AUSTRALIAN NEWS;

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11955, 2 May 1902, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS;

By Telegraph.—Press Association.— TOE QUEENSLAND BUSHRANGERS. Tsocsfr.u«rroN\. May 1. A max armed with a revolver, and representing himself to be Jim Kennift, stuck up the landlady of a hotel in the main street, and another resident. SHEARERS' AGREEMENT. Sydney, May 1. > A conference of the Pastoralirts' Union and the Machine Shearers and Shed Employee*' Union adopted an agreement based on the 1894 agreement. It provides for freedom ot contract, shearing rates to be £1 per hundred for sheep and £2 for rams, shed hands to receive 25s and woolrollers, penners, aud pickersup 30s a week, with rations. A number of alterations were made in shearing rules, showing compromises on both sides. Shearing by contract was approved. Twelve month*' notice is required to terminate the agreement, which will be registered in the Arbitration Court. ; NEW RAILWAY STATION. Sydney, May 1. The Minister for Works has laid the foundation-stone of the new central sta-' | tion at Bedford. The work is progressing rapidly. WOMAN'S FRANCHISE IN AUSTRALIA. MiiLßOi H.\K. May 1. It is estimated that, granting women the franchise will add 760,000 to the Commonwealth electoral rolls. THE PEARL FISHERIES. Mki.bouiine, May 1. The Pearl Fishery Commission's inquiries will cover the prospects of the industry if regulations are made to carry on with white labour only. THE PLAGUE. Brisbane, May 1. Two cases of plague were reported to* day. (Received May 2, 1.10 a.m.) Sydney, May 1. The Polar bear in the Zoological Gardens died of cold, not plague. The city health officer's report expresses the opinion that the plague epidemic is fast approaching an end for the present. The greater part of the city cleaning staff is being discharged. i< ■ THE VICTORIAN STATE MINISTRY. (Received May 1, 9.55 p.m.) Melbourne, May 1. ' hi accordance with an agreement made in December, the whole of the Stale Ministers, excepting Mr. Trenwith, have handed in their resignations to the Premier, with a' view to giving him a free hand in reconstructing a Cabinet consisting of five members. This is the first instalment of the promised Parliamentary reform. THE PENNY POSTAGE. (Received -May 1, 9.55 p.m.) , . MiajtoußNE, May 1. Mr. Barton states that the exact position with regard to penny postage is that it has been decided to submit for the approval of Britain a proposal to treat letters not exceeding half an ounce and prepaid at oil? penny in Britain as fully prepaid. THE WEATHER. (Received May I', 9.55 p.m.) ■ : j Sydney, May 1. • The sea is moderating, and shipping traffic has been resumed. WRECKAGE FOUND. Syditey, May J. A quantity of wreckage has been washed ashore at Yamba. It is evidently a portion of the bottom of a boat or schooner. A GREATER SYDNEY. > Sydney, May 1. A monster meeting of residents of th» city and suburbs adopted resolutions in" favour of creating a Greater Sydney, and the formation of a league to further the purpose. The present divided system of municipal government in the metropolitan area was condemned as absurd, chaotic, t.nd wasteful. THE FEDERAL PARLIAMENT. (Received May 2, 1.10 a.m.) Melbourne, May 1. ' in the Federal House Mr. Barton moved the second reading of the Governor-General's Establishment Bill, providing for an increase of salary from £10,000 to £18,000 from January 1 last year, and to continue until one year after he takes up his residence in the Federal capital. Mr. Barton said If the Bill passed Lord Hopetoun would still be several thousands out of .pocket. He spent about £10,000 to ensure that Australia would be properly represented during the Royal visit. No claim would be made for this if the Bill was carried. In the Senate Mr. Symons, in a forceful speech, opened the second reading debate on the Customs Tariff Bill. He, hoped the Senate would never forget that it had control of taxation. This was contemplated by the framers of the Constitution. Mr. O'Connor had greatly mistaken the temper of t':ie Senate when he warned them of the consequences of interfering. If they yielded to that mysterious threat they would establish a precedent that would hang like a millstone around their neck for all time, arid drag the Senate to a position below the meanest Upper House in existence. RETRENCHMENT IN QUEENSLAND.. I> w (Received May 2, 1.10 a.m.) :\ / Brisbane, May 1. In connection with the retrenchment in the Civil Service it is understood that all officers over 60 will be retired on June 30. There is reason to believe the retrenchment scheme includes the complete abolition of the chief weather bureau.

THE YAMBA MYSTERY. Sydney, May 1. The charge against a Cingalese named Piera of murdering a Chinaman named Ah Won, at Yamba, broke down. The judge directed the jury to return a verdict of nob guilty on the ground that there was no direct evidence that the Chinaman, was actually dead. Piera was subsequently found guilty of stealing £40 from the residence of Ah Won. The judge, in sentecing him to seven years' penal servitude, said no one who had listened to the details of the previous case could have any moral doubt that the prisoner in the dock was a. murderer. The accused in the above case was arrested in Auckland. Two Chinese, Ah Won and Ah lain, worked a garden on the Yamba ■ Road, about a mile from that town, and recently they employed a Cingalese named Piera. On the 10th dnst. Ah Lun had occasion to go to Graftou, and did not return for more than a week. When he came back • his mate and the Cingalese had disappeared. : Inquiries made since show that Piera cashed a £10 note at Yamba., and went to Sydney. ~ No trace has been found of the missing Chinese, whose clothes have not been re- ; moved from the hut. It is stated that the • Cingalese had no money, and £2 was due to fern as wages. The other -J****•«%* his mate had upwards of £100 in the hut where they lived. The P°*"» * a ™ been ~ searching for the body, of the Chinese* but without success..