AUSTRALIAN NEWS (By Electric Telegraph.-Copyright.) (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8840, 12 March 1897, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS (By Electric Telegraph.-Copyright.) (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Received March 11, at 10.25 a.m. Brisbane, March 11. The Paraguayan Government will allot each family in the New Australia settle ment, or each male adult, land in whatever part of the colony they may select The administration of the colony will be paced in the hands of one of the colonists, who will be appointed and paid by the Government In all other respects the colony will be subject to the laws of Paraguay. All former concessions will be declared void. There are about 59 men, 20 woman, and eight children in the colony.

Keceived March 11, at 10 45 a.m. Melbourne, March 11. The Premier presided at a meeting of the 10 federal candidates elected to represent Victoria. The opinion generally expressed was that member* should enter the Convention vrith optn minds, and

vote as hey thought 6t. Ifc was also thought that most vexed questions should be discussed in public, while the federal [ financial scheme should be formulated in < private by a committee before being dealt vrith by the Convention: Sailed — Manapouri, for the Bluff. Albany, March 11.

A peculiar accident occurred on the steamer M'Gregor. A rocket which was fired from the vessel dropped back on the deck. Seaman Oliver had the top of his skull torn off, and lies in a critical state Chief Officer Culzins waa badly injured m i the lea bv splinters of wood.

Sydney, March 11. I Sir Joseph Abbott has returned from a trip to New Zealand. He states that he found a great improvement as compared with two years ago. Auckland bad especially increased in business activity, due to the opening of the Thames goldfields. As au example of the progress and evident stability of the country he found that of one quarter of a million lent by the A.M P. Society only fourteen pounds was due as interest at the end of December last.

Brisbane, March 11. The Wesleyan Conference, by 34 votes to 9, decided in favor of Methodist union. The Chief Secretary has received a communication from the British Consul at Ascencion, intimating thaij, owing to internal dissension, the Paraguayan Government will wind up the affairs of the New Australia Settlement Company, and divide the assets among all the members.

Received March 11, at 9 40 p.m. Sydney, March 11. Arrived — Rotokino, from Oamaru. It has been definitely decided that the Federal Convention will meet in Adelaide on the 22nd inst

Perth, March 11. A shocking accident happened to two Italian miners at Coolqardee. After firing a charge the men descended the shaft, and commenced working. Shortly afterwards a terrinc explosion took place. Both were killed, and their bodies horribly mutilated. It is supposed a drill struck an unexploded charge.