AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8949, 13 January 1888, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[press association,] HYDRAULIC POWER IN SYDNEY. Sydney, January 12. It is proposed to form a company to supply Sydney with hydraulic power for the wharves, lifts, machinery, etc.

SYDNEY MARKETS. Sydney, January 12. The produce market is dull, with the exception of maize, which is at 4s to 4s Id, and firm at that quotation; wheat, milling, 3s 4d to 3s 8d ; fowls, 2s lOd to 3s. scarce; feed oats, 2s to 2s 2d; milling, 2s, plentiful; potatoes, 45s to 50s for new crop; bran, 7d to 7£d, market glutted.

ELECTION OF A PROTECTIONIST. Sydney, January 12. The Paddington election took place to-day, when Mr. Allan, the protectionist candidate, defeated Mr. Hellrnrich, the representative of' the freetraders, by 1402 votes. The other two freetrade candidates polled upwards of 800 votes.

RABBIT-PROOF FENCE. Adelaide, January 12. The South Australian portion of the rabbit proof fence on the boundary line between this colony and Victoria has been completed.

QUARANTINE REGULATIONS. Adelaide, January 12. The Health Board recommend that all Asiatic passengers for the colony be quarantined at Port Darwin, and released in a month if effectively vaccinated.

COPPER MINING. Adelaide, January 12. The recent rise in copper is inducing companies to take up abandoned workings.

THE FOUNDERING OF THE GEORGE

THORNTON.

Brisbane, January 12. An official inquiry has been held into the circumstances connected with the foundering of the ship George Thornton on the Northern Coast, about a fortnight ago. There was no evidence adduced as to the cause of the vessel foundering, but the captain's certificate of exemption of pilotage was cancelled on the grounds of inebriety.

OPENING OF A TRAMWAY. Brisbane, January 12. The tramway from Silverton to Broken Hill was opened to-day, and a large number of excursionists were carried, including the Duke of Manchester.

A PROTECTION UNION. Sydney, January 12. New Zealand residents in this city have formed a Protection Union.

HARVEST PROSPECTS. Sydney, January 12. The harvest prospects of the Northern Districts are excellent. The weather is very hot, but favourable to the wheat crop, which is now nearly all cut. The grain is fine, and the best obtained for years. If the weather holds good for another three weeks, it is estimated that the yield will supply all colonial wants; and should this be accomplished, it will be the first occasion in the history of the colony. Melbourne, January 12. It is estimated that 193,000 tons of wheat are available for export.