AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10413, 10 April 1897, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Press Association.— 'f ,-Oop jrighi NORFOLK INLAND. Sypnky, April 9. The Government! is despatching an office! of the Education Department) to Norfolk Island to investigate the educational requirements of the island, which are alleged to be unsatisfactory. PROSPECTS OF A DISASTROUS DROUGHT. . . Sydney, April 9. The weather continues unseasonably hoi and dry and the outlook is gloomy. Then are indications of its culminating in a disastrous drought unless rain comes soon, It is too late for winter feed anyhow now, and almost too late to do much good before the frosts set in. ' At the request of th( heads of the Churches the Executive has fixed April Iβ as a day of humiliation and prayer for rain. The outlook in Queens* land is equally bad, and the same applies to the north-western districts. In Victoria the crops and stock are suffering badly for want of rain. MACQUARRIE ISLAND. Hobart, Ajjril 9. Ib is understood that the Tasmania dele* gates at the Federal Conference favours New Zealand's application for a 20 years' lease of Maequarrie Island, provided Tasmania!) rights aro protected, and seal fisheries are safe-guarded. The matter hag been referred to the Crown law officers. BANKING MATTERS, Melbourne, April 9. The two delegates appointed ab meetings of tho English shareholders' committees 61 the City of Melbourne, Federal, English and Australian, and Mortgage and Mercantile Banks have arrived, with the object Of submitting to the colonial creditors a scheme for the formation of Assets Realisation Companies for the realisation of the assets of the four banks. The idea is to save the heavy costs involved by liquida* tion. THE CYANIDE PATENT. Sydney, April 9, The Minister of Mines promised the Chambers of Commerce deputation that he would spare no effort or experise to have the Australian Gold Kscove'ry Company's application for an amendment: and extension of their cyanide patent rejected, He never believed tbe company had any right to the patent, and did nob think it possible the application could be successful, SENTENCE OF DEATH. Sydney; April 9. Incbnheobion with the Bourke mystery, Moore has been found guilty of murdering Smith and sentenced to death. WRECK OF A STEAMER, Brisbane, April 9. The coasting steamer Burdekin has been totally wrecked in a storm Off Woodla'rk Island. The passengers and crew, 26 in all, were saved.