AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY OF NEWS.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8508, 30 June 1896, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY OF NEWS.

«. (By Electric Telegraph — Copyright.) (per press association.) Sydney, June 29. . THE WEATHER. Up to last week the weather waa most mild, m fact quite spring-like rather than chill winter. We had bogun to regard it as a recompense for the bitter winter of 1895, and the late burning summer. However, Monday last saw a sudden change. A cutting westerly gale sprang up, and rain and snow fell heavily m the highlands. The wind comiug off the snow-clad ranges chilled ono to tho bone Reports from inland tell of the excellent growth of feed m young crops, but Monday's blizzard, it is feared, will do incalculable damage. The week broke badly over the southeast of New South Wales. The snowon the highlands changed to heavy rain on the lowlands. The wind blew strongly and brought drenching squalls Parkes had Bnow for the first time for 17 years. At Lawson and Berrima the snow was the heaviest known. At Boural no such snowstorm has been witnessed for 25 years. At Mittagong it is stated bo have been heavier than for 20 years. A j few flakes were reported at Paramatta and m Sydney. On the Blue Mountains the effects were magnificent, range after range being clad m wintry vestments. Under the weight of the ice and snow trees were stripped of t heir limbs. Stock suffered greatly from the bitter cold, and the inability to get feed. On the railways it was impossible to go to time, and the trains were delayed till the lines were cleared of snow m all directions. Telegraph wires snapped owing to the cold and the weight of the ice shattering or bending the poles. At Lawson the wires resembled gaspipes. Sydney thus found herself cut off from the rest of the world for about 14 hours. A special train was despatched carrying telegrams to the nearest station beyond the storm ravages. Along the coast mountainous seas reared their crests, effectually blockading the more exposed ports of traffic. The greatest fall of snow ever known occurred at Bathurst. Business was practically suspended and traffic stopped, the roads being partially blocked. The whole day was spent m snowballing passers-by without respect to persons. Snow descended all day, and when night closed m nothing could be seen but a vast expanse of white country stretching miles away east and west. SIR GEORGE GREY. There passed through this week, en route for Auckland, Mrs Seymour Gerge, who haa been attending Sir Geo. Grey m London. The veteran statesman, though physically feeble, had hopes of seeing Australia again. At present he is solely taken up with a denunciation of the Chartered Company aud Jameson's raid. Grain and breadstuffe. — The changes m force at the end of the month tended to render the import market very quiet. In breadstuffs the chief item of interest was the arrival of the Monowai with about 9000 sacks of flour, and the Warrimoo with 2000 sacks and 9800 cf wheat. The sale ia also reported of 1000 tons of Calif ornian flour, and a similar quantity of wheat to arrive ; the wheat at 3s 3d m the ship's slings at Sydney. Further extensive business is still pending m the same direction. The produce and feed stuffs markets closed quiet. The growing importance of timber is Bhown m the departure during the past few days of three vessels, one for Rotterdam and the others for London, taking together a million feet of hardwoods. This brings tbe total exported to date this year to three and a-half million feet. As a result of the increased demand there has been an increase m the price paid to millers of 20 per cent. Melbourne, June 28. Though trade m the import market continues very limited, the feeling of confidence strengthens. Owing to the prospect of tariff tinkerings this session m wheat, buyers still refuse to operate, excepting when the prices they offer are accepted, while holders are apparently content to Wait the revival of a demand whioh they consider to be a matter of only a short time. Lambing returns m the Western districts are hardly up to the expectations, They averaged 70 to 80 per cent. The annual report of the Post Office Savings Bank shows the total deposits to the end of 1895 to be L 2,128,000,, 128,000, an increase on the previous year of 142,000. A MCSIOAL LION. Melbournites have at last m their midst a lion they delight to honor m the person of a man who was a pupil and intimate friend of Beethoven, and calculated to affect hero-worshippers awesomely. Such a man ls the Chevalier Koutski, a Polish pianist, a man over 80 years of age, yet vigorous apd alert m mind and body, a man who is wedded to his art of peace, yet bears the scars of the stirring times m Paris of 1848, where he took part m the street fighting. The great Maestro was a man of 50 when young De Koutski went to him as a pupil. After the latter had played a sonata Beethoven sat down himself and played over his own Una Fantasia Quasi Luna (The Moonlight Sonata). As the composer played the sensitive feelings of the boy were swept away by the musio, and he fell upon his knees and kissed the Maestro's hand. Then Beethoven lifted him upon his knee and said, " Come to me as often as you wish, I will teach you." This was his introduction to a master whom he now reverently serves.