AUSTRALIAN.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9008, 22 January 1895, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN.

Press Association—By 1 elegraph—Copyright THE UNEMPLOYED. Stoxbt, January 21. With a view to meeting any demand by the unemployed, the Government is preparing to reclaim 4000 acres of Crown lands bordering on the Murray river, between Cobram and Tocumwal. HOB ART FRUIT CONFERENCE The Victorian Government has decided to be represented at the Hobart Fruit Conference. BATHING FATALITY. The Nurrabeen fatality was the result of bathing, not boating, as at first reported. A heavy breaker came on the men unawares and swept two of them to sea. The tbird man was rescued and recovered. Fatkes was only recently married. HEAVY RAINFALL. It has been raining for a week past, the downpour at times being particularly heavy. The northern rivers have overflowed their banks, and the country between Kempsey and Port Macquarie is under water. At the former place five inchea of rain and at the latter ten inches have fallen since Friday last. SILVER COINAGE Mr G. H. Reid, the Premier of New South Wales, intends to bring the question of silver coinage in Sydney and Melbourne before the conference of Premiers, which is to be held shortly at Hobart. THE VICTORIAN PARLIAMENT. Melbourne, January 21. Having received an assurance that the Legislative Council will pass the Income Tax Bill and the Bill provictiug for the reduction of the Government subsidy to local bodies, the Premier has arranged to prorogue Parliament on Friday, to enable him to attend the Hobart Conference. AUSTRALASIAN FEDERATION LEAGUE. What is practically an inaugural public meeting in connection with the Australasian Federation League wilt be held on Wednesday, and will be addressed by the Premiers of New South Wales, South Australia, and Victoria. Jt is understood that Mr Koid, of New South Wales, will make the priucipal speech. THE GOVERNORSHIP OF VICTORIA. Although it has - been officially announced that Lord Brasaey will succeed Lord Hopetoun as Governor of Victoria, there is now some doubt as to whether he will accept the position, owing to the action of the Legislative Aiamnbly in reducing the salary of the office to £5000 per annum. A cable message of a confidential nature was received from Home through the Governor. Its contents have not been allowed to transpire, but the Premier will ask the House to reconsider its decision, significantly remarking that unless this is done he fears the Imperial Government will have some difficulty in getting a suitable man for the office. THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC. The Licensing Reform Committee, appointed in Ballarat to collect information as to the Scandinavian and other licensing systems, has forwarded a set of questions to the British Consuls at Gothenburg and Bergen, relative to tbe Gothenburg system of dealing with the liquor traffic MELBOURNE WHARFAGE RATES. Melbourne, January 21. For a year or two past trade has been drifting from here chiefly to Sydney. At a Conference between the representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and the Harbour Trust, at which the matter was discussed, it was decided to suggest that the Government should allow a rebate on the wharfage rates, with a view to enticing shipping to the port. ACCIDENT ON A STEAMER. Albany, January 21. ( While the P. and O. steamer Himalaya was in harbour on Saturday the salt water pipe from the condensing engine burst, causing a rapid inflow of water, which could not be stopped for some time. Alt the pumps were set going, but there was. about five feet of water in the hold before repairs were effected. The height of the water caused the vessel to settle down considerably; with the result that her keel was within a few inches of the ground, and had she grounded she would probably have capsized. The fateamer proceeded on her voyage after the water was pumped out.