AUSTRALIAN.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9361, 10 March 1896, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. BATHING FATALITY. Sydney, March 9. Two boys named McMillan and Sargent, were drowned at Granville. PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT. Melbourns, March 9. Parliament has been prorogued to March 30th. The Governor's Speech expresses gratification at the passage of the Federation Bill, which has brought the question within measurable distance of realisation, and also at the revision of the Tariff and the Railway Management Bills, and regrets that the Constitution, Factories, and Companies Bills failed to become law. BOARD OF ENQUIRY. The Executive has appointed a Board to enquire into the charges made in Parliament by Mr Sangster as to negligent administration of the shipping laws. VICTORIAN REVENUE. The revenue of the colony for eight months shows a decrease of £220,000 as compared with the corresponding period last year. The Premier is hopeful, however, that the whole year will realise his estimated surplus. THE REJECTED "BILLS. The Government intend to submit the Bills thrown out by the Legislative Council early next gession at the 'stage where ■ tire fcha two Houses occurred. They will also reintroduce the Cheap Money Bill. QUEENSLAND POLITICS. Brisbane, March 9. The Premier addressed a very large meeting. He insisted that retrenchment ■'was absolutely necessary, and expected about the same surplus as last year. With regard to the agitation against the Kanakas,he said to put a sudden stop to the employment of coloured labour would mean a serious injustice,

if not ruin, to one of the colony's finest industries,. For every Kanaka there were numbers of white men employed. There were ample loan funds in their hands to construct all the railways passed by Parliament, pay interest, carry on the administration, and leave a working balance of half a mihion. The finances continued to improve, and he hoped that all members returned as Government supporters would enter Parliament untainted by the poisonous socialism rampant in some parts of the colony. It was undesirable to support any member sent in with the assistance of a class.

RICH REEFS. Pebth, March 9.

The latest crushinga from the Little Wonder mine, Mount Malcolm, show that half a ton from the surface yielded 9700z of gold, half a cwfc from a 70ft depth 4280z, 28cwt from a 90ft depth 131Ooz, 48cwt from a 150 ft depth 2500z.