AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hastings Standard, Issue 177, 21 November 1896, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

GENEHAL ITEMS. Svi'NKV. Nov. 20. Armand Jerome's alleged forgerit s are .-aid to amount to i'.'fOOO. This day. (iiUiibing returns averaged 3-1J per cent., an increase of 2-1 i per cent, on the previous year. Mr A. If. Simpson, Q.C.. has been appointed to succeed the late Judge limes Winter. Mklkoi kni:. Nov. 20. The annual report of the Kauri TimU r Coiypany states that a portion of the company's auriferous land had been sold to an English syndicate for £87.500 cash. and :'»1.2">() puid-up shares. The sum of £45,000 worth of debentures was paid otl during the year. Sales of timber totalled 271.">00 feet, an increase of The profit for the year was i'I2'.UHX). an increase of £28.000 compared with the previous year. At the Hi ftp Association meeting Walker, of the Melbourne Hitle Club, won all the stages of the Queen's prize, making a world's record of 291 points under the Queen's prize conditions. Phiisbvnk. Nov. 20. Cane crushing operations are practically finished, and the season s output is not expected to exceed 1H).000 tons. I»ronght and fr.-t have caused a great reduction in the yield. Aov.i.um-:. Nov. 20. The Government surveying party gives gloomy reports of the pastoral country on the Queensland border. Over 10.000 square miles, of country have be. n abandoned owing to the ? ravages of rabbits and drought. In ! many places the rabbits have eaten themselves out. Much of th»> journey had to l e don.* on camels, all the i horses being dead or removed to prei vent them starving.