AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9718, 14 January 1895, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Press Association.—Electric Telegraph. —Copyright AUSTRALIAN CROPS. Sydney, January 12. The area under English barley is greatly in excess of lasfc year's area. The estimated yield is 975,000 bushels, the average being 15 bushels to the acre. In regard to feed barley, nearly the whole of which is of the Cape variety, it is anticipated the yield will amount to a quarter of a million bushels, an average of 24 bushels to the acre.

Melbourne, January 12. The Leader, in reviewing the oat and hay

crops, says the oat crop is a fairly good one in most districts, and really fine crops have been harvested in portions of the northern districts. The crop is estimated at six million bushels, or 25 bushels to the acre.

The hay yield will be about 625,000 tons, or 1£ tons per acre. Complaints, however, are made of the dirty character generally of the crops this year, which prejudice the market value of grain.

THE COLLIERY DISPUTE.

Sydney, January 12. The Southern Miners' Delegate Board teem the present an inopportune time to

demand an advance in the hewing rate. They, therefore, recommend that the lodges allow the question to remain in abeyance.

LABOUR SETTLEMENTS.

Sydney, January 12.

As a result of the Ministerial inspection of the labour settlements at Pit Town and Wilberforce, the statements published as to the unsuitability of the soil have been

amply proved. Notwithstanding this, the Minister is convinced it is worked so industriously that they deserve a trial under better circumstances at the hands of the State; so, there is every probability of the settlements being removed to more suitable localities.

THE POSTAL CONFERENCE.

Hobart, January 12.

The Hon. J. G. Ward has cabled to the Hon. P. O. Fysh asking him to arrange with the Victorian Government to call the Postal Conference for February Ist, and in Hobart, instead of Melbourne. Mr. Fysh is negotiating with the Victorian Government on the question. Wellington, Saturday. The Postmaster-General has received a cable from the Postmaster-General of Tasmania to the effect that the negotiations for holding the Postal Conference at Hobart, instead of Melbourne, have been successful, and that the date fixed is February Ist, as each colony expressed the wish that Mr. Ward should attend.

QUEENSLAND MAIL CONTRACT, Brisbane, January 12.

The Government has decided to continue the present mail contract via Torres Straits for six months only, in order to give time for the full consideration of the details with

regard to the frozen meat and dairy produce requirements, which, it is proposed, should be provided in the new contract.

VICTORIAN TRADE RETURNS.

Melbourne, January 12.

The official returns show that the imports of the colony for the year were of the value of £12,470,000, being a decrease of £81,300 on the previous year's. The exports were £14,020,000, an increase of £718,000.

VICTORIAN POLITICAL CRISIS.

Melbourne, January 12.

The Cabinet has considered the rejection of the Land Tax Bill, and it is believed that the Government for the present will abandon the proposals contained therein, and cast about, among the many proposals made by members of both Houses, for a suitable scheme for balancing the national

ledge. The Income Tax Bill will probably be recommitted, with a slightly increased scale, and further efforts in the direction of retrenchment will be made.

NEW SOUTH WALES FISHERIES.

Sydney, January 12.

The Fisheries Commission has laid before the Government an important memorandum on the fisheries of the colony. It states that the colony is actually im-

porting fish food to the value of over £100,000 per annum, despite the frequently reiterated assertion that our seas literally swarm with fish of great variety. The Commission recommends that, in

order to prosecute an inquiry into the important subject of deep sea fisheries, and to carry the investigation to a successful issue,- it is absolutely necessary that a thorough and systematic exploration, by means of a completely-equipped steam trawling vessel, be made of the several fishing grounds close to the shore-line. The boat should be fitted with wells in order to bring the fish alive to market. It is estimated thab it would cost £6000 to make the experiment.

THE BANK CONSOLIDATION SCHEME.

Melbourne, January 12.

The Age in commenting on the consolidation scheme says the time is ripe for some action to provide against the possibility of difficulties arising when the deposit receipts issued by the re-constructed banks begin to mature. State assistance should be claimed to restore general confidence in the future, and without its intervention little improvement is possible. It says ib can hardly be regarded as a novel expedient, as instances might be mentioned where such interference was not only permissible but recognised as an element of strength and a background to bo relied upon in cases of urgent necessity. The Age continues :— We are confronted with the fact that between the years of 1897 and 1901 the Australian reconstructed banks will have to meet demands for the payment of deposit receipts to the sxtent of 44 millions, and this is a certainty which no amount of specious argument can get rid of. Ib is also equally certain that the colonies are not likely to be prepared to meet Buch enormous demands when they occur. • II new deposits could be expected to replace the withdrawal of the old there would be no difficulty." It concludes: The comments of London financial journals show clearly that such a happy solution of the difficulty is hardly likely to occur. They would, however, have two or three years' breathing time, and surely something would suggest itself during that time which would provide against troubles in the future. .