AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11867, 20 January 1902, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright.' TrfE AUSTRALIAN TARIFF. Melbourne, January 18. The Federal House has fixed the duty off ■ engines, boilers, machines, machinery, plated and mixed metal wares at 20 per cent... Axle springs were fixed at 15 per cent. , after l ' : v a great fight to admit them free. SCIENCE CONGRESS. Hobart, January 18. The science congress, before dispersing, decided to ask the New Zealand. Government to sanction the construction of a biologicalstation near Dunedin. THE ROYAL VISIT. Perth, January 18. A Parliamentary return shows that thai, State's. expenditure in connection with' the; Royal visit was over £30,000. . .' ' ;• v THE MELBOURNE FIRE. Melbourne, January 18. . . The insurances of Messrs. Bliksby and C 0.,; whose building was partially gutted by fire,.' ~r'f* totalled £28,000, including: New Zealand Insurance, £4000; Standard (New Zealand) National (New Zealand), and North British each £1000. CONFERENCE OF SURVEYORS. ( Melbourne, January 18. A conference of representatives of the Surveyors' Board of Australasia was opened to- • day. Mr- Richardson, the president of the Institute of Surveyors, represents New Zea-i - land. The conference will consider matters relating to the reciprocal recognition of cer-r tificates and uniformity of examination V : ' gulations. -"i MIXER MARRIAGES. Sydney, January 18. / An important decree will be read in the' ' ' • Roman Catholic Churches of the Common-j wealth to-morrow regarding marriage. It | enjoins the strict enforcement of the' Church j' i laws against mixed marriages, and states:il " In order to deter Catholics from these sacri- [ • *•- "■ s.y' r-i * ~ " -jv. j legious unions we declare all who in future. contract mixed marriages before a heterodox j minister incur excommunication, and those•who presume to contract marriage before a' • State official are guilty of grievous sin. .Im . • , ; such cases where priests consider a.dispen-'. -:yg : j s&tion may be granted, the marriages are to -', ; ibe celebrated Outside the church' without 1 . 7ii ! ceremony unless for grave reasons otherwise" l permitted." ' \ - 1 FATALITY AT THE NEW HEBRIDES.,'; Sydney, January 18. j Charles Gledstanes, a well-known ' Vila- • , coffee planter, was killed in the New. Hebrides! ■ by* the horse he was • driving backing. thai vehicle over the cliff. Mr. Gledstanes origin nally came from New Zealand. ' ' COMMERCIAL AGENTS. , • Sydney, January 18. The Cabinet has selected two prominent business men, whose names are not stated,! to act as Government commercial agents ■) , % one in London and the other in Japan (whichii : ' -j. ' includes China and the East). An agent. * will also be appointed in South' Africa. - CHARGES OF STEALING. Sydney, January. , Schoffeld has been sentenced to three years' hard labour on charges of stealing Hordern'rt Retford Park stock. The prosecution-of- - the other accused failed. • 1 THE CORONATION. Melbourne, January 18. Between 20 and 30 members of the Federal . ' ; Houses will visit London for the coronation.;' ' The Victorian and Queensland State Pre-. miers do not intend accepting their invitations to attend the coronation, but will pro-' • i bably be represented by a member of the , Ministry. The South Australian Premier , considers the State Premiers should bes! treated as Royal guests, otherwise the in."'' vitation is not of great value. • ■ THE PORT PATRICK. Melbourne, January 18. The damage to the ship Port Patrick -as": \ ' estimated at under £600, including loss of \ sail and anchors. Captain Galloway has entered into the customary bonds'in connection with the salvage claims. The creVsf arrives from Sydney to-day.