AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8730, 18 November 1896, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(By Electric Telegraph.— Copyright (per press association.) Received November 17, at 10 55 a.m. Melbourne, November 17. The harvest outlook continues gloomy. There is no hope now o£ any improvement. The early samples of wheat shown are pinched and small. The quantity of the yield is still uncertain, but it is believed that it will not be above four bushels per acre. In many places early sown crops have failed, bat those sown later are much more promising. At a meeting of the Millers' Association it was decided to nrge that millers be allowed to import wheat, and allow a drawback on all flour, etc., exported up to the value of the duty paid on imported wheat. Received November 17, at 11.15 a.m. Brisbane, November 17. Owing to the drought and heat, ticks are again becoming bad m some of the northern districts. Melbourne, November 17, A destructive wind storm has been experienced m many parts of the colony. Great damage was done to the crops. At Numurkah Fry's large grain stores and a number of houses were unroofed. Several persons were injured. Sydney, November 17. At a special general meeting of the Mutual Life Association of Australasia the revised and consolidated bylaws were adopted. The most important alteration is to clearly define the power of the directors m regard to branch boards This bylaw places beyond all doubt that the Sydney Board is supreme. Received November 17. at 11.30 p.m Adelaide, November 17. Wells, the leader of the Culvert expedition, is returning m search of his missing comrades . The party suffered severely from intense heat and the want of water, and saved themselves only by abandoning their scientific collections, personal effects, and most of their provisions. Five of their camels died. The missing men had three camels, and a fair supply of provisions and water. Ifc is believed that according to arrangements they are pushing on to the Fitzroy River. Received November 17, at 7.30 p.m. Sydney, November 17. The Atlas Engineering Company has completed an order for five cannon for King George of Tonga. His Majesty's object, m increasing the armament, is strictly pacific. Up to the present the Tongan arsenal haa not been supplied with the means of replying to the salutes of visiting vessels, and the King desiring to establish his dignity on a proper footing has ordered the new guns for saluting purposes. They are of the old fashioned smooth bore type, weighing, with carriage, half a ton, and costing LSO each. Melbourne, November 17. At the amateur athletic championship meeting Roseingrave was m great form, and won all the events m which he competed, including the 120 yards hurdles, m 16 l-sth sees. Watson won the 100 yards, m 10 l-sth sees ; 220 yards, m 23 l-sth sees ; Wettenhall the quarter-mile, m 55 3-sth sees ; half-mile, m 2mins 2 l-sth sees ; Humming, the mile, m 4mins 47secss beating O'Oonnor. The New Zealander, Barrett, carried off bobh walking events, the mile m 6mins 42secs, and the three miles m 21mina 36 l-sth sees. Walker won the three-mile run m ldmins 41 l-sth sees.