AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11954, 1 May 1902, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright. ELECTRIC LIGHTING OF SYDNEY. - • Sidney, April 30. Tenders have been called in England for the electric lighting of Sydney. THE PLAGUE. Sydney,. April 30. 1 Another case of plague is reported. Brisbane, April 30. One case of plague is reported. (Received May 1, 1 a.m.) Sydney, April 30. One case of plague was reported to-day. QUEENSLAND LOAN. Brisbane, April 30. The Government placed the recent issue of £530,000 worth of Treasury bills at £101 2s 6d. The applications were £100.000 in excess of the issue. END OF A STRIKE. Sydney, April 30,.,. The strike of the Newcastle coal-trim-mers has ended. The stevedores agreed to concede the trimmers' demands, and will also pay back claims. Work was resumed this morning; ' ■ PARLIAMENTARY REFORM. ' ' Sydney, April 30. A movement, strongly supported by the press and public, has been started in favour of reducing the members of the State Parliament and of making other Parliamentary reforms.

THE PEARL SHELL INDUSTRY. Melbourne, Apiil 30. The Federal Government has appointed the Government Resident at Port Darwin and the Resident Magistrate at Broome as a, Commission to inquire into the pearl-shelling industry at Thursday Island and vicinity, and investigate the reasons for its threatened transference to New. Guinea. OBITUARY. Melbourne, April 30. The death is announced of Mr. Downes Carter, aged 71. He was Colonial Treasurer in the Patterson Ministry. THE CORONATION CONTINGENTS'. (Received April 30. 10.23 p.m.) Sydney, April 30. The New South Wales and Queensland detachments of the Coronation Contingents have sailed. THE FEDERAL PARLIAMENT. (Received May 1, 1.13 a.m.) Melbourne, April 30. ' The Federal House passed the items cover, ing the administration of New Guinea and the mail service to the Pacific Islands. In discussing the Defence Estimates (£937,000) Sir J. Forrest explained that these were practically the estimates of the State Departments. There had been no time to reorganise. He asked the House to pass them as they .stood, so as to give time for reorganisation by which the Government hoped to effect a, saving of a hundred, and possibly two hundred, thousand pounds. Sir E. Braddon moved a reduction of the first item as an indication that there should be ? re duct-ion of two hundred thousand pounds.

A lad named Elliott captured near 3;»!• gogrin, New South Wales, a crow with-a large homy growth from behind the wing, closely resembling an ordinary wether-or ram's horn, nearlv 2ia in diameter »t. bM and 7in or Sin long. The, crow;&MsSg eyes, appears to be very health, *** «". well, though it cannot fly.