AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9714, 9 January 1895, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Press Association.—Elacidc Telegraph.—Copyright THE VOLCANIC ERUPTION AT AMBRYN. Sydney, January 8. The mail steamer brings news that fchd volcano at Ambrym, in the New Hebrides, has again broken out, and the inhabitants are very anxious, although the outburst it not accompanied by that sickening sensation peculiar to earthquakes. Villages which were re-occupied after the subsidence a month ago are again deserted. Lava is running in an unbroken stream from rents and fissures in the sides of the mountain, and is not being spouted out ol the crater as at first reported. The whole , surrounding country is being covered by lava deposit).

CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER AG Alii ST A CAPTAIN. Sydney, January 8. The captain of the tug Awhina, which

ank the steamer Princess last month with

fatal results, was found guilty of careless

navigation, and committed for trial on » charge of manslaughter.

A BURGLAR SHOT DEAD.

Sydney, January 8.

While a man named Fairchild was at« tempting to rob a house at Forbes, Constable Hawkins, who was watching his proceedings, shot him dead through the eye. A verdict was returned of justifiable homicide.

CANADIAN COMMISSIONER.

Sydney, January 8.

Mr. Lark, Canadian Commissioner to Australia, has arrived. He will permanently reside here in order to promote trade between Canada and Australia.

JUMPING CLAIMS.

Sydney, January 8. , Great excitement was caused at Wyalong owing to a portion of the most important claims being jumped. Measures are being taken to test the right of the jumpers.

COOLIES FOR FIJI.

Sydney, January 8.

The British-India Company has obtained a contracb to convey 1200 Coolies from India to Fiji.

AUSTRALIAN TIME.

Melbourne, January 8.

The proposal to regulate the Victorian clocks by convention instead of by the rising and setting of the sun, has, says the Age, met with anything but approval. Neither from the scientific nor the commercial standpoint is there the slightest advantage to btf gained by establishing the hour zone system throughout Australia.

THE CULTURE OF KAPOK.

Melbourne, January 8.

The Agricultural Department is taking measures to prove the adaptability of the climate to grow kapok (the material used in upholstery).

VICTORIAN CHEESE.

Melbourne, January &

The first shipment of cheese under the new bonus regulations will be sent away during the week. It consists of 68 tons, graded by exports of the Agricultural Department. The bonus to be paid is £3 per ton, provided it sells at nob less than 50a per cwt. It is anticipated that regular shipments will be made during the next] three months.

THE POSTAL CONFERENCE. Melbourne, January 8.

It has been definitely decided to hold thg Postal Conference hereon the 12th February, and a communication has been despatched to New Zealand, suggesting that if thfl Postmaster General of that colony is unable to be present, some other member of th( Cabinet should attend.

DEFRAUDING THE CUSTOMS.

Melbourne, January 8, * A number of cases have been revealed in which the drawback regulations hav« been infringed by making false declarations as to the character of foreign goods. Fines ranging from £25 downwards were inflicted.

FIRE IN A MINE.

Melbourne, January 8.

A fire in the Deptford mine destroyed all the machinery. The damage is estimated at £6000.

THE MINING DISPUTE.

Sydney, January &. ,

There is every reason to anticipate a satisfactory settlement of the coal difficulty. The proprietors state that figures show that) more than half the coal obtained in tho colony must find an outside market, and unless it can be supplied low enough to compete with coal from other parts of tha world some of the Newcastle mines tausfi close. Under such circumstances they think it will not be difficult to induce thd miners to agree without taking the extrems step of striking. Generally the settlement! at) Wallsend has been a potent factoi in dispelling the threatened trouble. The attitude taken by the Australian Agricultural Company, whose superintendent some time ago expressed the opinion that wages were low enough, has played no little part in averting a difficulty so far.

THE REV. J. McNEILL ON NEW ZEALAND.

Sydney, January 8. * The Rev. J. McNeill, the evangelist wh{ lately visited New Zealand, has been giving his views on that colony to the Daily Telegraph. He describes it as a glorious country, and says he did well at Dunedia and atChristchurch, but as for Wellington, in Scriptural language he was almost tempted to shake the dust off his feet. Ib is, hfi says, a cold, unsympathetic place. . Ther# is a little clique, which calls itself Society, and ignores everything outside its own par< ticular pale. This feeling has extended t< the churches, which are somewhat cold The Auckland mission was very successful NEW SOUTH WALES LAND BILL. Sydney, January 8. The Minister of Lands states that up fcfl the end of last month he quite expected to pass the; Land Bill through the Council, bub he is now of opinion that some very great changes hare to ■ come over .the attitude of the Council before the measure can receive its ; assent, except ,in & very mutilated form. v'A/