AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11685, 21 June 1901, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Tehsraph.-Press Association.-Copyright AN APPOINTMENT. Syjjnsy, June 20. Mr. Bell, chief clerk of the Union Steamship Company, has been appointed manager of the North Coast Steamship Company. HEAVY SNOWFALL. Sydney, June 20. An area of forty thousand square miles oiv country, from Armidale North to Tumben. umba .South, is covered with snow. FEDERAL DEFENCE. Melboukne, June 20. In the Federal Parliament it was stated it would require 57,000 Lee-Enfields, costing £274.000, to equip the Australian volunteer forces. FOUNDERING OF A BARGE. Adelaide, June 20. A wheat barge in tow of a steamer from Point Piri to Port Adelaide foundered. It is believed three bargemen perished. THREE FISHERMEN DROWNED. Perth:, June 20. A fishing boat has been wrecked neai Fremantle. Three foreigners arc supposed to be drowned. A RUSSIAN CRUISER. (received June 21, 1.15 a.m.) Sydney, June 20. The Russian cruiser Gromoboi has sailed for Japan. THE STRIKE', (deceived June 21, 1.35 a.m.) Sydney, June 20. Acting in sympathy with the iron trad« strikers, 700 shipwrights, dockers, and painIns struck ct Moil's Dock to-day. MINISTERS' SALARIES. (Received .Tone 2;, 1.15 a.m.) MiXEOUBNE, June 20. A long delate took place in the Federal ' House a*, to whether Ministers should take the £400 a. year provided in the Constitution as members' allowance in addition to their salaries, it being the custom in the States to forego the allowance when taking the salary attached to office. By 30 to 22 it was agreed that Ministers should take the allowance. THE CONWAY CASE. Sydney, June 20. In the Conway murder trial to-day, tha accused, Jane Smith, in a low, broken voice, made a statement materially the same as at the last trial, closing with ?. declaration of her innocence. (Received Jane, 21, 1.9 a.m.) Mrs. Smith, in her statement, gave as her reason for not bringing her friends over here as witnesses, that it was quite bad enough for herself and husband. The judge, in summing up strong!} against the accused, said there was no tittle of evidence to show that deceased took a tonic, and no support to the theory of defendant's counsel of the aggregation of poison. At ten to-night the jury were unable to agree on a verdict, and were locked up for the night.