AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 11542, 29 November 1900, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright, NEW SOUTH WALES PARLIAMENT. Sydney, November 28. The Premier intends to close the session early next week. LORD HOPETOUN'S ARRIVAL. Sydney, November 28. In order to meet Lord Hopetoun's wishes' the official landing will be made on the day of his arrival, when the function will only be small, the main display being the swear-ing-in ceremony. ANOTHER CASE OF PLAGUE. Brisbane, November 28. A lamp trimmer named Smith, engaged aboard the steamer Flinders, just arrived from Bundaberg, is suffering from plague. EXTENSION OF INSURANCE BUSINESS. Sydney, November 28. The Citizens' Life Insurance Company has decided to extend operations to Great Britain early in the new year. THE SHIPPING CONFERENCE. Melbourne, November 28. The Shipping Conference is at a standstill. It is understood owners are willing to concede all the demands made upon them excepting an increase from £6 10s to £7. The seamen are against compromising. Pending a meeting of the Steamship Owners* Federation on Saturday no definite decision is possible. I OLD AGE PENSIONS. Sydney, November 28. The Council passed the Old Age Pensions Bill with trivial amendments. •;*,.*- EXPORT OF WHEAT. Melbourne, November 28. The Leader estimates the colony's wheat crop at 18,715,000 bushels, an average of bushels per acre. Sydney, November 28. A return tabled in the Assembly shows that during the past 20 years over 127 million bushels of wheat have been exported from the States forming the Commonwealth. WOMEN'S FRANCHISE BILL. Sydney, November 28. The Council has negatived the Women's Franchise Bill on the second reading by 22 March 31. NEW SOUTH WALES REVENUE. Sydney, November 28. Sir William Lyne stated to-day that he expected! the revenue at the end of the financial year would exceed his Budget estimate, by .£IOO,OOO. To date the revenue ex-' ceeded that of the corresponding period of last year by £230,000. THE CENSUS. Sydney, November 28. In the Assembly Sir Wm. Lyne moved additional Estimates to the amount of £87,000, including £23.000 to cover the cost of taking the census next year. A Bill has been introduced fixing the date of the census on March 3. THE PACIFIC CABLE. Sydney, November 28. Mr. Crick has received a cable from th« Pacific Cable Advisory Board asking th« Governments of the various colonies to authorise their Agents-General to sign the contract for the acceptance of the tender fol the work. Mr. Crick replied giving Mr. Copeland the necessary authority. THE CHARGE AGALW A SOLICITOR. Sydney, November 28. ' Abigail has been committed for trial at the quarter sessions, bail being allowed. In the course of cross-examination he said Coogan was telling a deliberate lie in regard to a certain portion of the conversation, and the hidden witnesses, who corroborated him, were mistaken. In reply to a question whether before the conversation, and when employing Coogan to get certain evidence in the Coningham case, he believed him to be a blackmailer and paid perjurer* Abigail gave an affirmative answer.