury), were the New Zealand; delegates. Sir James Hector's address in the Town Hall upon the Tarawei-a eruption was highly spoken of in well-iflforriied circles here, Baron Yon Mueller was elected the new President. The conference msets in Melbourne in 1889 and in New Zealand in 1890.. ..'•' >: ' ' ~ .*■ ■ ' '*

It is a good thing, it would seem, to be a Commissioner to the New Zealand Court at the Exhibition. Only eight gehtleriiei.'l km inioririedi were appointed.' 'Af p j3, j^-oh-i, the well-known jeweller In Wellirigtep, arid formerly of Auckland, has been on a visit to Sydney. He is '■■■ a commissioner, and one of the privileges is a free pass over all the railways in the Australian colonies, along with other social luxuries which the honour brings with it; lie has gone to Brisbane for a trip, The many friends iri Auckland of Mr Keith Wilson, late assistant officer in charge pf the Telegraph Office, will be glad to learn Of his success in Sydney. Ho is at present travelling for a Commercial Unipn Eire Insurance Company, and doing well,1 but he contemplates accepting the offer of a large pririting firm to travel the colony. I am snrry to have to record a serious acdent to Signor Riccardi, who was some time age a leading light in the musicid circles in your city. He slipped on. the pavement last week, and was unfortunate enough to fracture bis leg just above th-3 kqee-- Hp is, tarn glad to say, getting on well under medical care. ifISPERSiLOF THE FLEET.

I The fleet has dispersed from Sydney wibb the exception of H.M*s. Orlandoi;which; i§ the only warship lying in Farm Cove. i_,M.B. Dianibnd lias sailed for England via Auckland, H.M.B. Rapid left on August 28tb for New Guinea, witb Governor Macgregor on board. B.M.'s. Calliope, accompanied by H. M.s. J-izard, with -^driHralFairfax on board, has gone to Loro. Howe Island, Norfolk Island and Tonga, leaving port on Tuesday, September ,4th. H.M.s. Boyalist will replace the Diamond on Ifae South, Pacific station.H.M.s. Opal, from New Guinea, left Cooktowii for Sydney yesterday. H.M.S. Swinger remains there a fortnight longer. ' ' THEATRICALS.. The theatrical event is the Nel|ie Parren —Frank Lealiei season at tha Theitre Royal. The London Gaiety Company, of which they hre tho "stars," have been drawing orowded bouses nightly to witness Monte Christo. *' Esmeralda " was produced this week. " Lights o* London," aftei-/ a run of nearly two months at Her Majesty's, was withdrawn last week by Messrs Rignold and Alison, and ■' Uncle Tom's Cabin f ■ ptaged in place of it. MEMORIAL TO .MR SEDDON. The committee appointed to raise a fund to erect a memorial Over the grave of the late Mr R. L. Se44OD» captain of the BritisK Rugby Team, are meeting with a very generous response from footballers, The Unions of New .Zealand have been written to arid it is* fully expected that their j contributions will be libbrai. The renowned j lecturer,; Major Dane, gave a lecture upon ] the Olympian games, etc., in Maitland last week in aid of the fund.' It is anticipated that the fund will reach between $300 arid £400.'„ .■;"■ ■-.:'., ■:'■;"./,.''''','/'/ ' MR /JAMES RUSSELL.

Mr James Russell and > family have been) here on a visit for some weeks. They have j ' been to the Exhibition. He speaks very uhifavoiiriblydf the display in the New, 1 Zealand Court, especially in the' mineral 1 departrherit and the poor representation of the /Thames * goldfield. ; .He'/ was much pleased with the splendid shovir8 v made by ' New -South Wales, Victoria and QueeAs--1 land. In their courts every point was 1 gained. The exhibits' were:in• the,forms of trophies, large blocks of; ore, etc., ' wbich were all carefully labelled, giving the district where obtained frbm, the yiwd of gold or silver in ounces,1 arid value, etc., which, all combined, would riot fail to leave the impression upon the visitors that these polonies were! exceedingly wealthy in the precious metals. Mr Russell also said he thought the New; South Wales and Victorian people who were well aware of the real resources of New Zealand, warelaiighing ujj their sleeves at the mess that the Commissioners bad made of the mineral display. In his opinion that part of the Court'should have been entrusted to a business man to arrange. He hoped, however, that the efforts that were now being made to redeem the colony's character, would be successful. As to the Exhibition -itself, he thought the courts were all still unfinished, and pointing to a huge scaffolding and travelling crane used in connection with the new Upiori Bank's premises here, said the great building was full of thorn, arid while a concert.was' going on in one end of.the Exhibition work- ; men were ha-rir_er__g; away at another, so much so that it had to be stopped to enable the auditoryto hear the/ music. By the time the Melbourne Cup is run he thought the show would be in order, and then well worth seeing." It was, at any rate, better than the first exhibition. Mr D. Heari, of the National Bank of New Zealarid, has returned to Sydney from Queensland. He still seems to be far from the best of health. '■ Those whokhew Mr A- K/Murray, who was' the" publisher' of Murray's time-tables for some: time ,in Auckland, will, be grati-fied-to know that he is,doing pretty well in various business matters here. ' • THE GREAT LIBEL CASE. The great trial for libel, in which the cx iGolohial Treasurer, Mr G. R. Bibbs, sought to recover £25;600 -damages"' from the - ,'^Daily ?? for j^blishing- a

libellous article entitled «.« A Challenge to Mr Dibbs," resulted, fiber ja lengthened trial of some seven days and the jury being locked up for a night, in a verdict for the plaintiff for £100 and .costs, on Friday, September 7th, A very large; Ear was engaged, and the case should be a harvest for the lawyers. Sir Henry Parkes was oneof the first witnesses called, and so little interest was displayed when Sir Henry was on the witness Btand that there were only two or three in. the gallery; As the trial proceeded the public came in hundreds to hear the case, and the public and barristers'galleries were crowded daily. The verdict is considered as tantamount to ho verdict at all, da the posts will be so heavy apart frona those allbwed by thb Court. The Oiaim Was fop £25,000 damages. ATTEMPTING TO BRIBE A " MINISTER..

The other day Sir Henry Parkes received a letter from a man named Breen, who sought a billet in the Lauds Office, >and_ enclosed £10 as a douceur for the Premier; but Sir Henry was nob on, and ordered a warrant to be taken but for attempting to bribe a Minister of the Crown.' The charge was heard in the. Water Police Court on Thursday, September 6th, and the man committed for trial. About three years ago a man tried the same thing on the Colonial Secretary, and was given two yearßforbis pains. ' " "'::' i" -v Among the Aucklandeif here ate Messrs E. and G. Mills, >yyhb, as cricketers, made quite a name for. theriiselyes, nob alone in the Northern city, but throughout the ridlony. A leading club here isendeayouripg to secure their services'during the present season. «'Ned" played a good,forward game in a Rugby match on the Agricultural Ground at Moore Park on a recent Saturday; . ■ Mr W. Hamlin, whp was for some ™c an officer in the Telegraph Office iij your city, has succeeded remarkably well oyer here, and how holds a responsibly position in the Commercial Union Assurance Company, one of the largest insurance companies in the colonies. ■ ■_■ • * Russell oysters are imported largely -here. Eight hundred bags came over by the last steamer. If you ask for; _few Zealand oysters in a saloon they palm off inferior ones, which are local and got at Port Stephen. f ...'.* ■ ' -'■■ ;;''