AUSTRALIAN.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9023, 8 February 1895, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN.

Vita Association.—By Telegraph.—Copyright. CONSOLIDATION OF CROWN LANDS. Sydney, February 7. The Government is carrying out a system of consolidation of Crown lands l>y exchanging land with pastoralists. A considerable number of the latter arc availing themselves of the chance o f making their holdings compact. THE LATE GALE. The ketches Sir George and Petrel have been missing since the gale, and great anxiety is felt about their safety. The schooner Forest Queen has turned up; sho had a fearful time. Sho lost sails, anchors, and bulwarks, and had to jettison part of her cargo to save the vessel. The Echooner Victoria barely weathered the storm. Her cargo shifted, and the hold was swamped. Oil bags were used with good results. THE FRUIT INDUSTRY. At a Conference of fruit growers called by the Department of Agriculture,* delegates wero present from all parts of the colony. The Minister said the Government wero anxious to help In overy possible way to develop tho industry, and to build up an oxport trade. It was intondod to introduco Bills for putting the wine- industry on a bettor footing, and dealing . vigorously with fruit pests. There was a magnificent ppening for an export trade,'and ho twvocated moro attention to the-growing'of better classes of fruit. A discussidn took place which showed thptjsho industry was in a bad and languishing state, and that there was jotmch carelessness and neglect on thepaifcof the majority of growers. A DISASTROUS EXPLOSION. A largo digester in tho Gunnedah boiling-down works burst, wrecking the building. Ton men wero scalded by boUixic fat and injured by falling dehm. Four of the employees are i under treatment in the hospital. ! ; MORE BAD WEATHER. '■-.., The weather is .again , wot and ■? ; squally, and floods and vrashaways. are 'if reported from - tho coastal' districts. s•;, Nothing serious, however, has hapV pened up to the present. t Mr Wraggo, of Brisbane, predicts : a repetition of gales, and warns shipping. THE ROTOKINO. * The Rotokino is completing her Tepairs, and it is expected she will resume her voyage oh Saturday. The captain eulogises the officers and crew for tift splendid manner in which they , worked for twenty-four hours, during which time the ship was in imminent - peril. Captain Spinks adds that he had been in cyclones in Chinese waters bat never had he seen anything so bad as tho recent storm. THE LEATHER TRADE. Melbourne, February 7. c> The evidenco of importers taken by the Tariff Commission was to the efieot that the leather trade had been ruined by the high duties., They advocated their reduction by 25 per cent. THE BISHOP OF PERTH. V • Pebth, February 7. ,;. Drßiloyhas been consecrated An- "■- gliean Bishop of Perth.