AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10033, 21 January 1896, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Press Association.—Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. THE WEATHER. Sydney, January 20. Nine deaths occurred at Nyngan during the week from heat. Later. Five more deaths from heat have occurred at Bourke, where tho thermometer registered 119 degrees in the shade yesterday, and 114 to-day.

The Railway Commissioners are allowing specially low railway faces to enable the people to oscape from the sun-stricken western and south-western interior, where the heat continues intense. THE SUNBEAM. . Hobart, January 20. The Sunbeam has been floated off at high water uninjured. THE GREAT MERCURY MINE. Sydney, January 20. At a meeting of the Great Mercury Com. pany'a shareholders, an offer on behalf of an Auckland resident to furnish capital for a share interosb in the mine was declined. It was resolved to call up capital. THE OAKLEIGH TRAGEDY. Melbourne, January 20. Mrs. Moylen, who made a murderous attack on her two children at Oakleigh, hag been declared insane. BURIED IN A SAND PIT. Melbourne, January 20. The bodies of two boys named Roche and! Martin have been discovered in a sand pit in Middle Park. They had been missing for a week, when they left on a stroll together. It is supposed that they were sheltering from the rain when the pit collapsed. \ THE PACIFIC CABLE CONFERENCE.

Sydney, January 20. Ab the Pacific Cable Conference ib wag decided that the cost of the cable bo defrayed in equal portions, and nob on a population basis. The New Zealand and South Australian delegates demurred, but ib was pointed oub thab in the ease of New Zealand that colony derived an advantage over New South Wales and Victoria, inasmuch as tho Cable touched there first. A proposal to pool the cost of the Port/ Darwin line was confirmed. The two delegates appointed to represent Australasia at the London Conference are to consult the Agents-General of the various colonies on all important points. PROPOSED FEDERAL MAIL SERVICE. Sydney, January 20. The Postmasters General have discussed the proposed Federal Mail Service recommended by the Hobart Conference, and several communications were received from the Imperial Postal authorities on the matter. They adopted certain recommendations, which, at the request of the Imperial authorities, who fear that their disclosure might impede the negotiations with the shipping companies, are nob made public,

CHARGE OF SALTING A MINE.

Adelaide, January 20. To-day William Rogers was committed for trial on a charge of salting the Angipena gold mine. Fitzpatrick, another miner, who according to his own confession was induced by Roger/) to assist in the salting, gave evidence that previous to the mining inspector and a number of members of Parliament, who were interested in the purchase of the property, visiting the mine, he and Rogers salted the shaft with rich stuff. Bags of samples obtained for the proposed purchasers were also saltod ; and when tin purchasers obtained samples from the min« witness slipped rich ore amongst the stuff, which he held in a hat. Rogers promised witness £50 for his share in the business, but as be refused to pay witness a row ensued. A syndicate, consisting of members of Parliament, who purchased sharef and were floating the mine, were to receive 10,000 promoters' shares. Rogers is boing tried on a second charge of fraudulently attempting to obtain 2000 fully paid up shares by pretending that the salted stone, on the strength of which the company was floated, was the genuine product of the mine, THE FIRE ON THE CINTRA. Mki, bourne, January 20. The Marine Board was unable to give a definite finding as to the cause of the fire on board the steamer Uintra, bub believed it was caused by a case of explosives, and were of the opinion that carelessness was shown in allowing explosives and a large quantity of kerosene to bo shipped in a passenger ship. The Court complimented the captain and officers for their conduct! during the fire.

A NAUTICAL ENQUIRY.

Sydney, January 20. The nautical enquiry into the collision betweon the steam tugs Leveret and Stormcock, off the Heads on December 28, resulted in Captain Mackie, of the former vessel, having his certificate suspended for three months, and Captain Larsen, of the latter vessel, hating his certificate suspended foe one month, '"

PASSENGERS BY THE MONOWAL

Sydney, January 20, Mr. Justice Windeyer and Zimmerman, the great American cyclist, are passengers by the Monowai which sailed for San Francisco, via Auckland, to-day.

BAD NEWS FROM WESTERN AUSTRALIA. " Melbourne, January 20. Numbers of disappointed fortune-hunters are returning " from Western Australia. Judging jjy a letter received from a prospoqtor at Menzies, tbp wonder is tliab so many are able to hang 'on at all, The writer says flour is' Wiling ab £65 per ton, a small loaf being Is 3d.. Chaff ia ninepenca a pound weight, and ' wes Is 3d' per lb, • when procurable, ; and thon only mutton. Fowls sell at two guineas per pair, and eggs fetch twelve to eighteen shillings per dozen. J Water is' eightpeiice ' per 'gallon •• while board costs from three to four guineas per : y : Wrt 1 lIS W! V- ;I V»vWW week. i Fever is very prevalent, the average . death rate being three per week. 1 • ••1