AUSTRALIAN.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9007, 21 January 1895, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN.

Press ASBooiatlott—By 1 etegraph—Copyright THE LATE HURRICANE. Sydnbt, January 19« I The steamer Victoria bad a trying time during the Fiji hurricane. A report from Santo, New Hebrides states that on the 9th inst. the win<fc| blew with hurricane force and did a good deal of damage to property there. AUSTRALIAN JOINT STOCK BANK. The Directors of the Australian Joint Stock bank have decided to prepay onehaif the amount due to depositors in 1897 provided payment of the other half is postponed till 1902, the extended amount; to bear the same rate of interest as at present. THE ZONE SYSTEM. The Daily Telegraph, which has advocated tbe zone eyatetn on the railways for many years, regards the introduction of the zone system in New Zealand for the carriage of fruit as a eudden transition on altogether too comprehensive a scale. It would have preferred to see the experiment tried on some scale of graduation. The innovation, however, will be watched with interest. THE BRITISH CONSUL AT SAMOA Mr Cusack Smith, the British Consul ab Samoa, has arrived here on his way to England. According to the Satnoau papers it is an open secret that Mr Smith is unlikely to return. H.M.S. PYLADES. Admiral Bridge has received a cable stating that tbe Pytades left Singapore for Australia yesterday. CONCOCTED STORIES. . The two girls. Conolly and Moran have confessed that they conoocted their stories about the wholesale child murder in order to obtain their release from the "-Parrainatca Industrial School of which they were inmates. SIR SAUL SAMUEL. January 20. The Premier's recent statement anent the duties of the Agent-General having been regarded in London as to imply the retirement of Sir Saul Samuel, Mr Reid explains that he did not wish to infer that the present Agent-General would be superseded 'at an early date, but what he meant was that in the natural course of events Sir Saul Samuel must soon retire, as he was an old man, and he would shortly be entitled to a pension. NEW AUSTRALIANS. The Hauroto has on board thirtyone " New Australians," who proceed by the steamer Rimutaka from Wellington, en route for the settlement in South America. FATAL ANGER. A tragedy is reported from Adamstown, near Newcastle. A girl named Eleanor Turner, aged twelve, the adopted daughter of a Mrs Gray, while washing dishes broke a oup. Mrs Gray upbraided the girl for her carelessness, whereupon the latter gave a saucy reply. Mrs Gray, in a fio of anger, eeized a large table knife, which she burled at the girl. The knife struck the girl in the region of the heart, killing her. Mrs Gray has been arrested. . T , FATAL BOAT ACCIDENT. . Three youths went rowing to-day in a boat at Narrabeen, near Manly, and eventually, as the boat was gradually drifting to seaward, jumped overboard. Two of the occupants named Baldock and Parkes (a grandson of Sir Heury Parkes) were drowned. The third youth was landed in a critical condition. THE NEW GOVERNOR OF VICTORIA. ■ Melbourne, January 19. Lord Brassey, the new Governor, ie expected to arrive in the colony in September. WRIT FOR DAMAGES. ,< Greeners, a firm of gun manufacturers iv England., have issued a writ) against a local firm of gunmakers claiming £10,000 damages for alleged illegal use of their names.

BANK OP VICTORIA.. The Bank of Victoria has declared a half-year dividend at the rate of 5 per cent) per annum on preference shares, and 2£ per cent, on ordinary shares, , and carried forward £7000. HARBOUR BOARD DEFAULTS, January 20. The Argus, referring to Harbour Board defaults, Bays .New Zealand en joy 8 an unenviable distinction, alone amongst the oolpnies, in having had two big defaults in borrowing for public purposes, and for the credit of the rest* of the colonies* she should mend her ways. AUSTRALIAN DUTIES. Adelaide, January 19. The Colonial Treasurer, replying to a deputation asking for the introduction, duty free, of produce taken to Victoria for the purpose of being gristed in bond, said he regretted he had no power to graut the request. He hoped, the. time would come when the border duties would be abolished, and when they oould rejoice in free trade among the colonies. ■ SMALLPOX. Perth, January 19. The steamer Cloncurry has arrived at HVemaotle from Siugapore with three cases of smallpox on board. RICH QUARTZ. January 20. Lake View mine crushed 200 tons of stone which yielded 500 ounces of gold, and have enough stone of the same quality at grass to keep the battery going for many months. CONFERENCE OF PREMIERS. Hobabt, January 20.. The Hon. B. J. Seddon has cabled regretting his inability to attend the conference of Premiere, and states that the Postmaster-General will probably be present. " INCOME TAX RETURNS. The Income Tax Commissioner and the Treasurer are dissatisfied with a number of assessments as furnished. Many hare understated their means, while others furnished no returns at all. The Treasurer contemplates proceeding against the offenders. He considers the Government have lost £3000 per annum by the repeal of the divided tax and the substitution ot the income tax. .