AUSTRALIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10598, 6 March 1895, Page 5

AUSTRALIA.

[Special to Press Association.] FIRE AT SINGAPORE. SYDNEY, March 5. The China steamer brings news of a disastrous fire at Singapore oh Jan. 3L One hundred and fifty houses were destroyed, and it-is estimated that the loss is 250,000d01. The fire originated through a lad letting off fireworks in a Chinese shop. THE REDFERN RAILWAY ACCIDENT. A number of claims for compensation in connection with the railway accident at Eedfern in October have been settled by the commissioners. So far, the maximum amount paid is .£IOOO. Some claims will come before the courts, as they are considered excessive. A BRUTAL MURDER. The body of an unknown man, mutilated, and with the head severed, has been found near Coonamble. There is everydndication of a brutal murder. It appears that the first reports of the tragedy were exaggerated. The man was not decapitated, and it is believed that death was due to natural causes. PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY. The Rev Mr Lament has been elected Moderator of the Presbyterian Assembly. THE CENSURE DEBATE. In the Legislative- Assembly the censure debate still continues. THE REV J. CLARKE’S CASE. In consequence of the divorce proceedings, the Primate has appointed a commission to enquire into the Rev J. Clarke’s behaviour and, meanwhile, has inhibited him from officiating. TRADE WITH THE NEW HEBRIDES. The Australian New Hebrides Company has chartered the steamer Katoomba, and intends to establish a three-weekly service between Sydney and the New Hebrides. The first trip starts on Thursday. A SENSATIONAL SEIZURE. MELBOURNE, March 5. The Customs authorities have made a sensational seizure of jewellery on the premises of Kilpatrick and Co., Collins Street. It was discovered that they have bean evading the Customs for a considerable time. The whole of a large stock was seized, but released upon the firm depositing .£3OOO as a guarantee that it would not be removed. A fine of £3OOO was inflicted and the firm ordered to pay £IOOO back duty. SMALLPOX IN MELBOURNE. Mrs King, a patient in the Melbourne hospital, supposed to be ill with typhoid, was found to he suffering from virulent smallpox, directly traceable to the recent outbreak on the Cloncurry. One of the officers, after his release from quarantine, stayed at her boarding-house, and she handled his dirty linen. The other patients in the ward and all the occupants of the boarding-house have been vaccinated and placed in quarantine. The strictest precautions are being taken to prevent the contagion spreading. SALE OF A BARQUE. The barque Royal Tat has been sold to Mr J. Craig, of Auckland. THE QUEENSLAND PARLIAMENT. BRISBANE, March 5. Parliament has been further prorogued to April 16. LAND SETTLEMENT. One hundred and eighty-four thousand acres have been applied for under the Grazing Farms and Homesteads Act of last session. AUSTRALASIAN RAILWAYS. ADELAIDE, March 5. The Railway Commissioners have prepared a comparative statement of results of the state of the railways in Australasia for the last six years. It shows that South Australia had a surplus revenue of £185,000 compared with interest and working expenses, whilst the other colonies showed the following deficiencies : —Victoria £2,290,000, New South Wales £1,448,000, Queensland £1,595,000, New Zealand £967,000.