AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9489, 19 April 1894, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Press Association.— Telegraph.—Copyright. * THE FEDERAL BANK CASE. Melbourne, April 18. In the Federal Bank cases further argument was heard upon the application for the removal of the liquidator. Counsel for the defendant said there was nothing in tin articles of association to prohibit the) lending of money to directors of the bank, and remarked that the directors came very badly oat of their transactions. " Yes," retorted the Judge, " but the people whose money they, took came out worse. They speea* lated with other people's money, and caused an enormous atnounb of misery. That Is the real truth."

A HORRIBLE MURDER. Melbourne, April 18. A Frenchman named Eugene Posset, -60 : years of age, was found murdered in North Melbourne. His hands and feet were-laad, and he had apparently been battered to death. There was also a gun-snob wound in his body. Robbery was evidently the motive for the crime. A woman named Burgess, who resided in the same house-as the murdered man, has been arrested.-oo the nominal charge of vagrancy.

PRODUCE FREIGHTS. Melbourne, April 18. The Government and the mail companies have effected a compromise on the question of freight for the conveyance of produce, which has been reduced by seven-eighths of a penny. The Government renew the mail contracts for two years, anji the companies undertake to place additional vessels in the trade if ib is proved that weekly vessels are insufficient. The reduction in freight makes a difference of £15,000 in favour-of shippers.

THE AUSTRALASIAN LIBEL CASE. Melboubne, April. 18. In the libel action, Hayes v. the Australasian, the jury disagreed and were -discharged.

VESSELS IN COLLISION. Melbourne, April 18. The captain of the Konoowarra states that when he saw the Titania she showed no lights, and, although at that time a collision was highly improbable, he called the attention of his second officer to the fact. Later, on the second offieer suddenly saw the vessel through the darkness bearing right down on the steamer. The passengers confirmed the statement thab the Titania had no lights. The Konoowarra was pub full speed ahead to clear the ship, bat was struck right amidships. Sydney, April 18. The ship Titania has arrived safely, fool the details of the damage are not yet avail able. Two of the Konoowarra's crew, who are on board, have only a hazy idea of th| whole affair. One asserts he was picked up by the Titania after being in the water a quarter of an hour. The captain of the ship does net speak English. The vessel is in charge of the Adelaide pilot. The latter asserts the lights were burning on the ship, and thab he never altered his coarse. He attributes the disaster to an attempt) on the part of the steamer to cross the bows of the ship, and under-estimating the speed of the vessel.

The bows of the ship Tibania are a good deal knocked about. The damage is estimated at about £300, and it will cost about £500 to repair the Koonawarra. The pilot on board the Tibania was in the fore* castle when the collision happened, He says the lights on the ship were burning brightly, and he kept her on her coarse because ib was the steamer's place to give way.

THE AUSTRALIAN GOLDPIE LDS. Melbourne, April 18. A mass of metal, forty pounds in weight* containing 321)0z of pure gold, has been unearthed at Daylesford, 75 miles north from Melbourne. Sydney, April 18. The new discovery at Wyalong is reported to be a duffer.

THE PACIFIC CABLE. -• Sydney, April 18. In a letter addressed by Sir J. Pender to the Colonial Office with reference to the decision of the Wellington Postal Conference re the Pacific cable, he says that the costly alternative of a cable across the Pacific cannot be said to be required to meet existing commercial wants, If established by Government assistance it could only be justified on the grounds of strategic use to the Empire. After dealing with the financial position, he remarks that her Majesty's Government could not in equity refuse to guarantee or subsidise the Eastern Extension Company to the same extent as it guaranteed or' subsidised the Pacific cable; otherwise the fatal blow would be given to private enterprise, which would seriously affect the carrying f , out of similar pioneer works in future. Moreover, the Pacific cable would be no Bafer in the time of war than cables in the othej seas, and the necessity of guarding it would impose increased responsibility on the navy at a time when it might have to concentrate all its energies nearer home to protect more frequented trade routes. If, however, the Pacific cable is considered a strategic necessity, and the Governments concerned are prepared to provide the requisite subsidies, the Eastern Extension Company will be quite ready to co- operate in the matter, and with its large experience and special facilities, ib is in a better position than any other company to carry out the work ad« rantageously. ."■[-,/

DLATH OP MADAME CARANDINI. ji "■•;•■,' Melboo kne, April 18. A cable from England announo es the death of Madame Carandini. ' " ••'?■ '/;?. ; '