AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9722, 18 January 1895, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

VICTORIA AND THE PACIFIC CABLE.

Melbourne, January 17. A deputation from the Chamber of Commerce waited on the Postmaster -General, and stated that the chamber was unanimously in favour of the Pacific Cable being laid at an early date. They pointed oat that the present route had failed thirty-six times in eighteen years. The Presidenb thought the Eastern Extension Company would be glad to continue without any guarantee. Mr. Daffy, the PostmasterGeneral, agreed that it would be a good thing to have a telegraph line mainly through British possessions, and it would be a great advantage in time of war. lb was understood the cable would cost £1,800,000, and in the present condition of things Victoria was not in a position to go in for it. He was afraid the cable would not pay at the start, though ultimately ib would. All the countries likely to be benefited by the scheme should be called on to pay a share of the undertaking.

THE FINANCIAL SITUATION IN VICTORIA.

Melbourne, January 17.

The Argus considers the London stock exchange is supersensitive in lowering Vic

torian stocks a point because the perennial rumour-monger is speaking disrespectfullj of Australian banks. Although the lattei are factors of the first importance, yet the national credit does nob depend on then position. In regard to colonial credib national, and nob party, feeling ia gradually, bub surely, predominating, and the severest critic must admit that the position is improving.

WEST AUSTRALIAN TELEGRAPH

SERVICE.

Melbourne, January 17.

The Argus says that so far aa European business is concerned, the West Australian telegraph service is a delusion and a snare. While we depended, it says, only on the Port Darwin line, the liability to interruption was always taken into account, bub when the Eastern Extension Company laid the new cable to Roebuck Bay, communication was thought to be absolutely safeguarded against severance. The Argus suggests that the Postal Conference should take the matter in hand, and either coerce or cajole the Postmaster-General to bring his department up to date. VICTORIAN PARLIAMENT. * Melbourne, January 17. The Premier hopes to prorogue Parliament at the end of the week, to enable him to attend the Conference of Premiers and the meeting of the Federal Council.

BUTTER SHIPMENT.

Melbourne, January 17*

Mr. Wilson, the Government! dairy expert, said he tried shipping butter similar to the Sewell process ten years ago. The objection was that the brine had a tendency to draw the sap from the wood, which caused the butter to be tainted unless the casks had been well saturated some weeks beforehand with brine, and the sap well exhausted before the butter was pub in. This entailed expense. Moreover, there was a risk of the hoops coming off the casks, or becoming loose, and allowing the brine to escape, in which case the butter was no doubt spoiled. A small shipment via the Cape did nob afford a fair trial. He would like to see an experiment with several tons by way of the Red Sea and, while the Agricultural Department would nob adopt). the Sewell process, he was willing to render every assistance to any intending shippers who might try the experiment.

OBITUARY.

Melbourne, January 17. I

The death is announced of Mr. Joseph Clarke, squatter, and brother of Sir William Clarke, in his 61st year.

THE COMMERCIAL BANK.

Sydney, January 17.

The balance-sheet of the Commercial Bank shows a net profit for the half-year equal to about one and aquarter per cent, per annum on preference shares capital. A noteworthy statement in the reporb is that the payment of deposit receipts, falling duo chiefly in 1898, to the extent of nearly half a million, has been anticipated, *

NEW SOUTH WALES PUBLIC WORKS SCHEME.

Sydney, January 17.

The Minister for Public Works states that between £300,000 and £400,000 Trill be spent on road works in this colony within the next three months. v

THE AGENT-GENERALSHIP OF NEW

SOUTH WALES.

Sydney, January 17. Speaking at an up-country agricultural show, the Premier said the Agent-General's Office in London must be made more useful to the people. There must be a marked change in the sphere of the Agent-General's operation, which should be less diplomatic and display more commercial activity.

AN IRRIGATION SCHEME.

Sydney, January 17.

The Government is sending an expert irrigationisb to Bourke to plot oub 400 acres in the vicinity of the artesian bore in twenty-acre farms. The Government will also establish an experimental farm to illustrate the best methods of irrigation. '

NATIVE MURDERERS PUNISHED. Thursday Island, January 17. A number of natives belonging to British Now Guinea have been sentenced to terms of imprisonmenb ranging up to ben years, for murdering sixteen natives who took refuge near the Fly River during a gale,