AUSTRALIA.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10215, 10 December 1898, Page 7

AUSTRALIA.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. THE COAL LUMPERS' DIFFICULTY. SYDNEY, December 9. The coal lumpers have decided to request the employers to confer in regard to a set- ! tiement of the difficulty. ' THE FEDERAL RESOLUTIONS." The Council amended the Federal resolutions to prevent alterations in the constitution and state boundaries going to a referendum. A DEMENTED BANK CLERK. MELBOURNE, December 9. There was a sensation at the Commercial i Bank, Bendigo, late last night. A clerk, who was sleeping on the premises began firing a revolver and shrieking. He discharged the revolver at a civilian who approached the window. The police forced the door, and found him apparently demented. '"' THE KAURI TIMBER COMPANY. At the annual meeting of the Kauri Timber Company it was stated that the net I profit was £30,000. It was decided to further reduce the liabilities before declar- ! ing a' dividend. RESIGNATION OF AN M.L.O. 'Mr James Service is resigning his seat in the Council owing to 311- ---, health. [Mr Service, who is a well-known Victorian statesman, has been a member of the Legislative Council for about ten years. He is 75 years of age.] CHECK'ON JAPANESE IMMIGRATION. BRISBANE, December &. The steps taken by the late Premier axe proving effective in checking Japanese immigration. THE NEW GUINEA GOVERNMENT STEAMER. It jis (understood that the contributing colonies have decided t_ extend the time for using the Merrie England as the New Guinea Government steamer beyond tie end of the year, the time fixed at the recent Premiers' Conference. , SENTENCE FOR EMBEZZLEMENT. Somerset was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for embezzling Government moneys. THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN HARVEST.' ADELAIDE, December 9. Reports from the country state that the harvest generally will be more satisfactory both as to yield and quality, than was at first anticipated. "