AUSTRALIAN.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 7587, 5 February 1896, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

fPEB PEES 3 ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.J

Sydnky, February 4. A fire at Parkes destroyed a hotel end five shops, the damage amounting to several thousands.

Pariioulars have been received of a terrible tragedy in the Ea&tern seas. The schooner Maria 11. left Singapore for the Caroline Islands. The crew consisted of Captain Brown, who had his wife and little son with him, a German mate named Hohlmann, and a number of Chinese. The crew, under the leadership of the boatswain, mutinied. The boatswain stole into the oaptain's cabin while he was asleep and severed his head from the shoulders wi'.h an axe. The wife called for assistance, and Hohlmann, who came to the rescue, waa cut down. A negro passenger was also attaoked and wounded, and in a frenzy of fear jumped into the water, where he was shot. The bodies of the captain and mate were tied to the anohor and thrown overboard. The captain's wife and son were kept prisoners in the cabin. Ihe mutineers sailed the schooner to the Island of Anne intending to sell the cargo and burn the vessel, but the native king suepeotiDg that something was wrong refused to allow them to land. They then began to quarrel among themselves, and three Pellew islanders were Killed. The remainder shaped a course for Pellew, where a Spanieh cruiser seized the sohooner and sent tha murderers to -Tanilla for trial.

The report of the Bank of Victoria was adopted, The chairman stated that it had been deoided to release the deferred deposits bfioause they had £500,000 for which they were unable to find profitable investment. The releases would save an annual payment in interest of £25,000. The expenses had been reduced by £10,000 per annum.