AUSTRALIAN.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8989, 31 December 1894, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyrigh. EXPORT OF TIMBER. Sydsey, December 30. An English firm are making arrangements to export timber suitable for carriage building, railway sleepers, and street paving. They have already secured contracts for the supply of several million feet, and have obtained wharfage accommodation. The firm expect to employ a large number Of hands both directly and indirectly.

LOST WITH ALL HANDS.

A cable message has been received announcing the loss during a hurricane of the barque Southern Chief, of 1219 tons, off the Californian coast, while on her voyage from Pugec Sound to Adelaide, wibh a cargo of timber. AU bands were lost.

DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR AND INDUSTRY.

The new which the Premier foreshadowed in a recent speech, wiil be called the Department of Labour and Industry, aud will take charge of the Labour Bureau, and possess functions akin to the English Board of Trade. It is not intended to appoint a special Minister to the position, and it is believed that the Hon. J. Garrard, Minister for Public Instruction, will take charge.

.AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

An extraordinary case has been before the Courts, in which the Bey. F. W. Clarke, an Anglican clergyman, Bought to obtain a writ of habeas corpus against his mother-in-law to regain possession of his wife. The applicant alleges that while he was conducting Divine service certain persons broke inlo the vicarage and carried off his wife. He was subsequently committed to a lunatic asylum on the evidence of his mother-in-law and a medical man, but was released after a detention of seventeen days. The wife, in her evidence, denial that .she. bad ..J>een abducted and stated that she left of her freewill and was proceeding for a divorce against Clarke on the grounds of cruelty. The Court dismissed the application.

LABOUR SETTLEMENTS.

The Hon. J. Garrard leaves for New Zealand on Thursday, to enquire into the Labour settlements in the oolony, and he will subsequently visit Adelaide' on a similar mission.