NEWS IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8888, 26 May 1892, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF.

tHE coal yield in Victoria last year was the largest yet recorded. South Australian stockowners are agitating for a retaliatory tax on stock imported from Victoria. The detectives who worked up the case against Deeming inado no claim on the £100 conviction monoy. The Victorian Parliament appears to be keeping to the custom of adjourning as seon after 11 p.m. as possible. The will of the late George Anthoness, brewer, of Melbourne, who left some £170,000, is being disputed. A gigantic pearl, the size of a pigeon's egg, is said to have been found by Captain Reddcll at the Roebuck Bay pearl fishery (W.A.). A sensational shooting ciyeoccurred lately in Melbourne. A drunken constable fired at his superior officer, but was promptly arrested. After five months of strike the Hunter River (New South Wales) copper smelters have gone back to work at the reduced wages. Detectives Considinc and Cawsey have been each granted the sum of £-0 for their services in connection with the Windsor tragedy. What aro believed to bo the relics of a bushranger —an old ritle, Ac. —have been found in a cave near Katoomba, New South Wales. A clerk of the Bank of Australasia in

Melbourne has been committed for trial on a charge of embezzling moneys to tho amount of £1500.

Tho Queenscliff fishermen held a meeting lately, and passed a resolution demanding that a duty be placed on fresh fish imported into Victoria. The Australian banking returns for the first quarter of the present year show a considerable decrease in advances and an appreciable increase in deposits. At the Sydney Trades and Labour Council the most recent trouble is in connection with a charge made against some of the councillors of living on trades unionism.

The compulsory retirement of officers over 65 years in the Victorian Railway Department will save £12,000 in salaries, and increase the pension list by £1000 per annum.

In that health resort for jailed Australian?, Hobart, the death rate is (accordins to Mr. Hayter) higher than in any other of the capital cities of Australasia except Perth. Charitable bequests amounting to £2000 have been left under the will of the late William Graham, of Melbourne, merchant. The estate is valued at £10,9(53 realty, and £26,796 personalty. A miner named David Livingstone was terribly crushed at Surface Hill, Tumbarumba, New South a Wales. He as running a truck when aboutStwo tens of mullock and timber fell on him. Permission has been granted by the N.S.W. Minister for Public Instruction to Drs. Graham and Jamieson to examine children in the public schools as to their physical development. Those who frequent the precincts of the Sydney General Post Office (especially ladies) have been warned against pickpocket-?. Several cases of pocket-picking have occurred there lately.

The swagsman who was charged with committing a revolting outrage on the postmistress at Hettaville (Victoria) has been pronounced insane by the medical men who were engaged by the Crown to examine him.

From returns obtained from the various public departments of New South Wales, the Colonial Secretary has discovered that liabilities exist to the extent of £100,000, and for which no provision has been made on the Estimates.

Captain Baxter, who was the first white man to settle in the Erankton district (Vic-

toria) is dead. He was 87 years old. He arrived in the colony in IS4'2. in charge of a company of the .30ih Regiment, on board the convict ship Koyal George.