AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10971, 27 January 1899, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Telegraph.— Association.— FEDERATION. Melbourne, January 26. The Australian natives annual function! was a brilliant affair. The members of the Federal Council were amongst the guests, and federation was the principal topic. The .Premier of Queensland said he could not ac cept the Bill of 1898, but was prepared to consider its amendment. BURGESS BEFORE THE COURT. Brisbane, January 26. The charge of theft against Burges. hat been withdrawn, and a charge of vagrancy substituted. Counsel for the prisoner con< sidered that there was no evidence. Thd police asked for a conviction, alleging that , it would be better for the prisoner to be removed from the district where he had ini spired terror among the women. He waiV sentenced to two months' imprisonmentsNotice of appeal was given. Subsequently Burgess communicated to the police, through his solicitor, hie movements on the Christmas holidays. SMALL-POX AT COLOMBO. Sydney, January 26. News by the mail states that small-pol has broken out at Colombo. MILITIA CALLED OUT. Adelaide, January 26. The experiment of suddenly calling out ' the militia resulted in two-thirds of the force answering. INTERCOLONIAL CRICKET. Sydney, January 26. In the cricket match between New South Wales and Victoria, the former have lost six wickets for 345. The scores arc: Nowell> 6; Gregory, 45; Noble, 100; Iredale, 98; ScKenzie, 12; Trumper, 23; Donnan (not out), 33 Pye (notout), 20; sundries, 8* i