AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11951, 28 April 1902, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.— THE QUEENSLAND BUSHRANGERS. Brisbane, April 26. The police have again struck the tracks of the. Kenniffs on the Great Dividing Range, going in the direction of the Bunka Mountains. i

THE COST OF FEDERATION. Mklbottbne, April 26. In the Senate, Mr. O'Connor stated that the new expenditure actually caused by federation was £223,374, or 14d per head of the population. The announcement that a sinking fund would be attached to all Commonwealth loans was greeted with applause. THE COMMONWEALTH AND NEW GUINEA. MM/notrnxK, April 26. Mr. Barton has received from the Colonial Office letters patent containing the terms of taking over by the Commonwealth of the administration of New Guinea. MR. JAMES MILLS. "-: Melbourne, April 25. On the invitation of Mr. David Mills, 100 gentlemen lunched on the Mokoia to meet. Mr. James Mills, managing director of the Union Steamship Company, on his return from England. CONFERENCE OF STATE PREMIERS. Sydney, April 26. A conference of State Premiers will be held in Sydney on May 15, to discuss a number of important questions. BANQUET TO THE FEDERAL PREMIER. ; (Recoived April 27, 5.16 p.m.) Sydney, April 27. Mr. Barton was banqueted in the Town Hall prior to his departure for London. There was a large gathering. The speeches, were chiefly complimentary of Mr. Barton, who, in referring to Mr. Seddon, said some people considered Mr. Seddon had ceased to be a democrat because he was such a loyalist. He did not agree with those people.

THE PLAGUE. (Received April 27, 5.16 p.m.) Sydney, April 27. One plague patient has succumbed. Brisbane, April 26. One case of plague was reported to-day. THE WEATHER. (Received April 23. 12.59 a.m.) Sydney, April 27. A stiff southerly gale, with heavy intermittent, rain, has been blowing since yesterday, and still continues. There is a rough sea. No rain of any consequence has fallen inland as yet. A CAPTAIN'S CERTIFICATE SUSPENDED. Meliiournk, April 26. The Marine Court has suspended for six months the certificate of Captain Medley in connection with the recent stranding of the steamer Paroo. [The steamer Paioo, belonging to the Australian United Steam Navigation Company, went ashore off Point Lonsdale, near Melbourne, on April 9, whilst on the passage from Sydney to Adelaide. The steamer was refloated the next day with the loss of some of the blades of the propeller.] The Edinburgh correspondent of the Otago Daily Times says that the second Cunning , Celtic prize of the Caledonian Medical Society has been awarded to Mrs. K. W. Grant, New Zealand (locality nob stated), for a paper on " The Influence of Scenery and Climate on the Poetry and Music of the Highlands." The value of the prize is £10, and the adjudicators were Principal Rhys, of Oxford, and Professor Mackinnon, of Edinburgh University. The first prize of £20 was awarded to Dr. H. Cameron Gillies, of London, for his paper on "A Gaelic Medical Manuscript of 1583."