AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hastings Standard, Issue 156, 27 October 1896, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

GENERAL ITEMS. Svt'NEY, Oct 26. Sailed, to il: y—Alameda, for San Francisco via Auckland. She takes gold of the vtdue of £' 12").(XX), including £l2-3,000 from Melbourne, shipped by the Bank of Australasia, the I' nion Bank, the London Chartered Bank, and the English and Scottish Bank. Oct. 29. The usual exodus of excursionists for the Melbourne Carnival week has began, and trains and steamers are leaving crowded with passengers. IjRISBANE, Oct. 2<>. From Thursday I-land Sir William M'Gregor wired to the Governor that he had crossed New Guinea from the mouth of the Mambarc river to the mouth of the Yauapa river. He ascended Mount Scrafcchley and then travelled westward by Stanley ranee and Mount Knntsford. He found a comparatively easy route to the coast. All the mountain ranges are composed of slate and granite, and he thinks they will probably turn out to be auriferous. He says he established excellent terms with the natives, whom he found very friendly disposed towards the party. Melbourne, This day. The Cabinet has decided to pay the railway employees increments to carry out Mr Mathieson's re-grading scheme. It is understood thit the Government will introduce a bill to reduce the number in both Houses to *l. There is no improvement in the harvest outlook. Hot winds are doing great damage, indeed rain would now be of little use as everything appears to be beyond the improvement -tage. It is daily moiv evident that there will be a very light harvest. The Rowing Association has decided that cash cyclists cannot row as amateurs. Four clubs have receded from the Association in consequence. A cable has been received from the British committee of the London Missionary Society stating that a donation of ±*looo has been received towards replacing the steamer Dayspring if the churches interested agree to build another vessel. 11.-hart. This day. Mr Kingston has cabled to the Premier suggesting that as Canada has appointed a third representative to the Pacific Cable Convention Australia should do similarly, and he recommended that Mr Playford be selected.