AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9400, 5 January 1894, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Press Association.—Electric Telegraph. —Copyright. THE ZEEHAN SILVERFIELD. Launceston, January 4. The Silver Queen mine at Zeehan has struck payable ore in the west crosscut, which will probably be the main lode. OFFICIAL MISDOINGS. Sydney, January 4. In connection with the inquiry by Judge Fitzhardinge, into the alleged irregularities in the working of deeds and search branches of the RegistrarGeneral's Department, Mr. E. C. Hopkins, one of the clerks, has been dismissed.' W. W. Bucknall, another of the clerks, and G. W. Hill, record attendant in the department, who were also called upon to show cause why they should not be dismissed, have been reinstated. THE VICTORIAN TARIFF. Melbourne, January 4. The Argus declares the high policy tariff lias broken down badly, and that the colony must export more and more; therefore it is necessary, in order to maintain export conditions, to live on low prices obtained abroad, and not on fond but illusory hope of high prices. locally. It concludes by stating that duties should be lowered to the New Zealand standard. THE POSTAL CONFERENCE. Brisbane, January 4. At the Intercolonial Postal Conference to be held in Wellington, New Zealand, shortly, the Queensland delegates will bring forward the question of accelerating the mail train service between Brisbane and Adelaide. THE MINERS STRIKE. / Sydney, January 4. Four associated collieries in the southern districts have _ accepted the reduction in hewing rates ; but miners in the South Bulli, Beiiambi, and Mount Kembla mines, refusing to agree to the reduction, the proprietors have decided to shut down for a couple of months. Returns of the Newcastle coal trade for the past year show a falling olf in export of 310,000 tons as compared with the previous year. , . 'r COAL AT ST. KILDA. Melbourne, January 4. The Secretary of Mines states there is no chance of a discovery of black coal at St. Kilda. FLOODS IN GIPPSLAND. , ; Melbourne, January 4., At Orbost, in the East Gippsland district, 5000 acres of maize were destroyed bv floods. Fifteen inches oi rain fell in one week in the district. ; THE AGE LIBEL CASE. v ■ Melbourne, January 4.. At Mr. Speight's instigation, the trial on the other ten counts in the libel action against the Age will be resumed without delay. As preliminaries need not be repeated, it is expected the case will come on when the Courts resume after the long vacation. There is some talk of raising a public subscription to pay the Age costs. victorian'republicans. •'.-.'■ Melbourne, January 4. An open-air meeting was held in Melbourne to consider the invitation sent to the Duke and Duchess of York*o visit the colonies, and a resolution was carried censuring the authorities "for inviting two political nonentities." A resolution was also passed in favour of the abolition of the monarchical system v> of government, and the substitution of a democratic and republican , form of government. .■■>■ Some of the speakers who addressed the meeting made use of very strong language. * INTERCOLONIAL CRICKET. . ; ' ; . .Melbourne, January 4.. -: In their second innings the .> Victo* rians were all out for 298. Worrall made 58, Walters 95, Laver 42, MoLeod (not out) 28. yi South Australia thus won the match by 74 runs. • ■■'■' i'< -.?>•' fecg ,'"■'.'!/ 'gassy . "The Profligate," Monday nee*. " v:;r. : ' '