AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9013, 19 October 1892, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Prat Awoeiation.—filectric Telegraph,"Copyright. THE BUTTER MARKET. Melbourne, October 18. The London agent of the Agricultural Department predicts a good season for butter. THE SHIPPING DIFFICULTY. Adelaide, October 18. Shipowners here endorse the action of Victorian owners; in the present shipping difficulty. QUEENSLAND GOLD YIELD. Brisbane, October 18. The. total yield of gold for the year was 442,0000z5. an increase of 2y,7000zs over the yield of the previous year. A MELBOURNE SCANDAL. Melbourne, October 18. The trial of Mrs. Parker for forgery has begun. Mr. Joseph ("lark, in the course of his evidence, said he was unable to remember why he signed bills in prisoner's favour for £8000. He admitted paying the accused's husband £1000, because he threatened to make him co-respondent, in divorce proceedings. He denied that he had paid prisoner's expenses during her recent travels. THE REPORTED GROUNDING OF THE RUAHINE. Brisbane, October 18. Captain Bone, of the Ruahine, denies the report that his vessel went ashore off' the Queensland coast. The unfounded report that the Ruahine was ashore on the coast was caused through a slight break-down in the vessel's machinery, which led the captain of the small coasting schooner who first circulated the report to imagine that the ship was aground. The repairs to the machinery were effected in a few hours, and the vessel proceeded on her voyage. A DISASTROUS VOYAGE. Sydney, October 18, News has been received that the barque Pactole, which left here for Noumea on the 23rd ultimo, reached her destination after a trying ordeal. During a terrific gale, experienced shortly after leaving, she was struck by lightning, and all the live stock on board killed. Subsequently she was almost completely dismasted. A consignment of hay, stowed alongside of some cases of dynamite, became dangerously heated, and had to be jettisoned. The Pactole reached Noumea under jury rig. NEW SOUTH WALES DEFENCES. Sydney. October 18. The Defence Commissioner's report, which has been presented to Parliament, says that it is imperative that the Commandant, Assistant AdjutantGeneral, and the Naval Commandant should be selected from the Imperial 1 service, and should be changed every I five years, and also that for the next ! three years, at least, the officer comj manding the artillery forces should be nominated by the artillery authorities of j the War Office. The report recommends i that the strength of the permanent j garrisons of artillery be reduced to 370 men, and that the partially-paid garrisons be re-organised by increasing their strength to 900 men. The total infantry force of the colony, including the reserves, should be 5000 men. It is also suggested that the Wolverine be i disposed of; that a vessel of modern ! type be hired from the Admiralty, and that the naval artillery be disbanded , and reformed as garrison artillery.