AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Press, Volume XLI, Issue 6142, 27 May 1885, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

fßr T-T.nmu_t._i [Per b.b. City of Sydney at Auckland:! ■ ' . i : SYDNEY, May 2L The New South Wales Contingent is?expected to return on or about June 12th. when a grand parade of all the forces wiU beheld. The strength of the permanent force now amounts to a Uttle over 450 men, and the total defence force, including reserves aud all branches of the service, to something Uke 10,000 men. '■« :: The water supply question stiU absorbs muoh attention. The weather continues fine aud dry, and the supply in the dams, is fast decreasing. Already the city andsuburbe are placed on a strictly intermit-' tent system, and means are being devised to bring water by flumes or pipes from Scarborough Park or some other locality. Typhoid ia not decreasing, the circumstances being against it. Admiral Tyron considers our means of defence insufficient, and that we should have at command something more than merely local defence ships. The new cruiser, Lnsitania, will be taken a trip for gun practice to-morrow. A collision occurred in the harbor on Tuesday night between the steamer Australian, outward bound with passengers, and the Port Jackson. The former was considerably damage I, and had to be beached. A collision also occurred in Newcastle Harbor on the same nighThere is every appearance of trouble at the Greta Mine, WaUsend, and a ballot iB to be taken whether the men wUI go out on strike or not. The Company's dispute in the WaUsend Colliery ia not yet settled. ______________