AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10018, 3 January 1896, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Press AMOclation.-Electrlc Telegraph.—Copyright. THE SQUADRON. Sydney, January 2, Admiral Bridge, with iv squadron of eight vessols, loaves this morning to carry out continuous training at sea. The vessels will manoeuvre as if in actual warfare. They will afterwards rendezvous at Norfolk Bay, Tasmania, where two other ships will join them.

NEW SOUTH WALES TARIFF AND

REVENUE. Sydney, January 2. The removal of duties caused a rush on the bonded warehouse ; 2700 free entries were passed to-day. Oats exporionced a drop, and are now quoted ab 2s 6d to 2s 7d. The revonue for the half-year shows an increase over the same period of 1894. The principal increases are Customs, £18,000; post office, £18,500. Railways show a falling off of more than £9000.

ATTEMPT TO SCUTTLE A SHIP. Sydney, January 2.

News has been received by the China mail steamer thai) two morabsra of the crew of the steamer Whampoa, who were suspected of being concerned in the roconb gold robbery from the vessel, were charged ab Shanghai with making an attempb to scuttle the ship. The pipe of the ballast tank had been broken, and the vessel narrowly escaped foundering ab sea. They wore sentenced to one year's imprisonment, and ordered to receive two hundred lashes.

JUDGE VVINDEYBR.

Sydney, January 1.

Judge Windeyer denies that he has resigned, and says that ho has merely accepted six months' leave of absence. Ha declines to declare his intentions at) the expiry of that term.

SWIMMING MATCH.

Sydney, January 2,

Placke and Neadhnm are matched to swim five miles in tho Calliope Dock, Auckland, for £100 amde, The race comes off towards the close of the month.

SMALLPOX.

Newcastle, January 2. The barque Boochdale has arrived from Rio with two cases of small-pox on board.

THE SHERIDAN CASE. Sydney, January 2.

An agitation is afoot to Becuro a reprieve for Sheridan, oonvioted and sentenced to death in connection with the death of the girl Nicholls. The jurymen, themselves, petitioned the Governor to commute the sentence. The foreman etatos he was opposed to the verdict of murder, but gave way believing that the death sentence would not be carried out. The execution is fixed for tho 7th insb.

STANBURY AND HARDING. Sydney, January 2. "Stanbury declines to row Harding in July, and insists on the race being rowed in August.

VICTORIAN REVENUE RETURNS. Melbourne, January 1.

The revenue for the half-year shows a decline of £11,200 compared with the corresponding period of last year. Included in this year's revenue is £20,000 of Income Tax, which was absenb lasb year. The customs and excise show a decrease of £69,000. Territorial revenue displays a small inoroase, and railway revenue a decrease of £65,000. The bulk of the deorease occurred during the lasb three months. The Treasurer estimates that at the end of the half-year he will be short by £296,000.

DISASTERS AT SEA. Sydney, January I. During the year there were ten wreoks on the coasts, involving a loss of 63 lives.

THE NEW AUSTRALIA SETTLEMENT. Sydney, January 2. Two of the New Australian colonists have returned. They reporb that the settlement is existing, bub the work is laborious and the climate atrocious. They say it will take fully three years yet to determine whether the settlement will bo a nuccess or a failure. They advise those contemplating joining the sottlomonb to wait until the expiry of that period.

On Monday last a Christmas-tree and fanoy fair was hold in tho Oddfellows' Hall, Howiok, and proved a very enjoyable affair. Monsignor McDonald, in a neat speech, explained that his object in asking some ladies to get up the troe and fair, was to provide innocent and enjoyable entertainment for; his friends ' and neighbours; and the pleasanb scene the hall presented showed how well and artistically they had done their work. ' He then requested Miss Baily to kindly open the proceedings, which she did in a neat little speech, wiuding up. by calling ' for', cheers ] for Father Walter, which were given lustily, and acknowledged in felicitous terms by the rev. gentleman. -